Tower is back with Let There Be Dark, a long-awaited studio album that sees the New York City metal force fully embracing its pure, heavy roots. Spanning ten intense tracks, the album delivers a powerful and brooding sonic journey. Let There Be Dark arrives in North America on April 11, following its European release on March 21.

Ahead of the album’s release, Tower has unveiled the single “Under the Chapel.” The song’s central riff—first emerging in 2022—immediately stood out to frontwoman Sarabeth Linden for its haunting, Eastern-tinged feel. Drawing inspiration from a Yiddish lullaby sung to her by her grandmother, the track conjures a nightmarish atmosphere that, in many ways, mirrors the current state of the world. More than just a single, “Under the Chapel” represents a pivotal shift for Tower. While the band’s earlier material leaned into a rock and roll edge, Let There Be Dark is an unfiltered, unapologetic metal album.

Recording took place between October and December 2024, with renowned producer and engineer Arthur Rizk (Blood Incantation, Cavalera Conspiracy, King Diamond) at the helm. The connection with Rizk began when Tower opened for his bands, Eternal Champion and Sumerlands, in 2022. That relationship not only led to Rizk overseeing production but also brought drummer Keith Mikus into the fold. Meanwhile, original bassist Philippe Arman returned in 2022, solidifying the lineup. The deep trust between Tower and Rizk allowed for fast, efficient takes, resulting in an album that balances heaviness with dynamic guitar interplay between James Danzo and Zak Penley.

Visually, Let There Be Dark evokes an ancient, mystical aesthetic. Designed by Jared Fleming, the album’s cover art resembles a centuries-old bound manuscript, reflecting an era when sacred texts were painstakingly crafted by scribes. A viper-style serpent—specifically the Saw-Scaled Carpet Viper (Echis coloratus)—emerges as a recurring symbol, tying the album’s themes to ancient civilizations, theology, and the origins of recorded history.

With four years of relentless touring under their belts, Tower has forged a sound that is both hardened and refined. The album’s diverse tempos and shifting moods showcase a band that has fully come into its own as it approaches its tenth anniversary in 2025.

“It’s been a long road,” reflects Linden. “We have evolved so much as a band and as individuals. Careers changed, relationships changed, the focus has changed. Personally, I’ve learned a lot about the business side of the industry. It used to be all fun and games (and still is), but now that we’re in a more serious position, the general trajectory of the band has adjusted, and navigating decisions has taken on a new meaning.”

Guitarist Zak Penley echoes that sentiment: “It’s been one hell of a ride. I feel like we’ve really hit our stride now, and that’s very exciting from a creative standpoint. We take more risks than ever before, and I think this album reflects that perfectly.”

Review

The bleak and moody tones of Tower’s first single from the album – Under the Chapel starts things off against a backdrop of pounding toms. It feels somewhat sinister, like a frightfully evil being staring you down, making you their target. Sarabeth’s velvety vocal ideas drift in and out on a bed of guitar twangs. However changing things up here and there to increase the intensity and impact. The song just has this general unsettling feeling throughout giving it character and somehow charm. Under the Chapel certainly will get you warmed up for the rest of the album!

The albums title track Let There Be Dark takes things to another level. Noticeably it feels like one of Tower’s fastest pieces to date with Keith’s thrashy drum patterns that come at you like a wall being knocked down a bulldozer. But for me it is that sexy, buttery vocal melody that Sarabeth delivers. The way it snakes through the song literally feels like it crawls under your skin. Like something demonic is taking over your very soul, your very being. The guitar work is ferocious like a chain saw cutting your mind to pieces. The group shouts just add extra explosive power to the mix throughout! And I love it all!

Hear the chime and the words of the priest before you dowsed in a good helping of Holy Water. This song just like “Let There be Dark” is absolutely punishing, like an assault on the ears. The riffs take full charge speeding through your ear canals delivering an ultimate brain meltdown. Everything is wonderful chaos and no second feels the same. The rough and raw production adds to the characters of Towers’ sound on this record and I think it truly enhances its flavour

And I Cry comes through the darkness and the mist like a drifting haze of emotions and feelings that haven’t been cured. The guitar and bass tones from Zak, James and Philippe somehow drive through your body, all uneasy and creeping. The first half in a way feels beautifully haunting and incredibly moving. The lead guitar takes place more and more while Sarabeth helps the song gradually develop until everything comes in like a strong and powerful embrace. The music reigns high and the solo feels like a spike of adrenaline running through your veins. Absolutely magnificent.

The Well of Souls comes in with some beautiful Spanish sounding acoustic guitars with stirring background atmospherics. Just at 1 minute 20 it feels like a lingering through that creates an a nice break!

OMG! That intro literally just made me fall out of my seat. Book of the Hidden just poured petrol over my mind and set it on fire. The classic storming heavy metal guitars on top of a barrage of double kick pummelling is one thing. But then you have the weaving and mystical vocal melodies of Sarabeth that ring out into the open space! Everything feels so colossal and magical like your drifting through a galaxy on a bed of stars or standing in a huge temple being overshadowed but the gigantic guitar work. The riffs, the bass licks, the leads that screech through the darkness just have so much emotion. Brilliant!

Legio X Fretensis is less than 40 seconds long and again revisits the acoustic guitar stuff using repeating phrases with tambourine hits and percussion. It’s short, simple but feels like an intense itch that you cant get rid off or a thought that won’t go away. For me considering how incredibly emotionally intense and soul reaching this album is, I find these little ideas welcome.

Iron Clad continues to scorch the earth, leaving it battered and bruised! Through the flickering candlelight and the swirling smoke, Tower keeps the current flowing, delivering pure electrified energy. Raise your swords high—Iron Clad is a thunderous slab of heavy metal, roaring with power and fury, guaranteed to leave smoke billowing from your ears. Sarabeth’s soaring vocals pierce through the chaos, adding a fiery edge that ignites the track. As the song unfolds, the intensity builds—the guitars wail, the bass rumbles, and the entire composition surges with unstoppable force. Most excellent!

Don’t You Say dials things back for a moment. Imagine standing in a hot desert, sipping on some Jack, looking down the long dusty roads of the night. You see the heat above the tarmac and in the distance a woman in black, her dress blowing in the wind. Everything is slow moving, and the fuzzy guitar riffs whisper and repeat little phrases. There is almost this western kind of vibe going on. The hits on the hi-hats keep the pacing while Sarabeth’s gentle words and calls crawl into your soul. But then things slowly build up with big cymbal swashes before we get thrown back into the metal! The layered rhythm work packs a punch but it is the lead solo work in the second half of the song that takes centre stage! We have reached that burning sensation when something strong has gone down your throat. That was a song to tantalise!

We arrive at the grand finale, The Hammer, and I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness—this album has been an incredible journey, but what a way to end it! The relentless kick-snare groove drives James and Zak’s majestic guitar work, shimmering like steel under the blazing sun. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to leap onto a horse and charge into the sunset. Like everything before it, The Hammer is packed with electrifying riffs, rolling drum and bass patterns, and, of course, Sarabeth’s warm, silky vocals that tie it all together. A dynamic snare-and-group vocal section shakes things up, adding a fresh twist before guiding the song into its triumphant, heartfelt outro.

Conclusion

I am speechless… and i don’t say that about many albums. Tower have returned triumphantly returned and talking about taking things up a notch! They have literally gone above and beyond their first record and delivered one of the best albums I have personally heard in a while. Let There Be Dark is a beautifully crafted and thought provoking record that needs to be heard by new and old fans. If you want hauntingly dark and powerful metal then this album is for you!

TheNwothm Score: 10/10

Pre-order:

CD: https://tinyurl.com/23rtv4vw

LP: https://tinyurl.com/cweam48s

BC: https://towernyc.bandcamp.com/album/let-there-be-dark

Line-Up:

Sarabeth Linden – Vocals
James Danzo – Guitar
Zak Penley – Guitar
Philippe Arman – Bass
Keith Mikus – Drums

Links

Bandcamp:https://towernyc.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOWERnyc/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/towernyc/

Label: https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/