Torch is a hardcore/metal band from

Trondheim, Norway Trondheim ( , , ; sma, Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2020, it had a population of 205,332, was the third most populous municipality in Norway, and ...

Musical style

The band have self-described their sound a mix between

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

and

metal A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...

. Although sources have described their sound as everything from

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...

metalcore Metalcore (also known as metallic hardcore) is a fusion music genre that combines elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. As with other styles blending metal and hardcore, such as crust punk and grindcore, metalcore is noted for its use of ...

emo Emo is a rock music genre characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. It emerged as a style of and hardcore punk from the Washington D.C. hardcore punk scene, where it was known as emotional hardcore or emocore and pioneered b ...

and

nu metal Nu metal (sometimes stylized as nü-metal, sometimes called aggro-metal) is a subgenre of that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop, alternative rock, funk, industrial, and grunge. Nu met ...

History

Torch was formed in

Trondheim Trondheim ( , , ; sma, Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2020, it had a population of 205,332, was the third most populous municipality in Norway, and ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

in 1999. Their style back then was a combination of hardcore and

. The sound of their early demos bears a strong resemblance to the style of bands like

Korn Korn (stylized as KoЯn, or occasionally KoRn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream. Originally formed in 1993 ...

, Deftones and especially

Snot Snot may refer to: * Snot, slang for nasal mucus or dried nasal mucus * Snotter, Scottish slang for nasal mucus or dried nasal mucus * Snot, a character from the US television show ''American Dad!'' * Sid Snot, an ageing biker character performed ...

. In 2003, with new key members added to the line-up, they released the '' Visions Of...'' EP. It was released independently through Hardstar Records. The EP led to a successful national tour with the bands Miksha and Turdus Musicus in early 2004. They toured England the same year, gaining praise from small, but enthusiastic crowds. In 2005, the band would sign to the Norwegian indie labe
Kong Tiki Records
Their video, "The Experiment" debuted on the national TV charts Urørt Svisj and ZTV. It helped them keep the fire hot while they started recording their debut album. The recording process would eventually take 7 months to complete. The documentary, titled ''How to Start a Fire'' was added as a limited edition bonus DVD on their debut album. "The Experiment" remains the band's most well-known song. On March 27, 2006 '' Death to Perfection'' was released. It debuted at No. 23 on the Norwegian Billboard Chart, supported by a video for the song "K-Bomb" that would air weekly on ZTV. The album debuted at No. 1 on the charts on Trøndertoppen (The Trønder Top). The band would end up playing the biggest festivals in the country like Quart Festivalen and

Stavernfestivalen Stavernfestivalen is a yearly music festival held in Stavern, Norway at Larvik Golf Arena. The festival takes place in July, and in 2019 there were roughly 75 000 attendees over a three-day period. The very first festival took place in 2001, l ...

, sharing stages with bands like

Tool A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates ba ...

Placebo A placebo ( ) is a substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like Saline (medicine), saline), sham surgery, and other procedures. In general ...

Opeth Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal/rock band from Stockholm, formed in 1990 by lead vocalist David Isberg. The group has been through several personnel changes, including the replacement of every original member; notably Isberg in 1992. Mikael ...

and Wolfmother. In 2008, the band released a self-titled EP on cassette to the surprise of some. Torch are in the midst of recording their second album, which was planned for a late 2009/early 2010 release. Although the recording session didn't end until the end of 2010 when they sent the album into the final mixing and mastering. The album ''Pt.IV: A New Beginning'' was recorded and engineered by Jørgen (guitar) and the band in their own studio. Except the drums, which was recorded at Skarp Studio with Jon-Tore Dombu (ex-guitarist in Torch, the Hate Colony). It was mixed by

Steve Evetts Steve Evetts is an American record producer who has produced music for Alesana, Poison the Well, A Static Lullaby, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Sepultura, Symphony X, Saves the Day, Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Hightower, Story of the Year, Every T ...

in late 2010, and mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music. ''Pt.IV: A New Beginning'' was released in Europe on August 26, 2011.Official website
/ref> In November 2011 some of the members from Torch (Ola, Jørgen) produced the EP "Man is a Wolf to Man" for the sludge/prog metal band Terodon.

Band members

Current members

*Marius Forbord - vocals (1999–present) *Jørgen Berg - guitar, vocals (2002–present) *Tommy Kviseth - bass (2004–present) *Thomas Farstad - drums, vocals (2002–present) *Ola Pettersen - guitar, vocals (2009–present)

Former members

*Jon Tore Dombu - guitar (2007–2008) *Torbjørn Ringstad - guitar, vocals (2004–2007) *Erlend Nibe - guitar (1999–2004) *Mats Paulsen - drums (switched to guitar in 2002) (1999–2003) *Endre Forbord - bass (1999–2002)

Discography

Albums

* '' Death to Perfection'' (2006) * '' Pt. IV: A New Beginning'' (2011)

EPs

* '' Visions Of...'' (2003) * ''Torch'' (2008)

Singles

* "Wake Me When It's Over" (2011)

Music videos

* "The Experiment" (2005) gnore Entertainment* "K-Bomb" (2006) gnore Entertainment* "Previously Cured" (2007) gnore Entertainment* "Hathem" (2010) gnore Entertainment* "Wake Me When It's Over" (2011) gnore Entertainment

DVDs

* ''How to Start a Fire'' (2006) (bonus DVD on ''Death to Perfection'')

Compilations

* ''2112 '', appearing on ''Sellout Vol. 2'' (2000) * ''K-Bomb'', appearing on ''Hellfest Vol. 2'' (2007) * ''K-Bomb'', appearing on ''European Metal Assault'' (2007)

Promo releases

* ''Promo '03'' (2003) The Slip-Case version of "Visions Of..." with an extra song Far From Alone. Meant for labels. * ''Promo '04v1'' (2004) Contains the songs I'm All About Something New, Welcome and Insecure * ''Promo '04v2'' (2004) Features The Experiment; the song which would put Torch in the spotlight of labels and eventually get them signed. * ''Promo '05'' (2005) Contains the songs The Experiment and Insecure. Used to promote Torch in the USA. * ''Promo '08'' (2008) Self-released demo. Contains unmastered versions of Breathing, We Bury Our Dead Alive and Repeat Until Sane. * ''Friday The 13th Special Promo'' (2008) Self-released split promo with Miksha. Contains the songs Breathing and Murderer's Alley from their self-titled Cassette EP.

Notes

References

Summary of Torch at the Rock Mot Rus in 2007 (In Norwegian)

Marius and Tommy answering questions during the Quart Festival 2006

Dagsavisen review of Torch playing the Quart festival (In Norwegian)

Adressa review of Torch playing at the Quart Festival (In Norwegian)

Article from 2003 (in Norwegian)

Article where Torch talks about their upcoming England tour in September 2004)

External links

Official Site

Official Myspace Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torch (Band) Norwegian metalcore musical groups Norwegian hardcore punk groups Musical groups established in 2000 2000 establishments in Norway Musical groups from Trondheim