You'd think it'd be a great time to be in Torche. Year-end best-of lists are pouring in, and their stoner/doom/grindcore metal masterwork Meanderthal is getting heaps of acclaim, including the #1 spot in Decibel's list. Raining on the parade is the departure of guitarist Juan Montoya, who gave Meanderthal some Godzilla-sized hooks and hand-drawn cover art.
Still awaiting a verified comment from the band, but one thing for certain is that this sucks. They're wrapping up their tour as a 3-piece, which I'm sure still sounds awesome, but of all the bands that could lose a guitarist, did it have to be this one?
(Juan's the long-haired dude on the left)
