Those longing for more modern muscle rock in the vein of Soundgarden, recent Metallica, Tool, Silverchair, and Creed have a new album worthy of their attention. Torn's Solitude rings true, like a collection of unpolished b-sides by those bands at one point or another in their careers.
Pop sensibilities are there under the surface, but the mission of Torn is to crank.
Solitude is a noisy groove-monster catharsis, fueled by Carter McLaughlin's songs of sorrow and seeking. What takes Torn to the top level of its genre is McLaughlin's possession of one of those metal-grunge voices quaking over with power and emotion. Unfortunately, the other band members are only temporary hires brought together to provide him an outlet to release music and lyrics written during a period of homelessness and desperation in McLaughlin's life. Although he now gives glory to God for bringing him out of that situation and into a home and a relationship, Solitude draws its energy from the unenjoyable emotions of that loneliness. The album is not without weaknesses.