Like Torches know how to target their desired market with their punchy pop-rock music. In 2012, the Swedish quartet spent a month in Hollywood with Yellowcard’s Ryan Mendez and Ryan Key, working on their debut 2013 release ‘Keep Your Head Up’. That album gave them the chance to tour the UK and Europe with the likes of Yellowcard, tour Japan with We Are the In Crowd and Set It Off, whilst supporting huge names in the form of Taking Back Sunday and The Story So Far.
Now, they’ve come back for more and followed up with their latest effort ‘Shelter’, an album packed with powerful riffs and catchy hooks. ‘Coma’ is a huge, emotionally-charged rock anthem that comes complete with chunky riffs, while ‘Walking Home’ and ‘Full Hearts’ employ sweeping vocals and melodic hooks to create tracks that wouldn’t look out of place on a daytime radio playlist. Then there’s ‘I Surrender’, a belter of a track that burns and blisters with spiky riffs and guitar licks.
‘Skeletons’ is a pretty damn phenomenal single: blistering riffs sweep through a massive bassline, while the vocal interplay between brothers Johnathon and Daniel Kӓrn is stunning. The pre-chorus takes a breather, before they crash into a chorus that’s huge and raw.
Closing track ‘Shelter’ does end this album on a slightly weak note though. Throughout the course of the release, Like Torches have built up speed and adrenaline, creating more and more frenetic energy, so it’s a shame when they stutter to a halt with this ballad-esque track.
All in all, ‘Shelter’ is a solid release, hindered only by their title track. It’s an album complete with some powerful performances and solid singles. A damn good effort from a rising band.
JESS TAGLIANI