Torch (SWE)

[Horex]

Torch - Reignited (2020)













Year : 2020
Style : Heavy Metal
Country : Sweden
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 162 mb

Bio:

Formed as BLACK WIDOW in 1979 by Chris J. First, Steve Streaker, Claus Wild and later joined by bassist Ian Greg and vocalist Stefan Wedlund. Stefan only made two concerts with the band before his vocal cords collapsed and BLACK WIDOW disbanded. However they found a new vocalist in 1981 called Östen "Dan Dark" Bidebo and the band was back on track again, now called TORCH. Their first release was the MLP 'Fire Raiser!!' released in 1982 on Tandan Records, followed up with a self-titled album in 1983. The songs that didn't fit on the album was released on a limited 12" MLP entitled 'Bad Girls'. TORCH had big success with the album and in autumn 1984 they was the first Swedish Heavy Metal band to ever play in Belgium and Holland.TORCH released their 2nd album in 1984 entitled 'Electrikiss' and was also featured on the 'The Great Metal Attack Part 1 (1984)' compilation with the songs "Watchers of the Night" and "Electrikiss", they also had the songs "Warlock" and "Electrikiss" on the 'Sword - The Best In Scandinavian Rock (1985)' compilation . TORCH attended the Swedish Metal Aid project in 1985 and disbanded shortly afterwards.Guitarist Claus Wildt moved to America to join MASI. Christer Firscht and drummer Steve Streaker (Håkan Hedlund) joined CRYSTAL PRIDE. Vocalist Dan Dark (Östen Bidebo) fronted a cover act called BLÄÄSTERS.After a 20-year hiatus Dan Dark started to plan some reunion shows. Dan contacted the other guys from the original line-up but, for various reasons, none of them could or would re-join TORCH. So Dan set out by himself and put in the time and effort to once more set flame to the TORCH. Ultimately Dan enlisted bass player Alx Jonsson, guitarist Tomi Peltonen and drummer Kristian Huotari to and get the old metal machine rolling again.They played the "Keep It True" festival in Germany, and had so much success they decided to keep going, and even record new material. Heart Of Steel Records signed TORCH for the 2009 album 'Dark Sinner', featuring re-recorded versions of the band's classic anthems as well as two never-before-released cuts.

Album:

Reunited Swedish hard rockers Torch have brought their 1980s heavy metal sound with them into 2020. All metal, no rust! Swedish heavy metal band Torch made a name for itself in the early to mid-1980s. They released a few albums, now cult classics, and toured in Europe before they broke up in 1986. In 2013, four of the original band members reunited with the addition of a new guitarist. The reunion was well received and they kept on playing, including a successful gig at Sweden Rock Festival in 2018. In 2019, they started work on new music and now the comeback album “Reignited” is here. The album kicks off in style with the hard-hitting track “Knuckle Duster”. “Reignited” is an excellent metal album. Some of this sounds like Accept. Some of it hints at other 1980s Swedish acts like 220 Volt, Madison and Heavy Load. “Cradle to Grave” has a bit of an AC/DC vibe and “Collateral Damage” has Judas Priest touches while other songs have hints of W.A.S.P. and Mötley Crüe. Torch is a melting pot of 1980s metal that has been updated and given a contemporary upgrade. The result is very good. They manage to sound a lot like 1980s metal but without becoming a retro or tribute act. Back to the future! One of my favourite songs on the album, “In the Dead of Night”, is a terrific and catchy metal song. Vocalist Dan Dark has a voice made for singing this kind of catchy metal music. Other splendid songs include “All Metal, No Rust”, “Feed the Flame”, “Snake Charmer” and “To the Devil His Due”. Torch never made it big in the 1980s. Perhaps the band’s second coming will change that.Torch’s new album “Reignited” will be released on 25th September via Metalville.

Line Up:

Dan Dark - Vocals (1981-1986, 2003-present)
Ian Greg - Bass (1980-1986, 2013-present)
Chris J. First - Guitars (1980-1986, 2013-present) - See also: ex-Crystal Pride, ex-Black Widow
Håkky - Guitars (2013-present)
Steve Streaker - Drums (1980-1986, 2013-present) - See also: ex-Crystal Pride, ex-Black Widow

Tracklist:

01. Knuckle Duster 03:49
02. Collateral Damage 04:17
03. All Metal, No Rust 04:56
04. Feed the Flame 04:19
05. In the Dead of Night 05:27
06. Cradle to Grave 03:19
07. Snake Charmer 04:07
08. Intruder 04:34
09. To the Devil His Due 07:22



Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/

[Horex]

Torch - Live Fire (2022)













Year : 2022
Style : Heavy Metal
Country : Sweden
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 112 mb

Bio:

Formed as BLACK WIDOW in 1979 by Chris J. First, Steve Streaker, Claus Wild and later joined by bassist Ian Greg and vocalist Stefan Wedlund. Stefan only made two concerts with the band before his vocal cords collapsed and BLACK WIDOW disbanded. However they found a new vocalist in 1981 called Östen "Dan Dark" Bidebo and the band was back on track again, now called TORCH. Their first release was the MLP 'Fire Raiser!!' released in 1982 on Tandan Records, followed up with a self-titled album in 1983. The songs that didn't fit on the album was released on a limited 12" MLP entitled 'Bad Girls'. TORCH had big success with the album and in autumn 1984 they was the first Swedish Heavy Metal band to ever play in Belgium and Holland.TORCH released their 2nd album in 1984 entitled 'Electrikiss' and was also featured on the 'The Great Metal Attack Part 1 (1984)' compilation with the songs "Watchers of the Night" and "Electrikiss", they also had the songs "Warlock" and "Electrikiss" on the 'Sword - The Best In Scandinavian Rock (1985)' compilation . TORCH attended the Swedish Metal Aid project in 1985 and disbanded shortly afterwards.Guitarist Claus Wildt moved to America to join MASI. Christer Firscht and drummer Steve Streaker (Håkan Hedlund) joined CRYSTAL PRIDE. Vocalist Dan Dark (Östen Bidebo) fronted a cover act called BLÄÄSTERS.After a 20-year hiatus Dan Dark started to plan some reunion shows. Dan contacted the other guys from the original line-up but, for various reasons, none of them could or would re-join TORCH. So Dan set out by himself and put in the time and effort to once more set flame to the TORCH. Ultimately Dan enlisted bass player Alx Jonsson, guitarist Tomi Peltonen and drummer Kristian Huotari to and get the old metal machine rolling again.They played the "Keep It True" festival in Germany, and had so much success they decided to keep going, and even record new material. Heart Of Steel Records signed TORCH for the 2009 album 'Dark Sinner', featuring re-recorded versions of the band's classic anthems as well as two never-before-released cuts.

Album:

Recorded at Sweden Rock Festival 2018, the Swedish metal legend present themselves in top form. The performance marked a triumphant return to the stage, and the overwhelming response from the many fans spurred the band on to deliver an exceptional performance.On "Live Fire", TORCH ignite a crashing firework. Raw, fast, heavy and energetic - just as heavy metal should be!When the Swedish band TORCH released their debut EP “Fire Raiser” in 1982, it was a direct hit for all of us Heavy Metal enthusiasts. It was and still is brilliant, and could/should have been just as significant in Metal history as the MERCYFUL FATE debut EP. Their brand of short, punchy and very direct Heavy Metal was designed like an arrow, and it would puncture your heart in a beat. But, as TORCH didn’t tour at that time, it didn’t get the follow-up it deserved. Yes, the 1983 debut full length album “Torch” was also very good, as it followed the path set on the EP. Although, again, there was no physical presence to guide the band into orbit. And that is a real pity.Even the 1984 lesser album “Electrikiss” got a lot of metal motors running, as they were sounding like ACCEPT did on “Balls To The Wall”. It harbours a few very good songs. It would have been a success if TORCH had decided to start touring around that time. But unfortunately, they didn’t, and the band fell into the background, not to resurface until 2009, when the compilation album “Dark Sinners” was released. It reignited the interest in the band, and they did some shows to emphasize this feat. In 2018 they even played the prestigious Sweden Rock festival, and make quite the impression.So much so that in 2020 TORCH released their “Reignited” album. it showcases the fact that throughout they years band leader Dan Dark hasn’t lost his touch concerning writing good music. To keep the interest up he then decided that the recordings of the 2018 Sweden Rock were in fact so good that they should be released as a full-length live album. Thus “Live Fire” is born. And it is a treat. The majority of the songs was taken from their debut full length album “Torch”, and a few from “Electrikiss”. It gives us a very nice compilation of upbeat Heavy Metal with a proper punch.The only thing I would have liked is to hear the songs from the debut EP “Fire Raiser” plus their absolute masterpiece, the song “Beyond The Threshold Of Pain”, as these are the real gems of the TORCH library. So, if you, like me, love what you hear on “Live Fire”, look up the early TORCH music, and you will find that they made even better songs. What a treat!

Line Up:

Dan Dark - Vocals (1981-1986, 2003-present)
Ian Greg - Bass (1980-1986, 2013-present)
Chris J. First - Guitars (1980-1986, 2013-present) - See also: ex-Crystal Pride, ex-Black Widow
Håkky - Guitars (2013-present)
Steve Streaker - Drums (1980-1986, 2013-present) - See also: ex-Crystal Pride, ex-Black Widow

Tracklist:

01. Beauty & The Beast
02. Mercenary
03. Feed The Flame
04. Battle Axe
05. Sweet Desire
06. Electrikiss
07. Thunderstruck
08. Watcher Of The Night
09. Warlock



Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/