Despite being initially judged as a Xerox frontman when he joined Queensrÿche nearly a decade ago, Todd La Torre has proven to be so much more than a great Geoff Tate impression. Far from being a hired gun, La Torre has been a heavy player in the band’s creative process and even put his talents as a drummer to use on 2018’s The Verdict while also contributing guest vocals to other projects. Considering the recent pandemic-induced schedule opening, it was only inevitable for him to finish up his long-awaited debut as a solo artist.

 Contrasting the conceptual Progressive Metal that defines his alma mater, the style on Rejoice In The Suffering (Rat Pak Records) could be best described as thrashy, modern Heavy Metal. The vocals are aggressive, the riffs are choppy, and the tempos generally opt for upbeat chugs with some occasional groove-driven tracks. Rob Halford’s Fight is the most immediate comparison though there are further excursions that remind me of Annihilator, Overkill, and Metal Church, among others.

From there, La Torre and collaborating guitarist/bassist Craig Blackwell make a pretty good team. The vocals are particularly expressive, giving plenty of the melodic croons and wails that we have come to expect along with a variety of snarls, shrieks, and borderline growls. The riffs and structures often have a rudimentary quality, but the tone suits the style well while the leads have a certain flash behind their simplicity. The rhythm section is decidedly less prominent in the mix but the drumming, in particular, is competently executed.

This simplistic but varied attitude also extends to songwriting. While none of these tracks are poised to become major staples, it is cool to see these differing templates fit into the overall mood. ‘Darkened Majesty’ and ‘Vanguards Of The Dawn Wall’ were solid single choices and show those Thrash tendencies at their most potent along with the opening ‘Dogmata.’ I must admit that the more Groove Metal-oriented songs like ‘Cynical Critic’ and the title track can feel like a slog, but I also appreciate the dynamic ‘Vexed’ as well as the atmospheric touches of ‘Crossroads To Insanity’ and ‘Apology.’

As one would expect with a solo debut, Rejoice In The Suffering is a successful outlet for Todd La Torre to present himself as a truly multi-faceted performer. While the songs would have benefitted from a more focused vision and perhaps a shuffled track order, it’s really cool to see him pull off a more aggressive style. You can tell that this was a real labor of love that the musicians involved had a good time making. He’s done a great job keeping Queensrÿche functional in recent years, but I sure wouldn’t be opposed to seeing more material of this nature in the future.

Buy the album here: https://www.ratpakrecordsamerica.com/toddlatorre

7 / 10

CHRIS LATTA