#riotcity — Public Fediverse posts

Picture it. Asheville, North Carolina, 2024. A devastating hurricane had just ripped through my region, wiping out entire sections of our richest cultural centers and critical economic staples, not to mention forever impacting the lives and homes of hundreds of thousands of residents (myself included). But, as the absorbent and resilient sponge I know myself to be—and with the help of hordes of kind and loving friends and family—I persisted. Not even a full month after disaster struck, I resumed my writership by covering Greek heavy metal quintet Triumpher’s sophomore epic Spirit Invictus. An eternity spans between then and now, but like myself, Triumpher persists, Piercing the Heart of the World in 2026.

Those who heed Triumpher’s call as I do will be happy to know that the MegatonManowarsword righteousness these Greeks wield like Olympians remains as stalwart as ever. In fact, Piercing the Heart of the World marks the high-water mark of the Triumpher troupe’s songwriting skill and performative prowess. Mars Triumph puts down a vocal showcase of a singular passion, his wild and animalistic delivery reminiscent of Riot City’s early work. That invigorating spirit finds loyal and unflinching support from stellar guitar leads, galloping riffs, and scorching tremolo waves courtesy of guitarists Christopher Tsakiropoulos and Mario Ñ Peters. Meanwhile, Stelios Zoumis rumbles like a thunderous storm, throwing hefty bass bolts through every measure to anchor every one of Piercing’s 45 minutes in righteous metal. Driving the march toward inevitable WICTORY, Agis Tzoukopoulos tumbles, pounds, and stomps his way through every technique known to metalkind in the pursuit of maximum awesomeness, and finds it with alarming regularity here.

Piercing The Heart Of The World by TRIUMPHER

Piercing the Heart of the World proves that Triumpher achieved the next stage of evolution in their still-young career. With the massive one-two punch of “Black Blood” and “Destroyer,” Piercing launches with a ferocity that would intimidate the finest specimen of any apex predator family. The former song recalls the vampiric darkness that inked Storming the Walls, which is a welcome introduction, but fails in the most exhilarating way to prepare me for the sword-raising spirit of the latter. That, in turn, fails to prepare me for the epic beauty that is “The Mountain Throne.” The first of two Song o’ the Year contenders, this sub-seven-minute odyssey traverses a calming plucking melody to dive right into blackened speed and a thrashy gallop, all while Mars croons and wails atop a storm of double bass runs and blasts. Yet, the whole is smoother than chrome and sharper than scalpels, resulting in an utterly astounding listening experience. However, even it feels understated when faced with the late-album highlight “Erinyes.” Punky and thrashy in a way I never thought traditional heavy metal could be, but still possessed of that chest-thumping, fist-pumping flame that lights hearts and souls ablaze, “Erinyes” is an unqualified success of excess, exuberance, and excitement.

In the past, Triumpher’s greatest weakness was always that the highlights far outstripped the supporting cast. Not so with Piercing. Even the slow and metered “Ithaca (Return of the Eternal King),” ballad interlude “Vault of the Immortals,” and two-act closer “Naus Apidalia” find ways to make memories and stand with distinction in Triumpher’s catalog. In all cases, those memories are founded in storytelling, either by establishing new characters (as is the case with “Ithaca”), shifting the tone (“Vault”), or by resolving arcs and tying up loose ends (“Naus Apidalia”). This strategy, in turn, makes more traditional heavy metal crowd pleasers like “The Flaming Sword”—which boasts a sleeper chorus that will get stuck in your head—feel more impactful than they might’ve otherwise.

With this in mind, I found very little to complain about. If it weren’t for his sheer charisma, I would say that Mars’ vocal performance teases the “Too Much” button far more often than I prefer. Were it not for the presence of endless barnstormer solos and affecting melodies, I would bemoan the protracted runtime of the closer. The meaty bass presence foils my bubbling rant against the more aggressive compression and increased loudness of this master. The caveats persist, leaving behind a wake of hobbled criticisms that would conspire to chip away at Triumpher’s final score. The damage they perpetrated amounts to mere flesh wounds in the end. Put simply, Piercing the Heart of the World is Triumpher’s greatest triumph yet, and you’d do well to hear it!

Rating: Great!
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: No Remorse Records
Websites: triumpher.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/Triumpher.official
Releases Worldwide: March 6th, 2026

Steel Druhm

I was unaware of Greek mega-trve metal warriors Triumpher until Kenstrosity tackled their Storming the Walls debut back in 2023. I was immediately intrigued by the Manowar-meets-Megaton Sword-meets-Primordial sound they brought to the battlefield, and though there were some trials, tribulations, and rough spots to their presentation, the core of something bigger was there. Things improved on 2024s Spirit Invictus, as the Triumpher sound became more potent and consistently enthralling, and they seemed poised to usurp the throne of trve metal through sheer might and mayhem. Fast-forward to 2026, and their third crusade is set to kick off with Piercing the Heart of the World. I came into this hoping and expecting to be shocked and awed by sword, shield, and steroidal masculinity. Could Triumpher be the Manowar for this new age? That’s a mighty big loincloth to fill, but hope hung thickly in the air.

My anticipation of excessive glory overload was slaked by ginormous opener “Black Blood,” and woe to those who don’t bend the knee. It’s a volatile mash-up of Manowar, Primordial, and Doomsword, with a structure that starts out larger-than-life and tries to stack vainglorious and titanic moments upon one another like a grand memorial to the Elder Gods. Vocalist Mars Triumph channels Manowar’s legendary Eric Adams while also referencing Primordial’s A.A. Nemtheanga. This makes the song a total barn burner and exactly what I was hoping for. They follow this up with the uber-beefy, badass “Destroyer,” which reeks of Manowar’s The Triumph of Steel era. Grandiose choral segments and black metal influences elbow their way in, but this is a trve metal chariot ride through the Nine Worlds. Keeping the sword between the ribs, “The Mountain Throne” finds Triumpher pushing every lever to MAX GLORY as the false and weak flee for the safety of their fortifications. This one brings a lot of the same energy as the recent Fer De Lance, and there are touches of Lost Horizon, too. Mars stretches his vocals to the very edge of madness, and the chorus is as mighty as a barrel full of Wotans. Those who make it through this will be gifted a lifetime supply of wisdom, power, and back hair.

What could stop such a mighty and righteous host after such a rousing start? A soft and flabby middle, that’s what. “Ithaca (Return of the Eternal King)” is a slow-burning epical ballad that keeps building toward a massive release of rage and wiolence, but the release never arrives, and you’re kept on the edge of something for nearly 7 minutes with no somethings in sight. This results in the condition known as Blue Baldur. “Ithaca” is immediately followed by the 2-minute interlude “Vaults of Immortals,” which is equally restrained and subdued, making for 9 minutes stuck in emo-fied low-gear. This blunts the album’s momentum, taking you out of battle rage and into resource management. Steel cares not for resource herding when they are enemies left to be smottened! While things pick up with “The Flaming Sword,” and especially the trve-meets-semi-black-thrash of “Erinyes,” it feels like the album never fully regains its war footing, and 9-minute plus closer “Naus Apidalia” is merely good, not great, and suffers from some very Virgin Steele-esque compositional sinkholes and ego bloat. At a reasonable 44:44, Piercing the Heart of the World feels much longer than that, and though the first 16 or so minutes are massive, the rest of the album can’t sustain the prolonged siege.

I’m impressed with Mars Triumph’s performance. He’s gotten more proficient from album to album, and he has a crazy broad range. Anyone who can approximate Eric Adams is talented, and his black and death vocals are good as well. That said, he can and does overdo things at times, pushing his tonsils beyond human control. I can’t even suggest he dial things back, since that is not what Triumpher is all about. You just take the good with the weird and ride on. The guitar work from Christopher Tsakiropoulos and Mario Ñ Peters brings the thunder to the tundra, borrowing from a raft of trve and heavy influences while injecting enough blackened edges to make things extra deadly and dangerous. As the riffs roar and soar, Agis Tzoukopoulos delivers Scott Columbus-approved war drumming that embiggens the sword and spirit. This is a talented horde, and it’s the songwriting missteps that ultimately derail their relentless advance.

Triumpher have all the tools to forge a world-beating heavy metal monsterpiece, but Piercing the Heart of the World fails to penetrate my armor and score a critical hit. I heartily enjoy the opening trilogy, and there’s solid stuff later on, but this isn’t an album that captivates me from start to finish, despite my fervent wishes that it did. Piercing loses some of the ground won by Spirit Invictus, but I haven’t lost heart. The warrior spirit will endure and rise again if Crom wills it. Onward to great deeds!

Rating: 3.0/5.0

Crucible – Hail to the Force Review

By Steel Druhm

By: Nameless_n00b_604

Whether you’re a fledgling artist or an industry veteran, the process of making music is hard, strewn with obstacles internal and external. For the speed/US-inspired power metallers Crucible, that obstacle was Mother Nature, who gifted them a massive snowstorm that drastically impeded their studio time to record their debut album Hail to the Force. The Danes, thus, banged out the entire ten-track, thirty-seven-minute record in a week. For a young band recording a debut together, that’s nuts. But we’re not here for the story—we’re here for the album, a throwback affair of promo-purported “ferocious aggression with strong melodies and epic heavy metal atmospheres.” Did Nature not want this thing made, or was she testing Crucible to give Hail to the Force the fire they need to stand amongst the Metal Gods they venerate?

Crucible really likes the ’80s. Throughout Hail to the Force, Crucible administer Judas Priestly heroics at Riotous speeds, ripping Defenders of the Faith leads on the title track and injecting “Savage Weapon” with Thundersteel adrenaline. Openers “Deathdealer” and “Embrace of Steele” are as archetypically speed metal as they come, awash with thundering drums and bass by Ole Iversen and Kenneth Frandsen respectively, soaring vocals by Phillip Butler (Pectora) and massively palm-muted riffs by guitarists Thomas Carnell (Impalers) and Jon Brogård. “Manic Minute” sees Butler deliver power metal wails as the band rages with Motörhead delinquency, while “Far Beyond the Grave” revels in the retro futuristic aesthetics of Iron Maiden’s Somewhere in Time. They even recall fellow throwback acts, deploying belligerent vocals on “Evilforce” reminiscent of Livewire and the modernly loud, yet organic production of Riot City. Without question, Crucible is married to their influences.

Crucible brings talent and vitality to Hail to the Force, but never escapes their influences’ shadows. Stomping the pedal down and rarely letting up, with “Evilforce” and “Mad Minute” showcasing their most frantic capabilities, Crucible can’t be accused of sluggishness. Neither could their guitarists be justly labeled as shlubs: their solos are brimming with sharp, vintage shredding and tasteful sweeping. But too often, Crucible stick to the speed metal playbook like glue. “Deathdealer,” “Savage Weapon” and the title track mimic thrashy power metal riffs and piercing wails done countless times before them, leaving little of their own DNA in the mix. Rhythmically, Crucible keeps it basic, only flirting with groove on “Far Beyond the Grave” and some surprise stop-and-starts throughout. Unexpectedly, the instrumental “While My Guitar Gently Sweeps” with its Bladerunner-evocative synth-scape, relaxed tempo and root-note-escaping bass lines showcase Crucible at their freshest and reveal how one-note much of the other songs can be. Hail to the Force is undeniably fun, but its derivativeness leaves it stuck in the realm of mere tribute.

Sadly, awkward songwriting pulls Hail to the Force down further. Crucible’s short-and-sweet songcraft is admirable, demonstrating a willingness to self-edit, but many tracks feel somewhat half-baked. “Deathdealer’s” solo ends anticlimactically, while “Mad Minute” wraps up with little resolution following its solo. Despite short runtimes, over-repetition remains a problem, with “Redwing” wearing thin its Maidenesque “oh-oh” bridge and the title track wearing its name out with overuse. Vocals can also flounder, as Butler’s lines—kept primarily to a high, strained register—are sometimes clunky. “Embrace of Steele’s” chorus sounds off-balance, like it’s rushing through its last couple lines, while the melismatic runs in “Far Beyond the Grave” don’t sound strictly in-key. Butler’s best performance is on “Splashed to the Four Winds,” a Judas Priest-like bruiser where he plays a veritable Halford and, coincidentally, sings lower than normal. Nothing on Hail to the Force is bad or—worse—boring, but enough nitpicks keep most of Crucible’s offerings from reaching their fullest potential.

Hail to the Force is enjoyable, but I know Crucible have more interesting material in them. Crucible know how to trim down, which is half the battle of good music, but now they need to learn when to let loose. If the power and chutzpah Crucible exhibited on this record were to appear on a more adventurously diverse sophomore release, it would make for a gangbusters follow-up. But as is, fans of the olde school will likely appreciate Hail to the Force’s retro aesthetics, youthful enthusiasm, and proficient musicianship. I just hope Mother Nature cuts Crucible a break for their next one.

Rating: Mixed.
DR: 6 | Review Format: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: From the Vaults
Websites: crucibledk.bandcamp | facebook.com/cruciblespeedmetal | instagram.com/cruciblespeedmetal
Release Date: September 12th, 2025

#25 #2025 #Crucible #DanishMetal #FromTheVaults #HailToTheForce #HeavyMetal #IronMaiden #JudasPriest #LiveWire #Motörhead #PowerMetal #Review #Reviews #Riot #RiotCity #RiotV #Sep25 #SpeedMetal

Morgen will ich mal wieder in's #NewForce nach #Erlangen. Die Forcler haben einen Abend unter dem Motto „Screams from the Underground" quasi genau für mich vorbereitet. Als Musikwunschliste kann ich dann einfach meine Kutte hinter die DJ-Theke reichen 😁 — freu' mich drauf!

> „Wir widmen uns den Abend über jüngeren Vertretern des traditionellen Metal, d.h. wir spielen aus aus den Bereichen New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, US Metal und Epic Doom der letzten Jahre.
Freut euch auf #Enforcer, #AtlanteanKodex, #UntoOthers, #Visigoth aber auch @mechanictyrants, #RiotCity, #NightDemon & Konsorten!“

Tower – Let There Be Dark Review

By Steel Druhm

Back in the Year of Our Plague 2021, New York City’s own Tower came out of nowhere and delivered a massive sucker punch to an unsuspecting Steely with their appropriately titled sophomore opus Shock to the System. It was a powerhouse ode to classic 80s metal full of sizzling guitar work and the massive vocals of Sarabeth Linden. It mixed the best elements of early US metal and NWoBHM, touching on nostalgia acts like Riot City and Enforcer along with classic units like Chastain and Oz and it hit significantly above its weight. 2025 brings the sequel, Let There Be Dark, and it’s business as usual at the Tower of Power as they dig deep into the 80s metal crypts for retro gold. But can they catch lightning in a hobo wine bottle twice? Pray for retro mojo.

The recipe that worked so well last time is still in use, but Tower try out some softer shades now too. Opener “Under the Chapel” is a barn scorcher full of dazzling riffwork leveraging the raucous, punky edge of NWoBHM, but rather than coming in at 12 and staying there, Sarabeth opts for seductive croons over brute force at times, using her enchanting siren song to create a more diverse experience. The aggressive music pairs very well with Sarabeth’s shifting tones and the song sticks in the grey matter immediately. The title track is another in-your-face rocker leaning on 80s speed metal, providing Sarabeth the perfect foundation to roar and soar. The chorus is a simple but elegant fist-pumper and their rowdy retro magic shines brightly. The high point arrives with “Holy Water,” which is just a lean, mean metal tune full of pugnacious attitude, ripping guitar work, and mammoth vocals. Sarabeth goes all in here, showing all phases of her range as she destroys the universe like an Infinity Gauntlet set to “Pulpify.” This woman has the Kovorka!

Elsewhere, “Book of the Hidden” scores another big win for Tower, finding an epic level in their sound that marries well with the straightforward, no-nonsense riff hooliganism, making the whole thing reek of 1983. To change things up, they deliver a seething power ballad called “And I Cry” where Sarabeth wallows in emotional tumult. Sarabeth shines, forcing your rapt attention despite the maudlin mechanics. Better still is “Don’t You Say” where they borrow a lot from the classic Judas Priest brooder “Night Comes Down.” While Let There Be Dark is a wild, entertaining ride, it’s not without a few minor issues. Both “And I Cry” and the very Mötörhead-esque “Iron Clad” are good but not quite next level, and closer “The Hammer” is a badass song that runs a bit too long at nearly 7 minutes. The presence of 2 short interludes on an album running just 39 minutes also seems unnecessary. The overall writing level is very good but a bit less righteous than on Shock to the System. Still, when this thing smokes, you get burned by trveness.

Sararbeth Linden is the vibrant core of the band, with her vocals doing much of the heavy lifting. She has the rough-hewn rasp of Janis Joplin and the breathy power of a young Cher and I continue to be awed by the size and scope of her voice. The lady sounds massive at all volumes and she’s exceptionally versatile. She can blow the doors off with a leather-lunged roar and beguile with a soft lilt. It occurs to me that what Tower and Nite do musically isn’t that far apart, but boy, what a difference a talented vocalist makes. Imagine Sarabeth dropping into the middle of a Nite track? BOOM goes the dynamite! Speaking of explosives, James Danzo and Zak Penley use their wanton guitar heroics to fight Sarabeth for your attention. Their playing reminds me a lot of Satan’s Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey as they rip off flaming riffs, hooky harmonies, and face-melting solos. They capture the early 80s metal sound and dabble in punk and speed elements to spice things up. Together with bassist Phillip Arman and new kit killer Keith Mikus, they lay out a wonderful soundscape for Sarabeth to chew on, and chew she certainly does.

Let There Be Dark is another notch in the win column for the little New York City band that could. It’s not as rabid as Shock to the System but it isn’t far off the bite mark. Tower are the band to watch in the retro metal space now and they have the talent to do anything they want. Climb this Tower to the tippy-top and hurl yourself into the retroverse.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Cruz Del Sur
Websites: towernyc.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/towernyc | instagram.com/towernyc
Releases Worldwide: March 21st, 2025

#2025 #35 #AmericanMetal #Chastain #CruzDelSurMusic #Enforcer #HeavyMetal #LetThereBeDark #Mar25 #Nite #Oz #Review #Reviews #RiotCity #Satan #ShockToTheSystem #Tower

Tower – Let There Be Dark Review

By Steel Druhm

Back in the Year of Our Plague 2021, New York City’s own Tower came out of nowhere and delivered a massive sucker punch to an unsuspecting Steely with their appropriately titled sophomore opus Shock to the System. It was a powerhouse ode to classic 80s metal full of sizzling guitar work and the massive vocals of Sarabeth Linden. It mixed the best elements of early US metal and NWoBHM, touching on nostalgia acts like Riot City and Enforcer along with classic units like Chastain and Oz and it hit significantly above its weight. 2025 brings the sequel, Let There Be Dark, and it’s business as usual at the Tower of Power as they dig deep into the 80s metal crypts for retro gold. But can they catch lightning in a hobo wine bottle twice? Pray for retro mojo.

The recipe that worked so well last time is still in use, but Tower try out some softer shades now too. Opener “Under the Chapel” is a barn scorcher full of dazzling riffwork leveraging the raucous, punky edge of NWoBHM, but rather than coming in at 12 and staying there, Sarabeth opts for seductive croons over brute force at times, using her enchanting siren song to create a more diverse experience. The aggressive music pairs very well with Sarabeth’s shifting tones and the song sticks in the grey matter immediately. The title track is another in-your-face rocker leaning on 80s speed metal, providing Sarabeth the perfect foundation to roar and soar. The chorus is a simple but elegant fist-pumper and their rowdy retro magic shines brightly. The high point arrives with “Holy Water,” which is just a lean, mean metal tune full of pugnacious attitude, ripping guitar work, and mammoth vocals. Sarabeth goes all in here, showing all phases of her range as she destroys the universe like an Infinity Gauntlet set to “Pulpify.” This woman has the Kovorka!

Elsewhere, “Book of the Hidden” scores another big win for Tower, finding an epic level in their sound that marries well with the straightforward, no-nonsense riff hooliganism, making the whole thing reek of 1983. To change things up, they deliver a seething power ballad called “And I Cry” where Sarabeth wallows in emotional tumult. Sarabeth shines, forcing your rapt attention despite the maudlin mechanics. Better still is “Don’t You Say” where they borrow a lot from the classic Judas Priest brooder “Night Comes Down.” While Let There Be Dark is a wild, entertaining ride, it’s not without a few minor issues. Both “And I Cry” and the very Mötörhead-esque “Iron Clad” are good but not quite next level, and closer “The Hammer” is a badass song that runs a bit too long at nearly 7 minutes. The presence of 2 short interludes on an album running just 39 minutes also seems unnecessary. The overall writing level is very good but a bit less righteous than on Shock to the System. Still, when this thing smokes, you get burned by trveness.

Sararbeth Linden is the vibrant core of the band, with her vocals doing much of the heavy lifting. She has the rough-hewn rasp of Janis Joplin and the breathy power of a young Cher and I continue to be awed by the size and scope of her voice. The lady sounds massive at all volumes and she’s exceptionally versatile. She can blow the doors off with a leather-lunged roar and beguile with a soft lilt. It occurs to me that what Tower and Nite do musically isn’t that far apart, but boy, what a difference a talented vocalist makes. Imagine Sarabeth dropping into the middle of a Nite track? BOOM goes the dynamite! Speaking of explosives, James Danzo and Zak Penley use their wanton guitar heroics to fight Sarabeth for your attention. Their playing reminds me a lot of Satan’s Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey as they rip off flaming riffs, hooky harmonies, and face-melting solos. They capture the early 80s metal sound and dabble in punk and speed elements to spice things up. Together with bassist Phillip Arman and new kit killer Keith Mikus, they lay out a wonderful soundscape for Sarabeth to chew on, and chew she certainly does.

Let There Be Dark is another notch in the win column for the little New York City band that could. It’s not as rabid as Shock to the System but it isn’t far off the bite mark. Tower are the band to watch in the retro metal space now and they have the talent to do anything they want. Climb this Tower to the tippy-top and hurl yourself into the retroverse.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Cruz Del Sur
Websites: towernyc.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/towernyc | instagram.com/towernyc
Releases Worldwide: March 21st, 2025

#2025 #35 #AmericanMetal #Chastain #CruzDelSurMusic #Enforcer #HeavyMetal #LetThereBeDark #Mar25 #Nite #Oz #Review #Reviews #RiotCity #Satan #ShockToTheSystem #Tower

Tower – Let There Be Dark Review

By Steel Druhm

Back in the Year of Our Plague 2021, New York City’s own Tower came out of nowhere and delivered a massive sucker punch to an unsuspecting Steely with their appropriately titled sophomore opus Shock to the System. It was a powerhouse ode to classic 80s metal full of sizzling guitar work and the massive vocals of Sarabeth Linden. It mixed the best elements of early US metal and NWoBHM, touching on nostalgia acts like Riot City and Enforcer along with classic units like Chastain and Oz and it hit significantly above its weight. 2025 brings the sequel, Let There Be Dark, and it’s business as usual at the Tower of Power as they dig deep into the 80s metal crypts for retro gold. But can they catch lightning in a hobo wine bottle twice? Pray for retro mojo.

The recipe that worked so well last time is still in use, but Tower try out some softer shades now too. Opener “Under the Chapel” is a barn scorcher full of dazzling riffwork leveraging the raucous, punky edge of NWoBHM, but rather than coming in at 12 and staying there, Sarabeth opts for seductive croons over brute force at times, using her enchanting siren song to create a more diverse experience. The aggressive music pairs very well with Sarabeth’s shifting tones and the song sticks in the grey matter immediately. The title track is another in-your-face rocker leaning on 80s speed metal, providing Sarabeth the perfect foundation to roar and soar. The chorus is a simple but elegant fist-pumper and their rowdy retro magic shines brightly. The high point arrives with “Holy Water,” which is just a lean, mean metal tune full of pugnacious attitude, ripping guitar work, and mammoth vocals. Sarabeth goes all in here, showing all phases of her range as she destroys the universe like an Infinity Gauntlet set to “Pulpify.” This woman has the Kovorka!

Elsewhere, “Book of the Hidden” scores another big win for Tower, finding an epic level in their sound that marries well with the straightforward, no-nonsense riff hooliganism, making the whole thing reek of 1983. To change things up, they deliver a seething power ballad called “And I Cry” where Sarabeth wallows in emotional tumult. Sarabeth shines, forcing your rapt attention despite the maudlin mechanics. Better still is “Don’t You Say” where they borrow a lot from the classic Judas Priest brooder “Night Comes Down.” While Let There Be Dark is a wild, entertaining ride, it’s not without a few minor issues. Both “And I Cry” and the very Mötörhead-esque “Iron Clad” are good but not quite next level, and closer “The Hammer” is a badass song that runs a bit too long at nearly 7 minutes. The presence of 2 short interludes on an album running just 39 minutes also seems unnecessary. The overall writing level is very good but a bit less righteous than on Shock to the System. Still, when this thing smokes, you get burned by trveness.

Sararbeth Linden is the vibrant core of the band, with her vocals doing much of the heavy lifting. She has the rough-hewn rasp of Janis Joplin and the breathy power of a young Cher and I continue to be awed by the size and scope of her voice. The lady sounds massive at all volumes and she’s exceptionally versatile. She can blow the doors off with a leather-lunged roar and beguile with a soft lilt. It occurs to me that what Tower and Nite do musically isn’t that far apart, but boy, what a difference a talented vocalist makes. Imagine Sarabeth dropping into the middle of a Nite track? BOOM goes the dynamite! Speaking of explosives, James Danzo and Zak Penley use their wanton guitar heroics to fight Sarabeth for your attention. Their playing reminds me a lot of Satan’s Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey as they rip off flaming riffs, hooky harmonies, and face-melting solos. They capture the early 80s metal sound and dabble in punk and speed elements to spice things up. Together with bassist Phillip Arman and new kit killer Keith Mikus, they lay out a wonderful soundscape for Sarabeth to chew on, and chew she certainly does.

Let There Be Dark is another notch in the win column for the little New York City band that could. It’s not as rabid as Shock to the System but it isn’t far off the bite mark. Tower are the band to watch in the retro metal space now and they have the talent to do anything they want. Climb this Tower to the tippy-top and hurl yourself into the retroverse.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Cruz Del Sur
Websites: towernyc.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/towernyc | instagram.com/towernyc
Releases Worldwide: March 21st, 2025

#2025 #35 #AmericanMetal #Chastain #CruzDelSurMusic #Enforcer #HeavyMetal #LetThereBeDark #Mar25 #Nite #Oz #Review #Reviews #RiotCity #Satan #ShockToTheSystem #Tower

Tower – Let There Be Dark Review

By Steel Druhm

Back in the Year of Our Plague 2021, New York City’s own Tower came out of nowhere and delivered a massive sucker punch to an unsuspecting Steely with their appropriately titled sophomore opus Shock to the System. It was a powerhouse ode to classic 80s metal full of sizzling guitar work and the massive vocals of Sarabeth Linden. It mixed the best elements of early US metal and NWoBHM, touching on nostalgia acts like Riot City and Enforcer along with classic units like Chastain and Oz and it hit significantly above its weight. 2025 brings the sequel, Let There Be Dark, and it’s business as usual at the Tower of Power as they dig deep into the 80s metal crypts for retro gold. But can they catch lightning in a hobo wine bottle twice? Pray for retro mojo.

The recipe that worked so well last time is still in use, but Tower try out some softer shades now too. Opener “Under the Chapel” is a barn scorcher full of dazzling riffwork leveraging the raucous, punky edge of NWoBHM, but rather than coming in at 12 and staying there, Sarabeth opts for seductive croons over brute force at times, using her enchanting siren song to create a more diverse experience. The aggressive music pairs very well with Sarabeth’s shifting tones and the song sticks in the grey matter immediately. The title track is another in-your-face rocker leaning on 80s speed metal, providing Sarabeth the perfect foundation to roar and soar. The chorus is a simple but elegant fist-pumper and their rowdy retro magic shines brightly. The high point arrives with “Holy Water,” which is just a lean, mean metal tune full of pugnacious attitude, ripping guitar work, and mammoth vocals. Sarabeth goes all in here, showing all phases of her range as she destroys the universe like an Infinity Gauntlet set to “Pulpify.” This woman has the Kovorka!

Elsewhere, “Book of the Hidden” scores another big win for Tower, finding an epic level in their sound that marries well with the straightforward, no-nonsense riff hooliganism, making the whole thing reek of 1983. To change things up, they deliver a seething power ballad called “And I Cry” where Sarabeth wallows in emotional tumult. Sarabeth shines, forcing your rapt attention despite the maudlin mechanics. Better still is “Don’t You Say” where they borrow a lot from the classic Judas Priest brooder “Night Comes Down.” While Let There Be Dark is a wild, entertaining ride, it’s not without a few minor issues. Both “And I Cry” and the very Mötörhead-esque “Iron Clad” are good but not quite next level, and closer “The Hammer” is a badass song that runs a bit too long at nearly 7 minutes. The presence of 2 short interludes on an album running just 39 minutes also seems unnecessary. The overall writing level is very good but a bit less righteous than on Shock to the System. Still, when this thing smokes, you get burned by trveness.

Sararbeth Linden is the vibrant core of the band, with her vocals doing much of the heavy lifting. She has the rough-hewn rasp of Janis Joplin and the breathy power of a young Cher and I continue to be awed by the size and scope of her voice. The lady sounds massive at all volumes and she’s exceptionally versatile. She can blow the doors off with a leather-lunged roar and beguile with a soft lilt. It occurs to me that what Tower and Nite do musically isn’t that far apart, but boy, what a difference a talented vocalist makes. Imagine Sarabeth dropping into the middle of a Nite track? BOOM goes the dynamite! Speaking of explosives, James Danzo and Zak Penley use their wanton guitar heroics to fight Sarabeth for your attention. Their playing reminds me a lot of Satan’s Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey as they rip off flaming riffs, hooky harmonies, and face-melting solos. They capture the early 80s metal sound and dabble in punk and speed elements to spice things up. Together with bassist Phillip Arman and new kit killer Keith Mikus, they lay out a wonderful soundscape for Sarabeth to chew on, and chew she certainly does.

Let There Be Dark is another notch in the win column for the little New York City band that could. It’s not as rabid as Shock to the System but it isn’t far off the bite mark. Tower are the band to watch in the retro metal space now and they have the talent to do anything they want. Climb this Tower to the tippy-top and hurl yourself into the retroverse.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Cruz Del Sur
Websites: towernyc.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/towernyc | instagram.com/towernyc
Releases Worldwide: March 21st, 2025

#2025 #35 #AmericanMetal #Chastain #CruzDelSurMusic #Enforcer #HeavyMetal #LetThereBeDark #Mar25 #Nite #Oz #Review #Reviews #RiotCity #Satan #ShockToTheSystem #Tower

So this was my first week of the year in music.

#ArcadeFire #Coltre #Genesis #TheWildhearts #FutureIslands #PinkFloyd #CastleRat #JudasPriest #Opeth #RiotCity #FuManchu #Hällas #HeavySaurus

After listening to an awesome album by Castle Rat (see link below), I it is time to spin some good old Riot City.

🎵 Eye of the Jaguar by #RiotCity
💿 Electric Elite, 2022
:bandcamp: https://riotcityofficial.bandcamp.com/track/eye-of-the-jaguar

You should consider listening to Into The Realm by #CastleRat
:bandcamp: https://castlerat.bandcamp.com/album/into-the-realm-2

#TomsMusic #NowPlaying #HeavyMetal

Sometimes bands make songs that are unnecessarily long.

But sometimes, there are songs that just keep on giving the longer they go, like the one I linked below.

Do you know any songs that just keep on giving?

#SongsThatKeepOnGiving

🎵 Severed Ties by Riot City
💿 Electric Elite, 2022
▶️ https://riotcityofficial.bandcamp.com/track/severed-ties

#TomsMusic #NowPlaying #RiotCity

Early #MittwochMetalMix contribution you say? Well it is 5:44 AM on my clock, that's still early, right?

How about a 10 minute #HeavyMetal piece that just keeps on giving?

Here's Severed Ties by Riot City:

https://song.link/i/1648799932

#TomsNowPlaying #RiotCity #Metal

Good morning folks!

Here's an energy kick for you, in case you need it this morning:

#Nowplaying #RiotCity - Eye Of The Jaguar

https://song.link/s/6vI3tiGBkbgSkM8iS8evlp