(written by Islander)
We have devoted a lot of attention over the years to a UK band named Torpor, a point we mention because some of you may recall that coverage — and because the Torpor whose music you’re about to hear isn’t that band. But as you’re about to discover, although the names are the same, there’s no way anyone could confuse the music of the two groups.
Today’s Torpor is a Polish band originally formed in Warsaw under the prime influence of Bathory. They began making short releases in 2018, including a 2021 EP (The Ancient Tales), but now they’re primed for the release of a debut album by Dying Victims Productions on July 24th.
The new album, Ɖungeon Ɖescent, fully reveals the path they’ve been on. It could be considered “the idiosyncratic side of ancient heavy metal” or “swords & sorcery metal”, which are among the phrasings circulated on behalf of Dying Victims, but with spices of black metal in the mix; the classic Bathory influence still makes its mark too.
As a sign of what Ɖungeon Ɖescent presents, we’re premiering a thrilling album track named “Ɖungeon Ɖwellers“, one that creates an ancient atmosphere (swords and sorcery indeed) while getting listeners’ hearts pumping and leading them through a sequence of changing moods. And we’ll tell you right up-front that it features clean singing, which connects to the glorious old heavy metal traditions that this Torpor have embraced.
The song has a magnificent heavy metal overture – there’s no better word for it. The feverish yet weighty chords blare like a menacing fanfare; a companion guitar solo, piercing in tone, ecstatically quivers and swirls; the drums vigorously rumble and snap. When the sung vocals arrive they fly high.
Following a rambunctious bridge, the drums launch into a steady gallop and the riffing roils and boils. The vocals still soar as the music swarms and thrusts, but seamlessly the melody also begins to sound more fraught, and yet another fret-melting guitar solo turns up the heat again.
A stuttering riff then leads into a fusillade of furiously blasting drums, and those fanfare-like chords take on a darker and more ominous cast (though the lead guitar is still convulsing).
The final phase of vocals joins heroic voices together, backed by exhilarating drum progressions and warlike fretwork. All in all, it’s quite an epic romp.
TORPOR ALBUM LINEUP:
Mike Magister I.V. – guitars
Franciszek Archont – vocals / bass / organs
Bloodhammer – drums
We’ll also share with you the band’s own statement about the album:
“We knew it was our direction to follow and polish, so now, after some time, we can happily present our debut album, Ɖungeon Ɖescent. It is our first real record that pictures our vision exactly how we liked to. After years of wandering around basement rehearsal rooms and two self-released demos, we are finally coming out of our lairs with this LP under the banners of DYING VICTIMS.”
Dying Victims will release Ɖungeon Ɖescent in a variety of physical editions:
Regular edition on black vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card and download code.
Special edition on orange vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card, download code and patch.
CD edition with sticker and obi.
Pre-orders can be placed now:
PRE-ORDER:
https://tinyurl.com/dungeondescent
TORPOR:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100032095282281