The group was formed in 2004 by Steve Brooks (ex-Floor), Juan Montoya (ex-Cavity, ex-Ed Matus' Struggle), Jonathan Nuñez and Rick Smith (who also play in the grindcore band Shitstorm). According to MTracks.com: "Their music has a unique, hard-hitting sound that provokes a wide range of emotions, and they have a large fan base throughout the world." They have toured with Mogwai, Isis, Pelican, Black Cobra, Baroness, Jesu, The Sword, Stinking Lizaveta, Harvey Milk and Boris. Steve Brooks, however, has said that they don't consider themselves a metal band. In describing the band's sound, Smith said in an interview: "To me it's mostly a combination of everything we listen to collectively as a band. We take what we like from what we grew up on and use it as creatively as we can. I think the meshing of different sounds comes naturally just because we all have different musical backgrounds yet have a ton of common interests." In terms of touring, Brooks said Torche is getting more of a young crowd.
On April 8, 2008, the band released their second full-length, entitled Meanderthal. It was produced by Kurt Ballou (Converge, Genghis Tron). It was met with critical acclaim, including that from Decibel Magazine who ranked Meanderthal #1 on their list of the Top 40 Extreme Albums of 2008 as well as an 8.2/10 by Pitchfork Media. In an interview, Brooks said the band themselves came up with the album's concept in terms of artwork and packaging. Brooks has also said that in terms of writing material, the band focuses on what they like, rather than worrying about a "backlash" from their fans.
In late 2008 Juan Montoya left the band, a move credited to musical differences. Steve Brooks said "He is an amazing guitarist, but we are just not on the same page... but Torche will still carry on as a 3 piece band".
Torche has fulfilled this statement by embarking on several tours, including one with the band dredg and another with a reunited Harvey Milk.
In 2010 the band started touring with a temporary second guitar player, Max Johnston of the Downhome Southernaires before finding a permanent replacement in Riddle Of Steel and Tilts guitarist and frontman Andrew Elstner. The band is now a 4 piece once again.
Current lineup:
Steve Brooks - guitar, vocals;
Jonathan Nuñez - bass guitar;
Rick Smith - drums;
Andrew Elstner - guitar, vocals.
Former members:
Juan Montoya - guitars.
http://www.torchemusic.com
Grenades
Torche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wrong turn
Racer
Captured
Grenade lifeform
Tracing untold
Chasing honor
Grenade lifeform
Tracing untold
Caving roles
Holding your own
Grenade lifeform
Tracing untold
The lyrics to Torche's song Grenades are quite cryptic and open-ended, leaving room for interpretation. The opening lyrics, "Oh, stagger, wrong turn, racer, captured," seem to suggest a narrative of someone who made a mistake, went off-course, and has been caught by someone or something. The following lines, "Grenade lifeform, tracing untold, and changing cover, chasing honor," seem to suggest that the person is now living life like a grenade, unsure of which direction to take but forging ahead nonetheless, constantly reinventing themselves as they pursue some kind of personal mission or goal.
The repetition of the phrase "grenade lifeform, tracing untold" throughout the song adds to the feeling of disorientation and the sense that the singer is constantly searching for something. The final lines, "caving roles, holding your own," suggest that the character is coming to a realization about their own agency and ability to shape their own destiny, even if they don't yet know what that destiny is. Overall, the lyrics to Grenades seem to evoke a sense of existential angst and the search for purpose in an uncertain world.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, stagger
Feeling unsteady and uncertain
Wrong turn
Taking a direction that leads to a negative outcome
Racer
Someone who is constantly in a rush
Captured
Being taken prisoner or trapped
Grenade lifeform
Referring to a destructive force or entity
Tracing untold
Exploring unknown or unspoken territory
And changing cover
Adjusting strategy or tactics to avoid detection or danger
Chasing honor
Pursuing a reputation for integrity or excellence
Caving roles
Giving in to societal expectations or limitations
Holding your own
Maintaining one's own perspective and autonomy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Wyatt, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars, Christopher Brown, Claude Kelly, Jeff Tweedy, Philip Lawrence
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
super duper
Pretty sure this is the only YouTube video I’ve ever seen with no dislikes
Makes sense
nikolasbbq
awesome - just discovered these guys ! ! ! ! ! ! !
fullmetalfunk
You have not sinned alone. I hadn't heard of them until I heard they were touring with Coheed and Cambria and I'm going to one of their shows so I looked them up and was more than pleasantly surprised. I'm almost as excited about seeing Torche as I am Coheed.
Pat s
Cool! Metal in major key! I like it
Phaeton - Official YouTube Channel
Such amazing aggro-psych from Torche. Truly a gifted band. Unafraid to grab onto winning melodies and harmonies and pound them through the Earth's crust into the blazing magma of endless killer riffery. Reminds me of emerging mid-90s stuff like Quicksand, Engine Kid, early Clutch, even a bit of Monster Magnet thrown in here and there. These guys should have at least been as huge as, dare I say, the Deftones. I just reminded myself that I need to collect all of Torche's albums. :)
Marshal McGurk
It's the perfect cross between 90's pop punk and Stoner metal
TonyRedgrave1501
I also hear a lot of Alternative Rock in Torche. Reminds me of Hum, Failure or Helmet.
Growit Yerself
its a sin that ive overlooked Torche for so long
suddenlyxsuicide
If I was gay, Steve Brooks would be my dream partner. But since I'm not gay, I'll just have to settle on making out with him.
Stan Hicks
i like it. good new band