TOWER – Let there be dark review

By Lily O’Delia 

If you’ve ever been at one of NYC-based metal band TOWER’s shows, you know the anticipation as they emerge on stage, feel the floor shake beneath you, and fall under their energetic spell. Their energy is raw and captivating. With the release of their latest album, Let There Be Dark, they show us something new. They’ve gone deeper, heavier, and, as the title suggests, darker. This time, the band isn’t just playing; they are digging in the shadows. Bringing music producer Arthur Rizk on for this project was a brilliant move. If you’ve heard of Power Trip or Kreator, then you are familiar with his work. Rizk brings that gritty, old-school NWOBHM vibe while adding a thick, modern punch that you can feel in your gut.

James Danzo and Zak Penley’s guitars rip and snarl with precision. Philippe Arman’s bass riffs are the foundation pulsing underneath like a second heartbeat; he doesn’t just support the guitars, he pushes them. The production feels masterful, raw, and real.

The album opens with “Under the Chapel.” The tune has an eerie, haunting feel. Sarabeth Linden said she got the idea for this song from a Yiddish lullaby her grandmother used to sing to her. You can feel that deep-rooted chill of history in every note. Sarabeth does not sugarcoat anything on this album. You can hear that blistering, banshee-like intensity that is pure metal in her voice.

“And I Cry” starts slow and heavy with emotion, then builds and explodes into a crescendo. It’s a proper heavy metal ballad and gives Sarabeth an opportunity to showcase her incredible vocal range. 

Then there is “Iron Clad,” which illustrates itself with flawless drumming detail by Keith Mikus. It’s a high-energy, fast-paced anthem reminiscent of Iron Maiden. 

As “Legio X Fretensis” begins, there is a brief interlude with Eastern influences that gives you just enough breath before the band pulls you back into the riffs.

The album’s lyrics delve into power, grief, transformation, and devotion. Not in a diary-confession way, but in myth. There’s an element where destruction feels purifying and freeing. That thematic investment gives the album coherence. It’s more of a complete world than just a collection of songs.

Let There Be Dark arrives without apology. Not one note here seems unsure of itself. Boldness runs deep, pulling you under rather than asking permission. These tracks leave marks that stick around long after the silence returns. Something waits beneath the surface, pieces revealing themselves slowly on the second and third listen. That quiet unfolding? That’s what gives this album weight.

This album is a testament that metal can be both polished and dark at the same time. No compromises.