MonstrO, an Atlanta four-piece consisting of Bloodsimple’s Kyle Sanders and Devan Davies, former Torche guitarist Juan Montoya and vocalist/guitarist Charlie Suarez, have signed to Vagrant Records. Considering the heritage of its members, the band doesn’t sound much like either band. On the demos we’ve heard (some of which are up on their MySpace page), there’s a bit of a Torche influence on songs like “Anchors Up,” but we get more of an early Soundgarden/Screaming Trees vibe from some songs, and there’s even a bit of Jeff Buckley in Suarez’ vocals. They definitely have their own sound, and it’ll be exiting to see what their debut album sounds like when it comes out in late Summer.

The band entered a studio in Atlanta earlier this week with producer (and Alice In Chains frontman) William DuVall. “We’ve been collectively writing and recording for two years now and thanks to Vagrant we’re finally recording our first proper full-length,” said Sanders in a statement. “We’ll be locked up for the next month recording and mixing with our good friend William DuVall at the helm. These songs have taken on a life of their own and we’re all extremely thrilled to lay them all down and begin the journey.” Who’s happiest about the signing? Probably TesseracT, now that there’s another band that uses the same dumb way of spelling their name.