Review TOWER “Let There Be Dark”

New York City is the home of Tower, a metal band formed in 2015. Their self-titled debut album hit the shelves rather quickly. It happened in 2016 and brought the band to the attention of Cruz del Sur. The Italian label, with an excellent metal portfolio, signed a deal with Tower, which led to the release of their second album, “Shock to the System”. Four years later, Tower are back with their third full-length, ‘Let There Be Dark’, which aims to follow in the footsteps of its great predecessor.

“Let There Be Dark” contains ten new songs and the band can certainly follow up on what they released on “Shock to the System” as the new album contains great metal anthems, soulful moments and blistering instrumentals.

“Under the Chapel”, that’s the name of the opener, which sets the tone for the album in a good way. It is an up-tempo metal song with great hooks and what stands out is the vocals of Sarabeth Linden. She just has a great voice that fits perfectly with Tower’s heavy metal approach. Whether it’s the smooth verse or the explosive chorus, Linden can handle it all.

Next up is the title track, which is inspired by US metal bands from the late 80s. I found myself thinking of bands like Forte and Liege Lord while listening to this masterfully crafted metal anthem. The calmer and softer moments are also present on the album. “And I Cry” shows what Tower are capable of when it comes to songwriting and creativity. It is an atmospheric beginning and if you are expecting a ballad, this is not what the song reflects in the second half. “And I Cry” gains power and represents the whole spectrum of Tower’s sound.

“The Wall of Souls” and “Legio X Fretensis” are the two instrumental interludes that frame the massive riff attack called “Book of the Hidden”. The latter is one of the heaviest songs on the album and is a real metal blast.

“Don’t You Say” brings the more epic side of Tower to the fore. It is again a more peaceful track with a lot of feeling, which adds to the flow of the album in a great way. And like ‘And I Cry’, ‘Don’t You Say’ evolves into a blistering metal song that passes the baton to ‘The Hammer’, the album’s closer. The more moderately paced track is a treat for the ears and rounds off an album that shows why heavy metal is such a great genre.

Heaviness, power and emotion are all present on this album. Tower inhale heavy metal and transform it into ten songs that will make your metal heart beat faster.