UMUR
"Torcha!" is the second full-length studio album by Finnish, Helsinki based heavy rock/metal act Waltari. The album was released through Emergo Records in 1992. It´s the succcessor to "Monk-Punk" from 1991 and features the same quartet lineup who recorded the predecessor.
Stylistically the material on "Torcha!" is an eclectic combination of musical styles and elements and in that respect "Torcha!" is a natural successor to "Monk-Punk" (1991). An alternative, adventurous, and often funky heavy rock/metal style (with the occasional nod towards thrash metal) is a relatively valid description, but Waltari are incredibly hard to put a label on (and I´m sure that´s exactly how they want it to be). Labels like high level musicianship, intriguing songwriting, and high quality production values fully apply though, and "Torcha!" is through and through an interesting listen.
Featuring 15 tracks and a total playing time of 61:11 minutes "Torcha!" is a pretty massive album in terms of quantity, but it´s not an album containing many filler tracks (like one could have feared). Instead the variation and multitude of stylistic elements ensure an engaging listen from start to finish. Even the more wacky tracks work well within the context of the album, and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is therefore deserved.
