Let There Be Dark

I saw Tower open for my buddy’s band Mutant Scum at Saint Vitus (RIP) 10 years ago, and frontwoman Sarabeth Linden’s powerful pipes and electric stage presence have been burned into my brain ever since. In the years that followed, the band’s first few EPs and LPs were enjoyable, but didn’t measure up to what I remember of that show, and on record, at least, Tower seemed destined to be one of those bands whose sound I like more than its songs. Well, I’m pleased to report that Tower has lived up to its potential with Let There Be Dark, as solid a slab of traditional metal as I’ve heard since the untimely demise of Tower’s Cruz del Sur labelmates, Pharaoh. My only quibble is that the gravelly extremes of Linden’s range are smoothed out by the mix’s overgenerous reverb, which is a bit disappointing but by no means a dealbreaker. Even from the deepest recesses of whatever cave she’s singing from, she still sounds amazing. Let there be dark, indeed.