Torche: Meanderthal

If pop punk stoned up, wielded enourmous masses of rumbling distortion, and bathed in sludge then Torche would sit comfortably within the genre.  Meanderthal takes "pop" to a new low (tonally),  combing ethereal, spaced out vocals over a fierce, deep wall of guitar and bass.  It's easy to get into, but it doesn't get old, provided you skip some of the tracks that drag out just a tad too long, and the unnecessary title track closer.

Each song is pleasantly unique.  Compared to the rest of the album, "Sundown" is quite sparse, but manages to be rousing and restrained at the same time and the powerful groove of the band is intact all the way through.  "Fat Waves" is the perfect culmination of Torche's craft.  The first half sounds like raging pop punk, with infectious vocals, bouncy guitars and an incessant tempo, before seamlessly transitioning to a stampeding, repetitive instrumental bit that ramps up to a climactic ending.  Following it is the behemoth "Amnesian".  Probably the heaviest on the disc, the pulsing low end emphasized on this track and to get the most out of it a subwoofer is recommended.  Another standout is "Healer".  I imagine this song to be what The Offspring would sound like with drop A guitars and a tasteful singer.

Highly recommended , it's not hard to get into this album and it will please you.
4/5