10 Best Hard Rock And Heavy Metal Songs Of 2015 (So Far)

Heavy metal has been transformed somewhat in the last five years with bands like Deafheaven striving to brighten the genre up somewhat. Another band attempting to do the same are the Florida ensemble Torche. Their unique brand however of sludge metal backdrops laden with melodic hard-pop sensibilities sets them apart from the rest of the pack.

This year's Restarter was the fourth studio release for the rockers, one which epitomizes what they are all about. Lead single 'Minions' is the most crushing example of their tireless search for the prettier sides of hard music. It builds methodically enough with a standard drum beat and melodic, guitar notes before bursting apart for the chorus into a colorful, coming of age, epic. Throw in a rip-roaring guitar solo and a brilliantly hazy vocal performance and you have one of the best releases this year.

'Minions' demonstrates that musical heaviness in the genre doesn't necessarily have to be dark or aggressive to achieve the desired effect, instead the song simply moves forward at its own pace, blowing everything else away with its heavy reverberations. 

Torche hit their career peak this year with Restarter mainly due to their unwillingness to force the music and on 'Minions' they continue that trend, creating a slow burning, glass ceiling breaking, force of nature.