Light The Torch on Tour
For some new bands, getting comfortable on stage takes time. Other groups hit the ground running fully formed — and never look back. Such was the case with the thrashing metalcore quartet Light the Torch, which played their first show in July 2018 and already sounded like seasoned vets.
Frontman Howard Jones switched effortlessly between guttural growls and melodic clean vocals as he stalked around the stage, steely look in his eye. Guitarist Francesco Artusato, meanwhile, teased out evocative riffs that echoed similarly forward-looking rock acts Rage Against the Machine and Faith No More.
After that initial gig, Light the Torch wasted no time hitting the road. Tours include a coveted support slot on both In This Moment's spring 2019 U.S. gigs and In Flames' spring 2019 U.K. and European trek, then spring 2019 North America co-headlining shows with Lamb of God's Mark Morton, and appearances at Rocklahoma and Inkcarceration festivals. In 2018, the busy band opened for Trivium and Avatar's fall tour and also did a short run of dates opening for GWAR.
Light The Torch Background
Heavy music fans will see some familiar faces in Light the Torch. Not only did frontman Howard Jones previously serve as head growler for Killswitch Engage, but he and two other members of the Los Angeles–based group — including former All Shall Perish guitarist Francesco Artusato and current Bleeding Through bassist Ryan Wombacher — also played in the bruising metalcore outfit Devil You Know.
The latter released two albums via Nuclear Blast, 2014's The Beauty of Destruction and 2015's They Bleed Red, before deciding to change their name to Light the Torch in 2017. Despite the moniker switch, 2018's Revival proves the troupe hasn't lost any ferocity — or desire for pushing boundaries. The album boasts plenty of snarling hard rock and metalcore flourishes, but also possesses meditative moments that break up the brutality, courtesy of Jones' muscular, emotion-rich vocals and atmospheric electronic programming.
