I’ve waited a while for this release. I was pleasantly surprised when it was announced that this Canadian band were signed to No Remorse, a perfect fit for the band. The band (or sole member [then] released ‘Fighting Spirits’ demo in 2021 and that me hooked. Tower Hill are now a full band and tour ready you may be pleased to know. The music itself is inspired by Judas Priest, Riot, Running Wild and a fair few early German bands. You guessed it, traditional heavy metal.
The opening title track really makes a statement, the power scream included. Here you get into momentous metal like those German pirates. I’m drawn to the strong production, it really captures the music perfectly. Thundering drums, good bass levels and the balance with the vocals has all the mid-range necessities. Those who have the aforementioned demo may already know “The Claw is the Law’, this is a refreshed version, again possessing the same powerful positives as the title track in terms of delivery and production. The other two demo tracks are also included in this album, namely ‘Fighting Spirits’ and ‘Antigone’.
‘How Am I’ is a rebel rousing stomper, a perfect energetic pace in touch with the likes of Stormwitch and Omen (funny how all my references are also included in the PR material!). ‘Port of Saints’ is a mix of early Maiden and a bit of Port Royal. The guitar sound is wonderfully earthy, with those galloping rhythms captured and ready for battle. This track in particular has a lot going on, you hear the guitar work behind the vocals, the duelling and the thunderous voyage just keeps on improving as you listen. ‘Kings Who Die’ would sit well with fans of fellow Alberta countrymen Riot City, there must be something in the air. ‘All the Little Devils Are Proud of Hell’ again is arranged to hammer your ears, your glass to be raised and your smile to be plentiful. If the music alone isn’t enough, the artwork, well, that’s what I mean by artwork. Wonderfully detailed, mythical and mysterious all in one. This is perfect for a proper record sleeve, which means on vinyl.
All in all, I am really honoured to be listening to this album, it’s taken my highest mark this year and my smile will remain for a long time following this experience. Tower Hill are at the right time, on the right label and capture the scene at the right time, there is no reason why this can’t be a classic release for future years, and I would expect them to appear at two notable traditional metal festivals next year too!
(9.5/10 Paul Maddison)
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