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
Safe
Torche Lyrics
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You could imply...
Rat out the boy (x3)
Sea site, hole, your retreat.
You could imply...
Rat out the boy (x3)
Safe from no one.
Rat out the boy (x2)
The lyrics in Torche's "Safe" are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The repeated phrase "Rat out the boy" seems to suggest betrayal and snitching, adding to the sense of paranoia and danger in the song. The first two lines imply violence, with the suggestion of slicing down, and the use of the word "rat" implies a potential danger to the person being betrayed. The mention of a "sea site" or retreat could be seen as a possible escape or hiding place, but the following line ultimately subverts any feelings of safety, with the refrain "Safe from no one" suggesting that there is no refuge in this world.
Overall, the lyrics convey a mood of fear and vulnerability, with the sense that danger is always lurking just around the corner. The repetition of "Rat out the boy" reinforces the idea of betrayal and mistrust, suggesting that there is no one to rely on in this harsh and unforgiving world.
Line by Line Meaning
Slice up, no, further down.
Cutting through surface-level issues won't solve the underlying problem. We need to go deeper.
You could imply...
This situation could be interpreted in different ways depending on your perspective.
Rat out the boy (x3)
Betrayal or snitching on someone who may be seen as weak is a possibility.
Sea site, hole, your retreat.
Escaping to a place by the ocean or a secluded area might be a good place to hide.
You could imply...
There may be different views on what constitutes safety in this scenario.
Rat out the boy (x3)
Again, the possibility of betrayal or informing on someone is present.
Safe from no one.
Despite attempts to protect oneself, there is no guarantee of safety or security.
Rat out the boy (x2)
The theme of betrayal or snitching is repeated, emphasizing its significance in this situation.
Contributed by Maya I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.