Review: Torpor ‘Abscission’

Upon hearing Torpor releasing their new album Abscission on one of my favorite labels Human Worth, I found Torpor‘s recommendation playlist on Spotify. Seeing Amenra, Bismuth, Sumac, Isis, Neurosis and so many other bands I love on it, I knew I was about to hear an album that will occupy my speakers for quite some time.

Torpor are a 3 piece from Bristol that have pushed their sonic limits further with Abscission. The wall of sound is massive when required and the serene moments are hypnotic that hold on to you until the next climax. The album starts with a bang as the ten-plus minute Interior Gestures erupts through the speakers. Immediately Neurosis vibes seep in. An intense start followed by a decrescendo into Amenra territory with spoken words over drones.

The serenity doesn’t last long as the following two tracks keep that wall of sound full. As Shadow Follows Body teases a quiet moment but it’s exactly that, a moment, while Accidie has a brief creepy beginning, it remains intense throughout. On all three tracks so far, the vocals are low deep drawn-out growls that fit perfectly with the music.

sounds more like hell seeping through a crack in the ground and Torpor happened to record it…

Then there’s Carbon. An interlude of sorts but I think of it slightly different. The three-plus minute recording sounds more like hell seeping through a crack in the ground and Torpor happened to record it. The wrenching screams and feedback over the pummeling drums and droning fuzz is intense.

The album concludes with the fifth and most incredible track Island Of Abandonment. The majority of my all time favorite songs follow a similar path. A gradual build starts with a long droning intro and mesmerizing repeating guitar. Most of the time ethereal vocals are involved but Torpor go the opposite direction and it sounds amazing. Drawn out raspy vocals remain constant as the music builds behind making for an outstanding closer to an album that I’m sure will be on many year end lists.

Seeing Torpor’s influences, I knew I was in for something special, but I didn’t know how special it was until my first entire listen through. Human Worth know how to pick quality music and bands, as well as donating a percentage of the profits to various charities for each release, they truly are doing something very special.

Label: Human Worth
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Twitter | Instagram

Scribed by: Josh Schneider