Tower – Shock to the System

Release date:  12-11-2021 
Label: Cruz Del Sur Music   

If you’re into heavy metal, then anything released by Cruz de la Sur should pique your interest. Shock to the System is Tower’s latest sophomore album and I was quite excited to listen to this. Tower are a five-piece NWOBHM-inspired heavy rock band hailing from New York. Sarabeth fronts the band with vocals, James Danzo and Zak are the guitarists, James Jones does the drums and Jeff Filmer (though not in the band at present) did bass on the record. Bass duties are currently handled by newcomer Jack Florio. It is a bit unfortunate on my part that my introduction to Tower was through their sophomore album. I did give their 2016 self-titled debut album a couple of spins before sinking my teeth into Shock to the System.

A few spins into the album and I’m absolutely engulfed with old school nostalgia. Tower will light up your ears with their lovely mix of highly energetic, heavy metal inspired 70s hard rock while also delivering some exceptionally soulful moments. Sarabeth’s vocals take full credit for adding a hefty dose of soul to this record. She sounds absolutely powerful with those soaring vocals. Accompanying the stellar vocals, but not to be outshined, is the guitar work. The riffs are sublime and catchy, almost effortless and epitomizes what great heavy rock music should sound like. The entire ensemble with the rhythm section fit perfectly together. This is also largely down to how the album is produced and mastered by Sasha Stroud. It’s a great feat to accomplish if you can bring out the energy of the band through the mix and make it sound as if you’re experiencing Tower live in a basement gig.

Shock to the System doesn’t have a weak song on it. There I said it! It’s quite rare for an album to achieve that in this day and age, especially when you are talking about a traditional sounding band. The band balances paying homage to their influences, working within those boundaries while also sounding original. There’s something that each song offers. Most of the tracks on the album are high on energy and tempo but there are also some tasteful ebbs in the music too. Prince of Darkness is a favorite of mine which starts off slow, full of emotions, and picks up pace two-thirds into the song and ends in a crescendo-like manner. There are also some songs whose choruses could well become anthems like Lay Down the Law which gallops forward after a slow beginning. In Dreams showcases their best guitar work in terms of riffs, cleans and solos. You can clearly feel the mood of the song shift as time elapses with every minute. The album closer, Powder Keg, feels like it could be the soundtrack for a high speed car-chase through deserted towns.

My only regret is not having discovered Tower earlier but it’s not too late for you! Tower’s Shock to the System packs a quite a punch with 70s/80s nostalgia, catchy hard rocking heavy metal tunes and one of the best vocal performances I’ve heard in recent years. Turn up the volume and headbang away!

Line up:

• Zak Penley – Guitars
• James Danzo – Guitars
• Sarabeth Linden – Vocals
• James Jones – Drums
• Jack Florio – Bass

Tracklist

1. Blood Moon
2. Prince of Darkness
3. Metatron
4. Running Out Of Time
5. Lay Down The Law
6. Hired Gun
7. The Black Rose
8. On The Line
9. In Dreams
10. Powder Keg

Links:

Bandcamp
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