ALBUM REVIEW: Rhetoric Of The Image – Torpor

TORPOR describes “a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy”. In this instance this is a band that do not live up to their name, sure the drums might be slow but they are by no means sluggish, there are calming moments of reprieve in the form of CULT OF LUNA/ISIS style quivering guitars and vocals and then drag you down to the depths with unearthly tones akin to PRIMITIVE MAN. 

Having formed in 2012 and released the hardcore tinged From Nothing Comes Everythingin 2015, now whittled down to a matured and polished slow burning crushing three piece. TORPOR have a penchant for creating a heady powerfully dynamic concoction blended with some of the best influences of drone, sludge, noise and black metal grooves whilst pummelling and massaging the brain and soul in quick succession 

Benign Circle slowly builds up from layered, shimmering guitars and rumbling drums to an almighty drawn out roar which is kept to a minimum, favouring the intricate layered and experimental feedback  effects which take the forefront but work perfectly with the minimal and precisely controlled drumming which fades in an out of the post metal haze. The heaviness kicks in with trudging bass lines and continuously crashing cymbals.  

Moving earnestly forward, the sombre march transitions into ascending, embellished guitar tones that morph perfectly into the hypnotic Two Heads On Gold. It’s gorgeously minimal but is marred by an oppressive cacophony of static, industrial, oscillating noise which, not so much washes over but drenches the subtle dual dialogue and poignant guitar notes which ring out above the subtle chaos and continue earnestly in Enigmatic Demand. The gradual build in celestial effects and descent into demonic vocals with slowly pounded drums is intense following on from the calm of the eye of the storm. Chugging basslines carry the track forward in a lurching rhythm to match the beastlike roars but another moment of reprieve follows on.  

Mouths Full of Water, Throats Full of Ice is mournfully mellow and the haunting Chelsea Wolfe-like vocals from Lauren Mason are beautifully subtle and coincide well with the gentle tones, soothing the senses after they have been bludgeoned into despondency by previous aural assaults.  

The soft and ethereal caress transitions into the sixteen-minute epic Mourning The Real until it becomes a bitter slow squeeze when the punishing bass and drums violently kick in again and lead up to visceral, threatening howls with the same obliterating heaviness as SUMAC. The finale of space like disturbing feedback and effects draws the journey to a conclusion, fading away like the implosion of a dying star  

Rhetoric Of The Image takes the listener on a cathartic journey, ascending to ethereal heights and plummeting back down into the abyss with twists and turns through beautiful and disturbing vocals, poignant and crushing tones. Calming the turbulent waters with moments of reprieve but quickly returning to the storm which always rages on. So much so it’s difficult to concisely describe the constant oppressive but ultimately cleansing ebb and flow into and out of light and darkness but makes this without doubt another solid down tuned string in TORPOR‘s already impressive bow.

Rating: 9/10

Rhetoric Of The Image is out now via Truthseeker Music/Sludgelord Records.

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