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. Late in 2007, the band announced that they had finished recording their second album, Meanderthal, which was slated for a spring 2008 release.

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Stinking Lizaveta’s instrumental post rock draws as much on Sabbath as it does on Sonic Youth or Slint. By combining a metal edge with the precision and repetition of math rock and the blasting assault of early Black Flag, they come with a sound uniquely their own.

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