Twisted Tower Dire is a Power Metal band from Virginia, United States, and is perhaps one of the strongest names in the underground Metal world as far as the Power Metal scene goes. While the group's original recordings weren't all that well received, their newer album have pretty much gained cult status in many circles, yet the group is still rather unknown to many in the world. After having recently discovering this band, it was great to see their new release hit the inbox, and for a throwback to the roots of the Power Metal, even Heavy Metal style, Twisted Tower Dire don't fail with Make It Dark, finding release through Cruz Del Sur, another more underground label, and a release that any veteran fan of Metal should be alert to.
When the term "true metal" comes about, it's a phrase that typically refers to bands such as this. Twisted Tower Dire takes an old-school approach to the Power Metal style, showing off traits of early Heavy Metal and NWOBHM acts while still having that little extra kick of majesty and melody from the Power Metal side of things. Lyrically, the band takes the typical approach of more fantastical ideas such as epic battles and majestic animals related to Metal, and other general topics, all blended nicely with catchy music driven by melodic, simpler guitar hooks and drumming that nicely suits each song, whether it's true simpler Hard Rock-sounding beats, faster momentum, or two-stepping goodness. The vocals are a treat for this album, packing a little more energy then the music outside of certain guitar solos, but that's to be expected considering the sound the band is going for and their obvious focus on catchy, solid tracks that capture the true essence of this style's roots, which it does well. Of course the vocals will take a little getting use to at first since, at times, they can feel a little off pitch with the music or come off a little amateurish. However, when the vocals start belting out the chorus to "Snow Leopard", there's no doubt that this group has anything the slightest bit amateurish, and the approach that is taken there suits the music perfectly even if it does feel a little awkward at first with the song "Mystera", which is the shortes track off the album, but one of the catchiest and one that makes a very strong impression on the listener.
For the most part, there's nothing on this release that really comes off as genuinely fast, mostly just a faster then mid-tempo approach to the music, with many tracks taking on a lighter, slower or mid-tempo approach. With the echo effect and rawer overall quality of the music, it comes off like something one might expect from an early Rock album. However, while they never genuinely go with a lightning speed, there's no denying that some tracks here pack a little more edge then others. "Snow Leopard" for example seems to have a little more of a bite to it with the music, the speedier performance coming through the drumming, and the vocal performance really pushing it over the top with an epic performance. "White Shadow" is another track that hammers in with heavier music with a sound that eventually shifts to a galloping early Metal approach that even seems to have a Stoner Rock vibe to the guitars, all coupled with an energetic and powerful vocal performance that clenches an obvious fantastical atmosphere that all comes together to be simply moving and find the listener belting along with the slightly more lyrically complex then "Snow Leopard" chorus, though probably after one or two spins of the song to actually remember the lyrics.
And just when you think you have the band figured out and the music is starting to show signs of repetition between the tracks, Twisted Tower Dire belts out something new. "The Only Way" will immediately grip the listener with it's catchy, hook driven early Heavy Metal meets Punk combination. The faster musical approach to the song coupled with more Horror-Punk fused melodic riffs one might expect from acts like Misfits or even the more modern Wednesday 13. The vocal performance here also stands out as being richer and far more energetic compared to other tracks, and the haunting guitars that capture the Punk essence in the chorus are perfect for the song, moving the listener with a rebellious Punk vibe, but still clenching strongly at the listener's throat with a much stronger epic Power Metal aggression. While this song really stands out on the recording, and would easily have been a fantastic way to close out the album, Twisted Tower Dire does take a step back into the traditional "true" Power Metal approach with just over eight minute track called "Beyond the Gate", which is a well composed "epic" that varies between the mid-tempo and faster paced approaches the band has utilized, though again nothing too fast or anywhere near "The Only Way".
There's nothing here that really holds the album back, but it does become a growing problem as you continue through the release. Make It Dark is a solid album with plenty of great songs, but the problem is that some of the earlier material feels a little too simple, though very catchy musically. "Mystera" is a good track, but vocally comes off a little weaker then it should, and the more laid back vocal approach to "Snow Leopard" outside the chorus doesn't really help things out for the most part. Honestly, a few listens, "Snow Leopard" can actually start to get on your nerves and ultimately start to feel like one of the songs that don't necessarily shine on the album like it did on the first spin through. But, that's about all that can be said there, as the vocals do gradually fit the music better and often feel more energetic and less laid back, but that could also be thanks to the music being played and how well it works with the already established vocal style.
If you're tired of all these hybrid bands running around the Metal world, or just want to be reminded of it's glory days, then Twisted Tower Dire is well worth giving a chance. The album doesn't disapoint, and the only drawback is that it starts off a little rocky vocally on "Mystera", but as it progresses the vocals gain the same powerful energetic performance that you get with the epic music of the recording, and you'll realize the approach used on this album is the best for the music being played. Make It Dark is a strong album full of catchy vintage Metal that will surely leave an impact on the listener and have you coming back for more of it's old-school epic compositions time and time again.
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