Torche, "Kicking"

On their last full-length, Meanderthal, Torche created and perfected a stoner metal niche, blending High on Fire's aggression with the soaring melodies of the Foo Fighters. Four years, several singles and a few EPs later, they're finally returning with their follow-up LP, Harmonicraft, on April 24th.


The aptly-named first single, "Kicking," shows the band just alive and that. It's more Foo than Fire, a fleshed-out, slightly slowed take on Meanderthal's best ideas. I'm hoping that Torche haven't abandoned their trademark heaviness, but if the rest of Harmonicraft hooks like "Kicking" we'll be fine.