TOWERSOUND – Towersound

Towersound is a perfect example of a family business, since it was formed by three brothers who decided that it was time to materialize their love for Heavy Metal. Their effort started back in 2000 when the two older brothers, Jon and Lonn, participated in a music contest with two home recorded songs. One year later, the band took its name by the tower attached to their house where they play and work. The following years they were working hard, building their reputation by working in their homemade studio, recording demos and by putting the band’s Web site online. The efforts paid off with their first record deal with a French Metal label, Brennus Music.

Their musical talent becomes evident from the first notes of the album intro, called Prelude, featuring medieval tunes played with an acoustic guitar accompanied by atmospheric keyboards. Next is the song, which definitely makes clear everything concerning the music style of the band. They play Melodic Heavy Metal with a small Power Metal dose. Jon has his personal singing style, with a deep, epic, and distinct voice, like Mark Shelton from Manilla Road. The music production was done in their own studio, explaining the reason for the raw sound. This may not be a drawback because there is an 80s feeling in the whole album that definitely gains points in the overall rating.

After the very promising intro comes the song that is meant to be the band’s trademark, since it is entitled “Towersound” and comprises all of Towersound’s music characteristics. That is, epic atmosphere with a mid-galloping guitar tempo, strong vocals, and beautiful keyboards tunes. The guitar solo strikes out all the doubts in songwriting created by the fact that the three brothers are aged from 17 to 26 years old. Next is “Devils of the Night,” with a strong melody, a sing-along chorus, and very good guitar work, especially during the soloing. The tempo remains the same with “Shine Over Me,” which starts off with keyboards bringing to mind Warlord, a band that is some kind of a legend in Greece, with only two albums under their belts.

After “Hell’s on the Speedway,” a classic Heavy Metal song in the 80s style, there is “Bring Your Life to Light,” featuring one of the best chorus melodies of the album. The time then comes to have the ballad of the album, with the title “My Wild Rose.” Jon’s voice gives a strong epic feeling in the song, which fits perfectly to the piano melody. The song is left unfinished in some way, due to the rather short time duration of the guitar solo. The band’s strong influences from the 80s sound are evident in “It’s a Good Day to Die,” with a lead section in the Angelwitch way, and a rhythm in Manowar’s style during the Battle Hymns era.

“Final March, Last War” consists of five parts, and lasts twelve minutes, showing the band’s potential in song composing. In the instrumental, “Enchanted Alloy,” there is a Rhapsody “feeling” with classical music sounds and arrangements, that is the best way of closing this most promising album. There is one more song, “Doomed at Dawn,” as a bonus track, and a “hidden” one, which is an instrumental comprising classic guitar work and a great deal of medieval tunes.

The weak production should go unnoticed in the shake of all the work that goes with the whole album. Everything in it is homemade, so it’s best to focus on the songwriting that is at least promising for the future of this French band.