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TORPOR "Dungeon Descent"
TORPOR "Dungeon Descent"
By Dr. Abner Mality
Here is a phantom rising from the mists of history, no less notable than a woolly mammoth or an Egyptian pharaoh appearing in our current age. Emerging from Warsaw, Poland, TORPOR is a three piece metal band that resurrects a forgotten sound from the past to become something new in our maddening patchwork of modern music.
It's very hard to describe what TORPOR does here. It's not just another 70's or 80's nostalgia band because their sound is so unique and one unheard for decades. They knit together various threads of the past into an album that's enchanting to listen to and keeps your interest. They call what they do "sword and sorcery metal", but don't expect an imitation of MANOWAR or MANILLA ROAD. Rather, it's a complex interweaving of NWOBHM gallop, 70's power prog, mid-European speed metal of the early 80's and even traces of black metal and folk. It's somewhat reminiscent of bands like early VIRGIN STEELE and JAG PANZER in the actual music, but with a vocal approach that really turns TORPOR into something all its own.
The band uses a kind of plaintive clean vocal that is layered and which proceeds in a very "Medieval" way. There's not a better way for me to explain the singing of Franciszek Archont...you really have to hear it for yourself. It's a voice from the past, even further back than heavy metal. It gives "Dungeon Descent" a lot of its uniqueness, but TORPOR are also great songwriters, coming up with interesting arrangements that gallop and swagger. "Armored Skeleton" is such a great headbanging song, with great transitions and such a multiplicity of killer riffs. You can hear faint traces of black metal in "Polybolos" and "Dungeon Dwellers" and quirky bits of keyboard sounds and acoustic guitar further embellish the fascinating songwriting. The only song where I felt TORPOR fell just a bit short was "Scythian Chase", which ran about a minute and half too long for my taste.
This is one of the most intriguing albums I've heard this year and one wholly fitting to be on the rapidly growing Dying Victims label. It's got a pretty good shot to be on my year end list.
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