Torche
Meanderthal

THE REVIEW

Agile, compact, impetuous, intense, solid, vehement.

This series of adjectives is intended to encapsulate the uncompromising musical core that is at the heart of the second work, made available by the usual HydraHead and dating back to the early months of this year, with the appropriate distance of the four rock-heavy figures operating in the former homeland of the most obscured and revanchist Death Metal: Miami, Florida.

Stirring in the substantially diversified cauldron: the escapist "Pirana" and the frantic "Speed Of The Nail" are characterized by such efficacy, determination, and solidity in the management of the surgical riff that it feels like facing Helmet in their pre-befuddlement version under heavy musico-estrogenic treatment; the same "Sandstorm" or the jovial "Healer", even in their underlying rock-accessibility, hurl at you a multitude of startling fiery guitars and densely sharpened various lapis lazuli that it would be wise to acquire suitable fire-retardant suits or position yourself at a safe distance from the speakers: the risk of musical-burn seems quite high.

If I didn't fear public ridicule*, thus being accused of a permanent state of confusion and consequential musical-ranting/blaspheming, I would also dare to highlight in some of the thirteen tracks condensed there ("Sundown", or the intense concluding excursus named "Amnesian"), an episodically distinguishable liaison with the two semi-obscured works of "The God Machine" and their mentor Mr. Robin Proper Sheppard, dating back to the early Nineties.

Thus it is willed where it can be, for being self-proclaimed musico-troglodytes, they don't fare badly at all.

* But since I do indeed fear it (I fear it indeed), please pretend, I beg You, that I haven't claimed anything at all. Alas. Blasé.