TORIZON: MELIORA EP REVIEW
- Feb 1
- 5 min read
Meanjin/Brisbane band Torizon released their second EP 'Meliora' this past September. "The self-proclaimed “petalcore” group fuses metalcore riffs with pop hooks and proggy grooves, balancing modern metal heaviness with raw vulnerability." Torizon has previously featured in our
15 Australian Bands You Should Be Listening To which you can read here. I will be placing a TRIGGER WARNING for Bloom as it has themes of child loss which may be confronting to those affected without warning. While the song is excellent, it may cause some distress. Torizon were kind enough to give me access to an "Easter Egg" cheat sheet for the EP so I will be sure to drop some of them here for you.
‘Bloom’ wasn’t written about a miscarriage - Mish originally wrote the lyrics about friendships growing apart as we enter different stages of our lives. Around the same time, we started floating the idea of writing a conceptual collection of songs about fertility struggles, so we adjusted the lyrics to suit the new theme.
The EP opens with 'Overture', a 1 minute 36 second instrumental piece. The score starts calm with piano before moving slowly into scaling
guitars and a soothing bass line, finishing on an energetic note as the drums enter the sound. The instrumental piece pulls you in, subtly like a beckoning hand.
Overture immediately leads into 'Bloom', where the music locks in. You left your mark on me, fingerprints on my heart. I have listened to Bloom quite a few times and I get goosebumps every time. Mish's voice portray's the longing and hurt of losing a child with excruciating detail. The combination of the male and female voices (Luna & Samson) feels like a conversation between the parents of the baby,
expressing their pain and devastation. Instrumentally you move through the stages of grief as the separation of time grows wider but the pain lingers, with a roller coaster of periods with spiralling guitars, crushing drums and a general undertone of sorrow and love. Even though you are gone, You're on the other side now, I'll save a space just for you, I pray that you will one day bloom.
You are the substance and the abuse, The drug I can't refuse. Next up is 'Sober'. Sober begins with an orchestral synth piece that carries throughout the track. The highs and lows of the song give the impression of someone who is riding the waves of addiction and climaxing with breaking free and the weight being lifted at its highest point. The vocal lines throughout this song are genuinely beautiful, with stunning harmonization, heavy rock tonality to Mish's voice (holding the
same weight as Ella Hooper of Killing Heidi) and the added harsh yet subtle fry used by guitarist / singer Ben. Set myself free, yeah. Set myself free, yeah. Set myself free this hell I've been living in.
You don't know the price I paid. From the way I carry the weight with a smile, And the way I betrayed myself every time. 'Currents' is a testiment to how versatile Torizon is, not only vocally but also instrumentally. As the song began I immediately felt a heavy weight in my chest and a tightening in my throat, and that was before the vocals had even kicked n. The energy this band builds into their music is actually insane. Entering this song is like
stepping into another universe, where, while still being very much on brand for Torizon, everything feels like it has switched to an alternative personality, like the version of you inside the mirror world. I understand that this is a very "woo-woo" response to the song but this song had me like a fairy trap from the beginning. Every time they broke me down, I survived, Deep inside my heart there is a strong undertow, Currents pull me back to places I've outgrown, The fight within is exhausting, Lead me back to the shore.
Luna and Sam are a Pokémon Sun and Moon reference. We specifically looked for names whose meanings translated to “sun” and “moon”. Luna’s name was locked in within minutes, but finding a name for her partner was a challenge. A lot of them were pretty wordy, but we landed on naming the male character Sam, short for Samson.
Been fighting these negative thoughts, But I can't remember why, Maybe there's a lesson in the end, Is this where it all begins.
You will find yourself leaning towards theatrical symphonic metal with 'Echoes'. Mish leans more towards the operatic with an ethereal head voice until the last thirty seconds of the track where she slips down into her chest rock sound and Ben pulls out some face melting and chaotic vocals. The track sits in a place between light and darkness, with the guitars, drums and Ben sitting in the dark and the orchestral and Mish in the light. All-in-all it feels like a battle of depression and the experience of fighting your way out of your own mind. The voices in my head again, Whisper words that break my soul.
Hold On’ was the first track we wrote on this EP. After releasing ‘Damaged’ and ‘Martyr’ in 2023, Luke and Mish were deep in songwriting mode. The first finished track in the batch of songs that ‘Meliora’ originated from was a rough demo of ‘Hold On’, which is now the finale of the ‘Luna & Samson’ anthology.
Now you feel so lost within, controlled by paralyzing fears, hours turn into days as you watch the ache arrive in waves. The finale arrives at 'Hold On' an anthem for staying alive, and living to fight another day. At points throughout the track the bass feels like a hammering heart beat, while the guitar and drums are a whirlwind of lost control, spiralling
into the darkest corners of yourself and finding the strength to carry on. Suicidal ideation is so prevalent in our community, so I will always speak up for those bands who put in the work to make music like this, as a reminder that the world wants you here and that tomorrow is a new day. Just one more day. Mish and Ben's vocals showcase a beautiful combination of pain and hope throughout the track and it has a very similar sing-ability, which in my opinion is extremely important for a song of this subject matter, to that of Numb by Linkin Park. Hold on to this life that you've been fighting for, Darkest nights till end, For the sun to rise again.
Torizon have hit many heavy subjects throughout Meliora, and they have been approached and executed in such a thoughtful way. I cannot wait to see what these talented musicians bring out next.
If you or someone you know who has lost a child and needs support, you can call Griefline between 8am-8pm daily on 1300 845 745.
If you are struggling with addiction the National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline is free and confidential on 1800 250 015.
If you need help, or someone to talk to Lifeline is available 24 hours either to call on 13 11 14 or via text on 0477 13 11 14.
For Fans Of: Evanescence, Bad Omens, Northlane and Linkin Park
Favourite Track: Currents
10/10
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