More about: Tors

Tors have always been unapologetically honest in their music, an abundance of emotion and truth wrapped up in stunning skills of lyricism and artist integrity. It’s hard to imagine how much honesty you unload into one song, but how about 12 all within close proximity of release?

This year the Devon three-piece promised one single every month to their fans. Now we’re five months into 2020, and they’re still strengthening their relationship with fans through the fifth single. Here’s our look back at their 2020 singles so far… 

'The Way That It Goes'

With the promise of releasing an album’s worth of material over a 12 month period, single number one threw out a blinder of a folk-pop song. Demonstrating their ability to write lyrics as memorable as a Top 40 chart topper, Tors haven’t shied away from pulling the curtains open to reveal big choruses. “It’s hard letting go, when you love what you hold” frontman Matt sings, echoing his vulnerability and openness from other singles, creating a hard to knock foundation for their music. It’s a steady start, but with another 11 singles to come, it’s hard to know which way this is going to go. Are we about to get a load of singles quickly put together or is this going to be a series of huge statements? If we go by their past, we’re about to experience a roller coaster built by the strength of their music, and we’re going to keep wanting more. 

'Look At Us'

February’s release built upon the support of the previous single and catapulted Tord to the next level. Complete with the perfect opportunities for crowd participation during live shows, Look At Us moved towards a lighter tone, but kept with the prodigious storytelling which sets the trio apart. The second single of the year doesn’t pull apart too much from the first, but aims to steady the mood and tone instead. Most notably a track which would perfectly fit on their Wilder Days EP, you might start off with thinking we have heard this all before. But by the time we reach the first reveal of the chorus, it’s difficult to not be invested in every thud of the drums, accompanied by the lighter tones of Theo’s playing trickling through. 

'Broken Bones'

Released on the day of their headline show at London’s Scala, 'Broken Bones' took on the role of being a personal comforter to so many of its listeners. Easing in with warming tones, and turning the mood as the seasons around us began to change, the third song captured the distinct levels of production the Devon band has started to introduce in 2019, but still held the core of its beauty with the virtuous lyrics. To this point, this is the single that flows the best and begins to push the limits of how far Tors can go with their music. It’s a song ready for primetime radio, accompanying the world through their commutes, and the highs and lows of personal life. It’s relatable, but it’s not haunting. It’s thought-provoking but doesn’t suppress the mood. Encompassing the crowd participation moments that Look At Us had but trailing in the firm harmonies of older singles ‘Merry Go Round’ and ‘Hold Me’, this single is almost paradise calling. 

'Sorry'

If Tors had found the perfect formula for their music on Broken Bones, they didn’t care. 'Sorry' bats all the production out of the park and introduces the vulnerability as the focal point of their music. The most showmanship you can find on this single is perhaps the thumping backdrop of Jack’s drum playing, though it doesn’t disturb the vocal tones guiding the way down the path of the story. This is a single you could find on a Busted record and love every second of it, the whole essence of the song captures the 00s boy band ballad moments, but brings it forward by a decade. To hear the music stripped back once again is refreshing: it shows the roots of the band for the fans, and brings back a sense of nostalgia for the older community. By this point, a theme is starting to occur within the music which battles the ideas of having to leave things in the past to better your own life, reflecting on the alcohol-fuelled nights, the arguments, but the love and affection that still remains strong; even when letting go. For single number four, Tors create the impact that lets us know these songs aren’t being released for the sake of it, there’s a lot more meaning and connection behind this than we may have originally expected. 

'All My Friends'

If you were at London's Scala on Friday 13 March, this is the moment we were all taken back by the decision for Matt to embrace the frontman role and not hold on to his guitar, instead switching to installing his faith in the drums into his performance. Smooth vocal transitions and off beat rhythmic melodies capture a new energy for Tors. It feels like a much more modern take on their music, but is so blatantly one of their own songs. It proves progression, and a lack of fear in what they’re releasing. Each single is a statement in big forms, but All My Friends sets out the task of introducing what could be a new era, and we’re here for it. It takes probably about two listens before you’re singing along and feeling the ripples of an emotionally charged cut. Tackling the idea of repetitiveness in life and the hardship of cutting ties again, we would be foolish to not suggest that this feels like the band have just grown up that little bit more and are ready to throw in the maturity levels to take it to the next stage. This is the single that is about to shape their future. 

More about: Tors