Torchlight Parades emerged out of Akron in 2008 as a two-man musical side project, but as the group expanded and the songwriting progressed, a full-fledged experimental rock band was born. This year, the group released its debut album, “Catatonia,” a sometimes dark, melodic sonic voyage through life and death. The disc’s opening track, “We’re Here and There” is an instrumental piece that follows a soft to loud formula that ascends to crashing noise and harmonies. It is followed by “Birth Trauma,” this time introducing skilled vocals and illustrative songwriting by Darron Ball and Matthew Morrison. Though lyrics like “Was it television dreams/That birthed this physical flesh-eating fiend?” channel themes of horror, the melodic vocals ease the mind and create a soothing juxtaposition between music and lyrics. “Catatonia” is a diverse assortment of tracks, mixing prog rock, post rock and acoustic stylings, weaving the genres and bending them artistically. It is experimental music at its purest, and these four Rubber City music makers show progression and growth even throughout the 10-track release. “Winter Blues” is the album’s standout, the quiet, acoustic number with bending, psychedelic guitars and lyrics full of yearning. This is a track Thom Yorke could have written, but Torchlight Parades got there first. In fact, the disc itself follows Radiohead patterns and inklings, but it’s certainly no rip off. The release is fresh, and it’s Morrison, Ball, Corey Stoffer and Nicholas McCabe as innovators, creating new and exciting local music for the masses.