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Twisted Tower Dire: Make it Dark

Back with their fifth album and a current line-up of bassist Jim Hunter (Revelation, October 31, While Heaven Wept), drummer Mark Stauffer (Krass Judgement) and guitarists Scott Waldrop (While Heaven Wept) and Dave Boyd (Volture) and new vocalist Johnny Aune, Twisted Tower Dire may well have made their best effort a long way into their career. The 1980's touch points still remain but there's certainly been an evolution in terms of song writing.

There are some seriously infectious tunes on Make it Dark with the Maiden-esque "Mysteria" being a prime example and at every turn Mr Aune acquits himself well in the metaphorical shoes of the late Tony Taylor. "Beyond the Gate" is a potential epic set closer yet the album clocks in at only thirty-six minutes long.

Given the retro nature of the band and their material there's nothing on show that hasn't been done many times before but it's all done with a great sense of panache and therefore it gets a whole three and a half stars.


Track Listing:
1. Mystera
2. Snow Leopard
3. The Stone
4. Make It Dark
5. White Shadow
6. The Only Way
7. Torture Torture
8. Beyond the Gate

Added: December 8th 2011
Reviewer: Simon Bray
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 3138
Language: english

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» SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews:

Twisted Tower Dire: Make it Dark
Posted by Scott Ward, SoT Staff Writer on 2011-12-08 09:24:37
My Score:

I feel like I just stepped out of Peabody's wayback machine about 1982 while listening to the newest release from veteran metalist Twisted Tower Dire. This isn't a totally bad thing though as they rip through their repertoire of hair metal anthems and chugging heavy metal with a vengeance. They might not be very original or for that matter there is not a song on the album which is going to stick with you but as a whole it is a decent slice of good heavy metal.

Lead singer Jonny Aune has a terrific range but he has this tendency to sound whinny at times. The duel guitar attack takes most of their cues from the Iron Maiden songbook and will have you playing the where have I heard that before game. Still all in all there is some good rock and roll but nothing exceptional. "Torture Torture" may be the best of the lot on the disc even though it has a lighter feel to it. "Beyond The Gate" is good also as they do their best Maiden imitation on this tune. This is the only problem I found with the album is it sounds like they are trying too hard to sound like someone else.

All in all it is a fun album but not an essential one for sure.



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