Meanjin/Brisbane petalcore outfit Torizon have just dropped their debut EP Meliora, exploring infertility through the characters of Luna and Sam. It’s rich and emotive, blending heavy sounds with vocal and lyrical vulnerability. Torizon teamed with Emerge Creative to create short videos accompanying the single releases, exploring how the couple fall apart from the grief, but rally together and ultimately reconnect. It’s a nice touch, adding an little extra dimension to the story of Luna and Sam.
Of the EP and recent single release “Hold On”, Torizon said:
“We wanted this EP to hopefully create a deeper sense of understanding about fertility struggles, which is not often talked about. The title came from the Latin phrase ‘Ad Meliora’, meaning ‘towards better things’, and it represents the resilience of anyone who has lived through these experiences. ‘Hold On’ is our way of urging listeners to keep pushing forward, even in their darkest moments.”
As a concept EP, it’s best enjoyed in order, telling the story of Luna and Sam as they navigate the aftermath of a tragic miscarriage. “Bloom” (see our BTS of the film clip HERE) is Luna’s grief writ large, the metaphor of a flower that never bloomed encapsulating all the lost hopes and excitement for a future that will never happen, while “Sober” leans more into Sam, finding ways to not only navigate his own grief, but support someone going through a major health event. It’s a painful back and forth between the characters, with Luna blaming herself and Sam struggling not to blame her too, each slipping further into their own misery and, in the process, moving further away from each other.
We then move into “Currents“, exploring how grief comes in waves, receeding only to come crashing down on us once more. Sometimes it’s a maelstrom, other days it’s calm, but it never quite goes away; we can only learn to ride it out. “Echoes” comes next, a warning against letting yourself collapse under the weight of the past, and it all culminates in rallying cry “Hold On”, an emotive reminder that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.
The combined vocals of frontwoman Mish Sharma and bassist Ben Gallaher carry us beautifully through the tracks, with Sharma’s soaring voice a perfect fit for the metal influences that abound in Torizon’s work. The EP might have benefited a little from something a little pacier, but given that it’s a concept piece with a clear story to tell, Meliora can absolutely be forgiven for leaning a little more into slower, contemplative territory. This one feels tailor-made for the quiet moments when you just need to feel something, and I hope Torizon take the fact that I’ll quite happily put this on when I need a good rage cry as the compliment I intend it to be.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Torizon’s Meliora is out now. Find it on your preferred streaming service HERE.
Torizon consists of Mish Sharma (piano/vocals), Luke Kleinschmidt (guitar/synths), Ben Gallaher (bass/vocals), and Isaac Turner (drums).
You can catch Torizon on tour later this year in support of the release of Meliora. Support from New Million. Dates as follows:
- Sat 11th October – The Loft Broadway, Eora/Sydney
- Sun 12th October – The Tote Upstairs, Naarm/Melbourne
- Sat 18th October – PFR Lounge, Meanjin/Brisbane
Tickets and more info HERE.
Images supplied by PR.
