Artist description “ G E T R E A D Y T O R O L L . . . . ” "Who knows how cracktorch have conjoured this bad magic? All I really know is that the world needs Cracktorch, now more than ever. A year ago, when this album was being written , I asked Mark Schlieder what it all meant. “All our songs”, he told me, “are about parties that went wrong.. and trying to get the drugs.” Now I ask you citizen, has there ever been a more nobel or just pursuit in this rock n roll life? The thunder has returned to the mountain, the evil has been vanquished, all wretchedness has been spurned. All that is left is a gathering of the tribes, the time of the new hedonism. This is not just an album...this is the soundtrack for your new life.That is, if you're cool enough, and brave enough to grip the wheel with both hands, crush the pedal under your boot and ride this sucker all the way. 'How? NOW! Get ready to roll', rocker. It is true, CRACKTORCH...is not the problem. It is not the solution either, YOU ARE, they've meerly provided you with the manual, a sonic blueprint for the revolution that's been boiling in your brain" Cracktorch are from Boston MA in the U.S of A and this is their first album. Bothers and sisters, consider the jams kicked the fuck out. Like the Supersuckers, Urge Overkill, and Thin Lizzy before them, Cracktorch sparks an arena-ready flame. Like wet prophets on a motor city mission." - The Weekly Dig by Sleazegrinder

Music Style Guitar Rock

Musical Influences Thin Lizzy, Urge Overkill, Kiss, MC5

Similar Artists See Musical Influences

Group Members Marc Schleicher: vocals/guitar Chris Jackson: guitar/vocals Bob Maloney: bass/vocals Nick Zampiello: drums

Albums Cracktorch ...is not the problem

Press Reviews Relax, you have safely landed on planet Rock�n Roll with Stardestroyer "Cracktorch". Excellent riffing and ideas with a smoothly whiskeysoaked voice. Lunasound always explores cool bands and Cracktorch are defnetly another diamond of music. Groovin� Rhodes Piano, crashin� guitars and brilliant ideas is the receipe of Cracktorch. No, these guys defnetly don�t follow the new Punk�n Roll hype, they make their own thing and I love this album. A fat recording with catchy Rock�n Roll Blockbusters. I would say if you like the Hellacopters album, you sure will dig this Cracktorch�s "...Is Not The Problem". This is what I call listening pleasure. http://www.daredevil.de/ When I was first approached with the idea of having Cracktorch appear at the big Horns Up Records/WTD concert in Brooklyn on June 8 and 9, I wasn't sure what to say. I'd heard of the band, but I had never actually heard them. I knew that they were from Boston, which led me to assume a few things. For starters, I immediately guessed that Cracktorch is a hardcore band. After all, every album from Curve of the Earth and Wonderdrug Records has been hardcore to some degree, including the likes of Tree, Superkollider, and Watchmaker. So when ... Is Not The Problem arrived, (courtesy Duncan Wilder Johnson), I popped it in the Discman and set off for work anticipating 13 songs of the classic Boston hardcore I've come to appreciate. The thing is, Cracktorch isn't at all like that. There are hardcore elements to be sure, but ... it's not angry. At all. In fact, this album is damn fun. I found myself singing along by the second listen, tapping my foot and bobbing my head with the beats with a goofy smile on my face. Cracktorch doesn't write anthems (a la New York hardcore) or punk-like purges of anger (a la Boston hardcore), instead they write songs that grab the listener with how catchy, clever, and downright badass they are. This band is heavy, to be sure, but it's not because of speed. Like the new Down album says, "the power of the riff compels me!" That's what this is like. I can't really give a track-by-track analysis here, because I've never thought of the album that way. The first 9 tracks just flow together so smoothly that you have to take them as one lump sum; where one ends and one begins is totally irrelevant. Tracks 10-13 are listed as bonus tracks, so I'd assume that they were released earlier on vinyl or something. (The band and label's websites don't reveal anything about the group's history, so I have to guess.) The "bonuses" are really fantastic, starting with "Spider and the Fly". It's a great little bluesy tune with Fick and guest Jen Adams on vocals, and the girls sound fantastic in this duet. I really, really like this song a lot, even though it's nothing like anything else on the disc. "Helicopter vs. Blimp II" is also a standout for me, mostly because the bass line is really killer. It's even harder to pick out several standouts on this record because everything sounds terrific. The production is crystal clear, the mix is perfect, and the band is just kicking 100% of the time. Schleicher's vocals are perfect for the music, the guitars work together very well and are never out of time, and the drumming is flawless. I really don't have enough good things to say about Cracktorch, which is so far the best band I've been introduced to in 2002. They won this year's Boston Music Award for "Best Local Hard Rock Act", and I can see why. What a friggin' band. Now I can't wait to see them live. Review by Dr. Perky http://www.whitetrashdevil.com/

Location Boston, MA - USA

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