jonathan nunez

Torche frontman and guitarist Steve Brooks uses Electrical Guitar Company aluminum guitars for his special tones.

(Just don't ask him about his tunings.)

The sludge-metalers deliver a nuanced sonic assemblage of grime and melody.

Having risen from the ashes of the (formerly) defunct sludge-metal legends Floor, Miami's Torche has been defining its own genre for more than a decade. Unlike the many other bands aping post-Melvins metal since the late '90s, Torche creates their infectious onslaught by combining slack-tuned noise with catchy, high-octane rock 'n' roll. The band returns this year with a triumphantly crushing fourth full-length release, Restarter.

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