What you’ll hear on Towers‘ sophomore album, II, is moody, atmospheric, oppressive, despondent, utilitarian noise — and that’s a good thing, because it is amazing sounding, and, to my ears, wholly unique. It’s doomy, without being doom. It is, however, definitely gloomy.
On II, bassist/vocalist Rick Duncan and drummer Darryl Swan bring order to chaos or chaos to noise, and make the simple complex. In a way, and in parts, II reminds me of the hidden track on Nirvana‘s Nevermind. You can hear it for yourself in its entirety over at theobelisk.net, where the album is being streamed.
In their review, The Obelisk commented on Towers’ II:
Foreboding atmospheres loom throughout… and the more extended pieces only seem to enhance that dread with a violent bass and drum noise that emerges like a sudden temper set off. Duncan’s voice can either drone over his own bass or shout deep-mixed echoes that would be punkish were it not for the theatricality surrounding. Swan meets the churning progression of ‘In the Room of Misfortune’ with a devil’s brew of tom runs and cymbal crashes, the whole thing feeling un-linear, unhinged, swirling, and malevolent as they bring II to its terror-grooving head.
About Towers:
Formed following the demise of psych-garage act The Troglodytes, Towers melds elements of doom, no wave, new wave, industrial, noise rock, and soundscapes into rough-hewn monolithic monstrosities simultaneously disturbing and tantalizing. Both primitive and futurist, Towers transcends musical movements, molding Promethean monoliths out of doom, sludge, no wave, new wave, industrial, and psychedelia.
Spark up and enjoy your streaming of Towers’ II.
Rock Hard \m/
