Also, keep an eye out...we just submitted our songfor the Curmudgeon compilation! titled "Confusion and Delay", it's one you've probably heard if you've seen us live, but it'll be the first time we're releasing it anywhere.

-chris

http://www.facebook.com/torchbearernj

Become a "fan" if you're so inclined. That page gets updated a bit more frequently.

Been a while, but here it goes news-wise.

First off, we have two great shows coming up...
THIS THURSDAY.


and OCTOBER 2nd


Two great shows with amazing bands, and we're excited and honored to open both. Come early!



In other news, our record is out. It's called "THE WORST IS YET TO COME", and you can order it on our myspace page...so, click over and get it! You can hear a song from it if you're interested in the whole try-before-you-buy thing, or you can even get our entire first EP , complete with lyrics and artwork right here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?yun2o4r1zyz

In other news, we are going to shortly be having a member change, as bassist CJ is departing for greener pastures. We already have someone in the works, more on that later, but he's a hell of a dude and a hell of a player. Should be interesting.

Ok, more later, NCIS is on. Important things are afoot!

chris-torchbearer

That's right, ladies and gentlemen.. our upcoming 7", titled "The Worst Is Yet To Come", is now up for pre-ordering through the Soul Rebel Records MySpace page. You can find the fancy button to order it now here:
http://www.myspace.com/xsoulrebelrecordsx
It's 3 songs, recorded in Spring '09 at CDR studios. This record will be released as a vinyl EP, with a digital download option included in the record that may include some extra tidbits.

In other news, it looks like we'll be shooting a video for the song "The Really Useful Engines" in mid-June. It'll be our first video outing, and will be done with Drew Husosky, whose prior efforts include work with Dillinger Escape Plan, Nora, and From a Second Story Window.  We're stoked to get it done, and hopefully we won't look like the socially awkward malcontents we obviously are.

Now that Sam is officially ball-and-chained and back from his honeymoon, we're also going to be playing shows out regularly again. Check the shows section of the page:
http://www.myspace.com/torchbearer for details , and if you'd like to bring us to your town, drop us a line!

Our first 7-song ep is still available, complete with all cover art and lyrics:

Hey people, it's Sam. I've yet to blog for the band, and for good reason... I'm a babbling asshole! But, Ross advised that I post some news, so here ya go...

So, the 7" is mastered and making it's way through the machinery of the pressing plant. We're super stoked on it, and we hope you buy it so we can further fuel our candy addiction. Yea, that's right I said candy! Drugs are too trendy these days anyways. I digress (a lot). So we're looking at a release date somewhere between now and I dunno when (this summer perhaps?) I'm pretty sure we'll leak a track in the super near future.

Tonite will mark the first nite we're practicing as a band in what feels like an eternity. If you're wondering why this is, it's because next week my lovely significant other and I will be entering the institution that is holy matrimony. Anyone who's gone through the daunting task of planning a proper wedding knows the time that this takes. It's been a shit ton of meeting this one and calling that one. It's a headache, but well worth it, I'm sure. This is also the reason why we have no shows booked for the month of May. I'm hoping the rust built up on my hands is minimal so we can shake the foundations of Casa de Ross this evening. I'll also be picking up my Brown Sugar (guitar) today. We've been separated since our last show where I dropped her and cracked her neck. I'm sure she's not happy with me, but hopefuly she wont hold too much of a grudge so we can rock again w/o too much awkwardness between us.

So, I guess that's it for me. We'll be back shitting up the air by the end of the month when I get back from my honeymoon. This summer looks to be shaping up nicely with plenty of show playing, van riding, and some LP writing. Who knows? We may even surprise you w/ another release. Maybe a covers EP? Time will tell. Either way, I'm stoked on whatever is coming. Be well and talk soon.

Cheers,

Sam

MERCHANDISE


2008 Demo CDR - Message us to purchase. Only a few copies left. Or download it from mediafire.


Skullbearer T-Shirt - Available at shows. Also available from mailorder to anywhere in the world from Punkrockmusic.com.


"Carry the Torch: A Tribute to Kid Dynamite"
Available on CD from Get Outta Town Records.
Available on 2xLP and in a very fancy box set from Black Numbers.

DISCOGRAPHY & REVIEWS
I'll post everything I find. Full disclosure.

Carry the Torch: A Tribute to Kid Dynamite

We covered "The Penske File". Recorded early 2009 @ Casa De Ross.
Available on CD from Get Outta Town Records.
Available on 2xLP from Black Numbers.
A very fancy myspace page.

2008 Demo CDR

Recorded Summer '08 @ Casa De Ross
1) Die In Infamy
2) Punctuation Fucker
3) Kuhlthau
4) Voltaire
5) Pillar of Salt
6) Crying Wolf
7) Guantanamobabymonitor
Self-released. Approximately 100 made.
DOWNLOAD IT.
From Aversion Online:
"My apologies to New Jersey's Torchbearer for accidentally sitting on their debut EP/demo for far too long. I believe these seven songs mark the band's first recordings, and that's not half bad considering the significant 90's sounding influences swirling around amidst their brand of thick, surging post-hardcore/noise rock. On MySpace they cite their influences as Deadguy, Coalesce, Kiss it Goodbye, 108, Unbroken, Undertow, Botch, and Pink Floyd, and while I probably wouldn't have cited any of those bands as comparisons myself, that list does make sense when you think about the manner in which they're fusing together different angles and influences herein. In addition to the core of textbook rhythmic post-hardcore with gruffly shouted vocals resting deep in the mix are some heavier and more pounding rhythms that slow the pace a bit, as well as quite a few uses of strange (though not excessive) effects to create a certain sense of droning sustain or added atmosphere. The end result feels a little thicker, darker, and more aggressive than typical post-hardcore; though less grating and more tangible than the noisier and more chaotic side of the band's influences - while remaining very firmly rooted in a sound that will still be enjoyably familiar to anyone that's been a general fan of this style of music since the early- to mid-90's (and then some)..."

From Battle of the Midwestern Houswives Blog:
"I wouldn't exactly call these brahs metal-core, but Torchbearer (the one from NJ, there's some Swedish metal band that goes by the same name) does play some heavy and reeeeally dark hardcore. Hailing from New Brunswick, NJ, Torchbearer contains members from Nora, The Fire Still Burns, Low End Theory, and a crapload of other bands, so they definitely have the experience, and it shows through the polished, tight playing. Taking cues from The Hope Conspiracy (think "Endnote"), definitely keep your eyes on Torchbearer, I foresee them getting relatively big in hardcore. Oh, and they give away this 7 song EP for free on their myspace... so that's pretty sweet."

From Maximum Rock'N'Roll #310:
Damn, Listening to this CD is like taking a time machine back to the mid/late-90's. I can imagine Edison Records being all over this back in the day. Clearly these guys are big fans of that era's technical metal-core bands like BOTCH and COALESCE. This is actually really
fucking solid for what it is. The recording is fantastic, the riffs come off as crunchy and sharp, and the low end sounds amazing. The only real musical misstep is the long spoken word passages in "Voltaire." That shit was played back then, and it isn't any fresher today. While some might question their relevance to today's hardcore scene, I can't fault 'em. They clearly love this style and they do it really fucking well. (AU)

From Fetch the Pliers Blog:
"The first time i saw the guitarist and singer of this band was a short performance at a KOC in a band called MOTHER NIGHT and they blew me away. If anyone can provide a link for one or two of their songs, I'd appreciate it. The drummer is Chris Ross of Nora. Amit and Dan were in mother night. I am not sure about the other two but ... They all have been in a million bands, blah blah blah. scene cred. cool. This music is almost scary. It is very obvious they took time with these songs. I guess it could be compared to 108 and deadguy or whatever, but in my opinion, they have their own sound. It's all very mid-tempo and intense. Alot more musically driven than most hardcore, with weird effects, crazy tempos, heavy drums. Their time signatures will blow you away if you are into that. I always like when bands play around with different things and it comes out sounding bad ass and not over the top. This band just pulls it off better than a lot in my opinion. It's fucking heavy and doesn't get get drawn out. I do not want to take away from the singer's voice though, it is what holds the glue to this intense bizarre style of hardcore punk torchbearer seems to aim for. The singer growls like he's yelling at a specific person. There is a very old school traditional but also a very personal tinge in his vocals that you don't see in alot of local bands. Everybody that i know of in this band has been in the scene/making music as long as i've been aware of the underground music scene in new jersey and it pays off on this demo. They have long experience in making music that will rip your heart out and hold it still beating in front of you without a flinch, and these songs prove it. Songs clock in usually  between 3-4 minutes, strange, heavy, dark. love it. I hope this band gets the recognition they deserve for the work they put into this."