California’s heaviest new band in town Torena are finally releasing their hotly anticipated debut full-length.
2023’s “Evil Eyez” EP was a new chapter in the band’s evolution & turned many heads with their superb mix of hardcore & metal to create some of the year’s hardest yet catchy music.
Continuing their collaboration with DAZE the band has recorded eight tracks of pissed-off, brutal hardcore with elements of Nails & Sepultura.
Working again with Taylor Young at Studio 606 and The Pit who recorded and mixed the LP, with mastering by Nick Townsend at Infrasonic Sound the album’s overall sound is primal, and fierce but has the clarity a band like Torena needs to hit hard.
Unleashing this record with such a big “Intro” was a ballsy move but damn does it pay off. Huge power chords & double kick drums increase the intensity slowly before the right moment the opening riff to “Trapped” begins.
As soon as the track starts you can feel your head bobbing with infectious riffs & Julien Urias’s (Guitar/Vocals) venomous lyrics push this track forward. Already into the first track & the band hit the heaviest breakdown of the year at the end of this track, then carried it on a little longer with a sprinkle of groove. Hard as nails.
“I’ll Never Be Like You” feels like the band has merged a Terror & Hatebreed track into this pissed-off, fingers up at the world stomper of a song. At under two minutes, it does what it needs to quickly but it’s the kind of track you want to put on repeat or lift some serious weights too. Great gang vocal work elevates this track as well as Dante Denoms’s crazy solo section, which gives huge Kerry King vibes.
Bringing a swinging & energetic feel “Trusting Soul” has a great riff running through the track but has these great moments in the chorus which open it up for my favourite Urias vocal performance on the album. It feels like his most pissed & punishing, and again leading into a breakdown section that caps the song off nicely.
Closing the album “No Mercy” leaves the best to last. This track might be the most hateful yet memorable on the album. Featuring an always great-to-hear guest vocal appearance by Taylor Young (Deadbody, Gods Hate) this track goes right for the throat & leaves you quaking in your boots. It might be the heaviest song on the album but it’s the most clever songwriting the band have done within this track. It’s full of quick moments that make the song really stick with you & just get heavier & heavier with each passing second.
Torena is such a gifted band so early into their career. Writing top-notch tracks which breed some of the best metallic hardcore right now. “No Control” delivered on all aspects of why I love this band & I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next!
Review: Joseph Mitchell
No Control is available for preorder now through DAZE, as well as though Rough Trade and Record Store Finder.
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