Torche are a metal band that’s not metal. They have a metalesque sound, and they have signed to metal label Relapse, but to hear the band tell it, they are here to rock.

And I have to agree. On first listens to new songs like “Loose Men” from their most recent album Restarter, released in February, the hard rocker quartet — consisting of lead singer and guitarist Steve Brooks, bassist Jonathan Nuñez, drummer Rick Smith, and guitarist/vocalist Andrew Elstne — are more apt to remind me of Van Halen than they are Avenged Sevenfold. (Although make no mistake, they sound like neither one.)

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Press for the band say the band merges “huge infectious melodies with down-tuned, crushing sludgy rock,” which could appeal to those who like Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth or the Melvins.

Pitchfork called Restarter “an absolutely killer rock record — one that’s likely to appeal to listeners into any stripe of heavy music from the past 20 years.”

You have the chance to put this to the test, as Torche hit DC9 on Sunday, March 29 for the last date of their current tour in support of Restarter. You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck, as Torche bring along opening act Wrong (from their shared hometown of Miami) and local acts Jeff Carey and Black Clouds jump onto the bill as well.

Torche
w/ Wrong, Jeff Carey, Black Clouds
DC9
Sunday, March 29
Doors @7pm
$12
All ages