Review Summary: Not quite the shock to my system as its predecessor but nice to see TOWER show some more dimension here
As the title suggests, TOWER sounds a bit moodier than before with Let There Be Dark. The opening “Under The Chapel” is driven by the sort of fast-paced shuffle that defined their previous outings, but the infernal main riff, clean effects during the verses, and invoking the elements via gang shouts suggests a more atmospherically-minded approach. Elsewhere, “And I Cry” and “Don’t You Say” commit more to the somber ballad tinges introduced on 2021’s Shock To The System, the former coming off like their answer to something like “Hell Is For Children” while the latter dwells in a momentum-slowing haze before picking up the pace.
This approach admittedly loses a bit of the live-friendly rowdiness that has defined TOWER thus far, but the band’s core strengths are still on display. Lead singer Sarabeth Linden remain their primary asset, spending more time in her lower range with a more controlled delivery but still showing off plenty of power bolstered by the echoing mix. The rhythms also stay fairly upbeat throughout, giving more weight to the dynamics without fumbling the pace, and the guitars do get their spots to show off.
On the flip side, the songwriting can feel a bit less memorable without as many of those in-your-face choruses running amok. Songs like “Don’t You Say” and “The Hammer” show some promise in their more ambitious setups, but I find myself thinking they could’ve benefitted from more impactful hooks. Fortunately, the title track and “Book Of The Hidden” make the dark speed exercises work in their favor, the former’s chorus coming through with some especially punchy shouts while the latter features some of the album’s most furious guitar work. The minute-long interludes that round things out also end up interesting, bringing in a bit of extra instrumentation that makes me wonder if they might’ve gotten some Messa in their rotation.
While Let There Be Dark isn’t as much the shock to my system that its predecessor was, it’s neat to see TOWER offer some more dimension. While the hooks aren’t quite as immediate this time around, the band’s persistent energy and commanding vocals make it easy to imagine these songs coming even stronger in a live setting than it would initially seem. As much as I hope their next installment could integrate the different approaches a bit more, it won’t surprise me if this ends up being their grower.
