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Torchure were actually quite a promising
death metal band, alongside some of their fellow countryman Jumpin’ Jesus,
Morgirion and Atrocity (who unfortunately leaned towards Goth later on), but
they were also one of those short lived bands, disbanding just a few years
after their creation. Civilisations become
destroyed too, but their culture and creations live on forever, which just
might be the case with Torchure. This, their debut album is probably the better
known and the better of the two consecutive releases they unleashed, bringing
Torchure’s prime elements on the last on table; a doomy cluster of unbridled
thrash and death, joining to exhale a depressive bombard of riffs, doom-laden,
yet surprisingly vigorous.
The album has queer song structures, and
with such as mash up of death, thrash and somewhat melodious doom, they almost
fabricate their own distinct sound, one that’s different from the US and
Swedish old school death metal scenes for a change. With such ambitious textures set, the band
proves to be much more dexterous and experimental than many other groups who
dwelled during the same time, but their efforts also effects the way the album
moves, and with the subtle doom metal worshiping done and the nearly fifty
minute album length, ‘’Beyond The Veil’’ turns into a laggard of an album,
cauterizing and encompassing the victim very, very slowly. And due to its
length, this record is something that you definitely have to spend your time
with, so that you may fully comprehend the absurd structures behind the plain,
comprehensible riffs.
The sluggish approach may be irrelevant at times, but it also relieves the listener from any sort of depressing, or moody need, like a recompense for the long, drudgy moments. The guitar tone is really a nice addition, because its somewhere between chubby, gritty and thin, and once the leads of melodies jump in, the tone blankets itself in an even nicer, warm, subtle and oozy tone with a little bit of cavernous melancholy even. And like I said, Torchure are more adventurous than many other acts of their time, and they’re unafraid to insert tons of drowning melodies on top of their crunchy riffs, serving as even more captivating hooks than usual, and of course, proving that the band isn’t at all inept in musicianship.
The percussion is well done, nothing more,
but the vocals are exceedingly filthy and grotesque growls and rasps, and even
gurgles when the vocalist drenches himself in repugnance. But the album as a
whole is not really murky and even filthy for that matter, but doomy, ponderous
and mighty, laden with musical prowess.
Throughout the whopping fifty minutes of doom-oriented death/thrash, you’ll
find a fairly extensive amount of variation; sometimes you’ll feel the brisk
attitude of thrash leaping in, like on ‘’Abysmal Malevolence’’ or ‘’In His Grip’’,
while melody freaks will profoundly love ‘’Depressions’’, but the ultra opus of
the record is the eleven minute doom metal epic ‘’Resort To Mortality’’, a
transcendental slab of traumatizing riffs, and don’t forget that wherever you
go, keyboards are always going to follow you. ‘’Beyond The Veil’’ stands out as
a peculiar and gripping release, and for people who enjoy its dragging monotony
more than me, it's a delicious feast.
Highlights
''In His Grip''
''Resort To Mortality''
''Apathetic''
Final Rating
Awesome [8.5/10]
