Back in 2005, when Torche unleashed its debut helping of thunderous doom-pop, guitarist/vocalist Steve Brooks’ former band, Floor, was dead and buried. Never again would Brooks’ former and present groups compete for his time and attention. Well, never say never. Floor dropped Oblation last April. Suddenly, “a few reunion gigs” became a time-consuming reality, with Brooks balancing two bands’ write/record/tour cycles. It’s a juggling act Torche has been at since 2008 when members started moving away from the group’s Miami home base. Restarter, the band’s fourth LP, packs in all the familiar elements, but does so with a looser, more somber tone and sullen mood. The members of Torche will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new feature on them.
Rick Smith: Miami sits sandwiched between the Everglades to the west and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches to the east. Then you’ve got the Florida Keys directly to the south, which is another world in itself. A combination of natural beauty, culture, talented people and nightlife, there seems to be no place in the states that feels quite like it. The term Miami “heat” isn’t just referring to our tropical climate, but to the magical energy that the city and its inhabitants possess.
