ALBUM REVIEW: The Coven – Torchia
Finnish metallers TORCHIA return in 2020 with their sophomore album, The Coven, a record which blends the metal sub-genres and revitalises the melodic death metal genre. From the mind of lead guitarist and lyricist Ville Riitamaa, The Coven was once again produced by one of Finland’s top producers, Hiili Hiilesmaa, who has worked on classic records from HIM, AMORPHIS, ENSIFERUM and many others, to create that classic non-overproduced sound. The band was named after a fictive occult author Aristide Torchia, introduced in the novel The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte and its thriller-mystery film adaptation The Ninth Gate.
Sky immediately sets the sinister atmosphere of the record, combining eerie female vocals with additional sound effects before coming straight into powerful blast beats and blackened guitar melodies which are layered over one another to create an intricate harmony. Edward Torchia’s vocals here are strong and full; thundering growls that weave beautifully throughout the instrumental melodies. Gallows follows on, a prime example of how well TORCHIA are able to blend the genres, incorporating thrash metal elements throughout the verses to create their own unique sound. The chorus brings you to an epic blackened tone with an effortless flow; full and diverse.
Easing you in isn’t exactly how TORCHIA does things, but with Moon, Rise!, an intense and pounding intro is followed by a short, gentle guitar interlude to break up the track. In true TORCHIA form, melodic sections are combined with intensity to create a fluid sound here. Lord of Dreams (Cult March) kicks off with heavy, chugging guitar style that almost has an industrial touch, combining death metal with a hint of neue deutsche härte for another totally unique sound. Edward Torchia’s ruinous vocals stand out here once again, powerful growls and harsh guttural sounds guide you through the instrumental melodies.
Plague Peasant storms in with technical, complex guitar sections, showing the impressive skill of guitarist and lyricist Ville Riitamaa. Pounding drums and harsh vocals layered with intricate sweeping guitar melodies here creates a very effective sound. Coming back to the blackened sound that works so well for TORCHIA, Jäämaa is a stand out track on the album, alternating tempos and heavy bass in a feat of pure passion and power, and, let’s face it – melodic death metal is always going to sound a bit better in Finnish.
Edward Torchia’s vocal versatility can be heard in Astral Planes, switching up his signature ruinous growls for epic and pained war cries throughout the chorus, all with a chugging and powerful guitar to underpin it. Forever Blood is another killer track to end the record, a touch of thrash to keep the tempo upbeat and a technical solo stand out here along with a heavy and catchy riff. Wailing females and the eerie atmosphere rounds the album off the way it began, incorporating all elements of the characteristic TORCHIA sound.
The Coven combines a multitude of music elements exceptionally well, nothing here is a straightforward or boring track. Death, black, thrash and even industrial metal touches can be heard throughout the record, as well as creating multiple unique and interesting sections even throughout each individual track. Riitamaa’s guitar work is absolutely stand-out throughout the record, it adds an extra layer of intricacy and complexity that elevates the album from good to brilliant. Whether you are a fan of melodic death metal or any of the heavier sub-genres, this is a record that will have something for you.
Rating: 9/10
The Coven is out now via Rockshots Records.
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