COSMIC ROUNDUP: LAUREN MASON OF TORPOR
It was a pleasure to put on Torpor in Cardiff back in July, they are heavy as fuck and super nice guys. They've had an incredible year with the release of "Rhetoric of the Image"and done a fuck load of touring to boot.
Let's find out what is in Lauren's brain.
Hi Lauren, how are you?
Hello! Default-tired, but otherwise good!
Torpor have been busy with the release of the feel-good album of the year “Rhetoric of the Image”. Have you been pleased with how it’s been received?
Absolutely! To be honest, we didn't have any expectations about how it would be received, we were all just really happy to finally have it out in the world...anything else is a bonus.
You’ve done a fuck-load of touring this year. How was it? Any funny stories to tell us?
Yeah, it's been great to play a decent amount of shows. We are too dour to have fun though. There was this one promoter in Cardiff who foolishly tried to make us have a party, he shut us in his basement and made us play ping pong all night...we were begging to go to bed!
You’ve been booked for Roadburn and Raw Power next year. You must be over the cowing moon?
We're still pinching ourselves about Roadburn to be honest, it's an absolute dream! I'm really excited about Raw Power too, I much prefer playing on eclectic lineups...there's only so many hours of doom riffs I can handle before I want to die.
Two of you have recently moved to Bristol. Have you been getting involved in the local scene? How is it different to London? Any Bristolian bands we should be keeping an eye on?
The Bristol scene is great, people are saying that it's in good health right now compared to maybe 5 years ago. There's definitely a lot going on, and some great promoters and venues. We already knew a few people, so it's been pretty easy settling in. The main difference is that everything is much closer together, it's still a novelty to be able to walk from one side of a city to the other! As far as Bristol bands, I'm looking forward to hearing the new Cegvera record, Levitas are doing good things, and Sonance are always incredible live.
What was the best gig you played in 2019?
Doomlines in Sheffield was amazing! So many fantastic bands, great venue, and we met loads of lovely people. That was the last night of our tour with Surya, and it was the perfect way to end it. Best gig you attended?
Lingua Ignota at Rough Trade in Bristol -- she is such a compelling performer, and to see her in a tiny room like that was magical. I had goosebumps!
Best festival you attended?
Roadburn, even though I got ill and was trying not to puke for most of the weekend...! Thou, Daughters, Lingua Ignota, Old Man Gloom, so many highlights.
What are your favourite releases from 2019?
I'm awful at keeping up with new releases, but Human Leather 'Succulent', Opium Lord 'Vore', Surya 'Solstalgia' are all ace. I've had a year of listening to mostly old stuff...I went through a long phase of only wanting to hear Radiohead's 'In Rainbows'...haha. I tend to get really into an album and listen to nothing else for ages, which means I miss a lot of things or only get round to listening to them years later.
What the hell are you up to next year?
We'll be doing an EU tour around Roadburn, ending with Northern Discomfort in Copenhagen. And planning a short northern UK tour in March. Our personal lives are kind of in disarray at the moment, so we're smothering our sorrows by playing all the gigs. Please book us.