Release Date: August 28th 2025. Record Label: APF Records. Formats: CD/DD/Tape/Vinyl
Annihilation Day - Tracklisting
1.THE HALLS RUN RED (Rita’s Death / The Thrill of The Kill / Dorm of The Dead)
2.SATANIC NIRVANA (Tolls of Death / Christine’s Theme / The Sound of Blood) 07:56 video
3.BLAST FURNACE (Killer’s Theme / Vengeance In Their Eyes / Too Many Humans)
4.SHOW YOUR FACE (Christine Kills / Dripping Corpse / Bloodbath to Paydirt)
Members
Graham Bywater
Guest Appearances
Lisa Bywater, Thomas House, Sam Marsh, Paul Waller and Stephen Franklin.
Review
TORSO returns with Annihilation Day and Graham Bywater the creative mastermind behind this sinister effort blends Doom, Sludge, Stoner, Grind, Thrash, Noise Rock and Black Metal to devastating effect which results in TORSO’s most demented and violent record yet. That is saying something after their celebrated 2024 album Brain Cells.
This time round, Graham has a bigger and murderous playground drawing upon his usual style of 1980’s Horror Movies influences allowing TORSO to conjure up the following storyline:
“Annihilation Day is TORSO’s first concept LP. Set on January 1st, 1984, it tells the twisted tale of a small-town university campus invaded by an escaped madman and ex-student on prom night. The town’s fate lies in the hands of two girls, Rita and Christine…and all hell breaks loose!”
Perhaps classic horror styles from John Carpenter and American Horror Stories are the main influence for the storylines but maybe some Italian seediness comes into play as well. Though, lets focus on the music that surrounds itself the violent and sometimes brutally funny storyline comes into play. The music is quite ELECTRONICA obsessed with a grindcore style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal developing at full throttle within the brilliant opening track of THE HALLS RUN RED (Rita’s Death / The Thrill of The Kill / Dorm of The Dead).
The record is highly volatile, violent and aggressive but also superbly melodic with touches of Prog Metal appearing within the more subdued and outlandish parts of the record. TORSO has allowed some of his friends from the underground scene to be part of the action with appearances from the likes of Paul Waller (OHHMS), Thomas House, Stephen Franklin, Lisa Bywater and Sam Marsh who all provide KILLER support along the way. The vocals are a great mix of different styles that has echoes of 1990’s Alt Metal, Grunge and Shoegaze to give Annihilation Day quite a unique and grizzled sound compared to TORSO’s previous records.
The second and third tracks of SATANIC NIRVANA (Tolls of Death / Christine’s Theme / The Sound of Blood) and BLAST FURNACE (Killer’s Theme / Vengeance In Their Eyes / Too Many Humans) just amplifies the action to a grislier and seedier level with profounding bursts of NOISE ROCK energy that feels like WHORES jamming out with the likes of MOTORHEAD, TORCHE, SOUNDGARDEN and THE MELVINS. Simply outrageous but one that never feels out of place with TORSO outlining, developing and delivering a Classic Horror Storyline that would have easily been banned under the infamous (UK 1980’s) banned Video Nasties furore / craze if this was ever committed to celluloid.
Graham does become quite obsessed with Glitchy Noises, Ambient Beats and Psychedelic Synths which has a surreal Tangerine Dream effect that isn’t too dis-similar to modern day Post-Rock sounds before returning to his HORROR OBSESSIVE ways.
The final two tracks of BLAST FURNACE (Killer’s Theme / Vengeance In Their Eyes / Too Many Humans) and SHOW YOUR FACE (Christine Kills / Dripping Corpse / Bloodbath to Paydirt) are perhaps my favourite tracks I’ve heard from TORSO to date. As they’re an expert mix of different styles dripping with gloomy atmospherics with a sudden shift to MASTODON-esque melodies, rhythms and progressive soundscapes whilst still being it’s own thing at the same time.
Annihilation Day is an exhilarating experience from start to finish with a non-stop style of exciting Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds being played that will leave you in a very nervous disposition indeed. This is TORSO’s most technically impressive and cinematically sounding record to date. I’m hoping that Graham will announce some LIVE SHOWS in the future as I want to fully experience and feel the intense music that he’s delivered with this record.
My advice - Be afraid, be very afraid for an outstanding record that will no doubt claim some potential ALBUM OF THE YEAR spots before the year is out.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to APF Records for the promo.
Annihilation Day is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl/Cassette via APF Records.
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