After the breakup of
Floor in 2004,
Torche vocalist/guitarist
Steve Brooks decided to carry on the thundering tradition of his former band, recruiting guitarist
Juan Montoya (also formerly of
Floor), drummer
Rick Smith, and bassist
Jonathan Nuñez. This lineup evolved the sonic template
Brooks had created with
Floor into a lush and more fully realized sound. In 2005, the Miami, FL four-piece released their eponymous debut on Robotic Empire, introducing the world to a new brand of doom/stoner metal that replaces the bleakness and despair typical of the genre with a more triumphant and anthemic sound: the heavy metal equivalent of
Chariots of Fire. Combining de-tuned, droning guitars reminiscent of doom luminaries
Earth and
Sunn 0))) with soaring, harmonic vocals,
Torche created a new take on the genre that is best described as "doom pop." After the album's release, the band began extensive cross-country touring, sharing bills with
the Sword,
Mouth of the Architect,
Jesu,
Isis, and
Mogwai. In March of 2007,
Torche released a remastered version of their self-titled album featuring the bonus track "Make Me Alive." In the summer of 2007,
Torche released the beautifully packaged EP
In Return on Robotic Empire, featuring a jacket designed by
John Baizley of
Baroness. Late in 2007, the band announced that they had finished recording their second album, Meanderthal, which was slated for a spring 2008 release. ~ Gregory Heaney, All Music Guide