INTERVIEW: Tower

New York’s TOWER recently unleashed a beastly tome of Heavy Metal in the form of their sophomore album “Shock To The System”, it seemed a great time to talk to these rabid hellraisers!

1. Greetings TOWER, you recently propelled yourself into my awareness with your 2nd album “Shock To The System” which was my introduction to your killer Heavy Metal assault. Can you introduce the band, what you’re about and why everyone needs to hear this slaying opus?

JD: Hey hey! Tower is Sarabeth Linden on vocals, James Danzo & Zak Penley on the guitars, James Jones on drums and Jack Florio on bass. We do in fact assault people with killer heavy metal. Really we just put out the best riffs and hooks we can come up with and hammer them into songs we think are worth a listen. It’s free to stream so give us a shot if you have a minute to spare. You’ll know within 30 seconds of “Blood Moon” whether or not this band is for you.

2. I agree, that opening track will either melt your face or tell you where to go. Talking of the new album, it isn’t your debut. So what has changed since your short hiatus and what brought you back?

JD: We were only gone for a short time between 2017-18 and started writing and releasing music as soon as we got back together. Some members left and some came in but our core and our sound have stayed intact. There’s an EP from 2019 called Tomorrow And Yesterday which was a precursor to the new LP.

3. Before we continue talking about the music, this is a question I’d like to specifically direct to Sarabeth. How do you feel about the use of “female-fronted” and other such condescending sales pitches where the focus should be on the talent? I think James D shared my opinions but I think you can offer a far more insightful opinion than myself. Also, how do you feel the Heavy Metal underground is these days in regard to any ignorance on this front? Plenty of killer bands from the old days of Warlock, Derketa, Adorior, Chastain etc up to current bands like Blood Star, Savage Master, Lady Beast suggests that ladies are here to stay and stick it to any morons who have an issue. So, any warnings, words or wisdom on the matter?

SL: I am not a fan of it but I am also not surprised. Specifically in the metal scene (and across most genres), the patriarchy aka men still run and control the language and overall perspective of what music should sound and look like. This mentality is supported by the system itself and enables men (and even women) to passively accept these terms as “normal”. Women are still seen as beneath men on many different fronts. Until the system changes, I’m not sure “female-fronted” will be corrected anytime soon. It sucks but this is the reality of it. The only thing we can do is keep doing what we love and stomp on a couple of supremacists along the way.

4. While we talk about circumstances around the bands members, who influences you? Do you all share a lot of the same favourites (like Mercyful Fate as your promo photos suggest), or perhaps a really diverse blend of elements? Please name some key bands who you feel help concoct this sonic artillery?

JD: Collectively I think the Scorpions might be at the top of the bill! Priest, Maiden, Saxon, Sabbath, Ozzy, Dio, Purple, Rainbow, that kind of stuff. Thrash is in the mix and so is pop. Mercyful Fate for sure! “In the Shadows” is probably in my top 5 albums ever made.

5. Back to your music, I think everyone has been thoroughly impressed with the records on offer. Cruz Del Sur music handled your new LP which has superb visuals and overall seems thoroughly well delivered on all fronts. Is there any regrets, things to change for album 3 or did you nail the vision you all had for “Shock To The System”, perhaps surpassed it even?

JD: Much gratitude to Cruz, they’ve been great to us. As far as the album, I’d say we hit the bull’s eye, but there are always things that could’ve been done better. This was a rushed recording and it worked in our favor overall, but I do hear things that bug me here and there, things I wish we could’ve smoothed out some more. We did this album in only 10 days. It’d be nice to spend 4 or 6 weeks in the studio for the next record.

6. I think it is fair to say TOWER has an old school sound, very traditional and full of a wild energy that cannot be tamed, nor should it be. Which other bands in the current world do you think are also keeping the true Heavy Metal fires of passion burning? Perhaps some bands you’d love to tour with or friends, or just cool stuff you blast yourselves.

JD: I gotta give it up to Savage Master for the best songwriting and stage show. Hood and shoulders above the rest! See what I did there??

7. Across Heavy Metal, from traditional to Black and Death, there seems to be a strong sense of old school revivalism, bringing back glory days (and largely injecting a new life into these mystical, ancient and treasured sounds). Do you think this is a great thing, or do bands need to progress to be heard? Does it even matter, when they deliver really cool music that real headbangers love? I’m probably not being subtle about my love for this kind of flag-carrying mania to the old ways, but would like to know how you feel on the matter.

JD: To me it’s about the melody and memorability of the music more than style. If you can hum a tune a day after you hear it, that’s the most important thing. Traditional metal lends itself more to melody so that’s where we fit in. Maybe some of the Black and Death bands have taken things to their furthest extremes and are trying to find a sweet spot somewhere in the middle, I can’t speak for them.

8. Last of all, what’s coming next from TOWER? More music, some killer tours (please hit Europe if so) or a period of reflection and rest? Whatever it is, best of luck and congratulations on the utterly epic “Shock To The System” which has a very prophetic title as it hit me like lightning!

JD: We definitely plan to hit Europe with a tour! I’d rather not indulge in reflection and rest after releasing an album like this, but only so much is in our control. We have a few shows booked in the States and plan to record some covers for a project or two that we can’t reveal just yet. Hope to see you on a stage soon and thank you for having us!