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TORRHEN
The Adversary

Self-released (2022)
Rating: 7.5/10

Strangely, when the opening percussive thud and steely axe work snaked its way into my ears, I was suddenly transported back to the halcyon days of Euro metal such was the almost unintentional doomy soundscapes on offer. Sadly, the disappointment really hit home when the vocals of Fabián Rueda hit; whether due to just poor production or his lack of power and charisma, he just struggles to match the fiery fury of the music on this debut full-length platter from Colombia’s Torrhen.

The Adversary had the potential to be an epic and scorching album. Running steadily like a golden stream through Scandinavian fjords, the opening cut ‘A Frozen Lake’ trundles with an almost exquisiteness. Imagine a magical mix of doom-laden New Wave Of British Heavy Metal with Euro trad metal lashings and you’d have an idea of the nature of this beast.

Musically, this really is an 8/10 album as the combo trudges its way through some stylish, albeit gloomy episodes. Kudos then go to the guitar team of Giorgio Hernández and Andrés Guerrero for their sterling work in creating such an organic vibe. The same could also be said for the thunderous drums of Daniel Camacho and the bass licks of Andrés Cediel.

‘A Frozen Lake’ just deserves better in the vocal treatment because Rueda just sounds strained, as if struggling to cope with the wall of sound around him. Even so, the way these guys build up to their array of tales is quite mystical. Again we have that foreboding traipse with ‘Thrill Of Kill’, while on ‘Bloody Beard’ there is an air of swashbuckling galloping majesty.

Maybe a more vigorous snarling vocal tirade would be better suited to such dynamics, because the power metal Euro croon just doesn’t work here for these eager Colombians who for the most part have successfully tapped into that early-to-mid 80s Euro goth metal assault. Oddly, Rueda performs better on the title track when his tone decreases into lower end snarls, but one immediately becomes wary of an upcoming siren-like attempts.

But hey, let’s stop with the criticism and just lap up the lavish musical endeavours of tunes such as ‘The Face Of Death’ and ‘Through The Chill Winds’ which musically are a treat for the ears. Hopefully, Rueda will strengthen his voice for the next project because there is so much promise with Torrhen.

Neil Arnold

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