Canadian thrashers, Torrefy have released their second full length and an interesting listen it is too. What we have is a clever blend of thrash and groove that is blackened up just enough to give it an edge that’s pretty darn infectious.
The musicianship is tight from the get go and there’s no denying the sincerity and passion in John Ferguson’s vocal delivery that remains a constant throughout. Early salvos like “The Singularity” are thunderous, churning statements with plenty of growl but it’s on the next couple of tracks where the bands’ influences come through thick and fast. The twin guitar, Thin Lizzy styled melody of the intro to “Hypochongea” blends seamlessly into multiple twists that lean on the aggression of Kreator before breakneck turns toward an Iron Maiden infused gallop.
Behind the kit, Daniel Laughy is energised and there’s plenty of impressive performances that get the heart going. Big name influences don’t stop coming as the album’s mid-section is firmly rooted in “Justice” era Metallica territory with plenty of taut chug to the riffs from guitarists Adam Henry and Ben Gerencser who work well off each other. “Thrashist Dictator” and “Killed To Death” just keep growing and there’s the feeling that the band haven’t placed any constraints upon themselves. Most tracks come in at over seven minutes and while each steers in a number of directions they never become too overblown or have a sense of losing focus.
Finishing off with two big tracks in “Celestial Warfare” and “Trial By Stone”, they show a flair for mixing sometimes brutal aggression with melody that takes them into a progressive slant. The vocals remain a focal point all the way through simply for their intensity but the clean, even mix ensures none of the impressive musicianship is overlooked.
Torrefy harness a mix of styles pretty well and this should suit anyone who loves their classic thrash with a twist. Hopefully they continue to put out quality albums and develop a uniqueness that should garner them greater attention.
(7/10 Johnny Zed)
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