Alfie Glass, Harry Quinn, and Jack Orr make up the hard rock / grunge trio Torus who release their self-titled debut album this month.
The album opens with `Avalanche` a collaboration with label mates The Blue Stones, a pounding thumping rock out with lyrics that seem to be a metaphor to a relationship that reflects a sudden great or overwhelming rush or accumulation of emotion. There`s a similar feel to `Into The Clear` which kind of signals the frustration of a one-sided romance.
`When It Comes` is an anthemic slow burn with vocals that maybe hint at an expectation and faith that, that belief will be sated. There`s a kind of dreaminess about `All On Me` as it powers along.
I read that `The Overload` according to the band reflects “the feeling of being disconnected to a loved one, desperate for that emotional connection you desire” and there is a sense of separation and longing throughout this rhythmic melodic offering. There was a real accelerated determination about `Downfall` whose sound fluctuated as it progressed.
`Crash Wave` is a pulsating foot tapping rock out while `This Feeling` has a hazier vibe but with an underlying forceful and determined underbite.
`Undercover` powers along with a commanding bass and drum cadence while initially `Gone` revealed a fairly tribal opening before finding its own more captivating channel, whist still dropping those tribal tinges on route.
`Back To Life` has a breathy thoughtful ambience which really draws you in before closing track `Speed Trial` seduces us with its intense heavy potent sound that expresses sentiments akin to uncertainty, mistrust, and fear throughout.
Torus`s debut release is wonderfully riff and groove laden with numerous delightfully enticing hooks. It has some scorching rock outs but also some more thoughtful and reflective numbers. A fair few of the tracks shared have that melodic sound that will have you humming them long after the album has finished.
Rating 8/10
