CD Review: Towers of London - Blood, Sweat and Towers
Published August 04, 2006
The guitar/punk band Towers of London know a lot of rock history. Almost every note and chord on their debut album Blood, Sweat, and Towers were first created by the seminal punk bands of the late seventies and some of the hard rock bands of the late eighties.
The group consists of Donny Tourette on vocals, his brother Dirk on guitars, The Rev playing lead guitar, Tommy Brunette on bass and Snell on drums. Fashion-wise, they’re somewhat quixotic. They resemble Axl Rose and Tommy Lee more than they do Johnny Rotten and Tommy Ramone. Their onstage/offstage antics are closer to the latter as well. So Towers of London seem to have successfully merged two musical forms that are generally opposed to the other and you have to admire that.
Their sound towers over their sense of style. Blood, Sweat, and Towers is the kind of gutsy, trashy album that would make those punks and metal heads of years past very proud. The album begins with “I’m A Rat,” which offers us a little bit of Iggy and the Stooges, mixed with the wildness of the MC5. Then, voila! The band changes gears on “Air Guitar” to give us some Sex Pistols in-your-face attitude backed up by the sensual bass pounding of Arthur “Killer” Kane from the New York Dolls. The third track, “Kill the Pop Scene” could be used as special addition to a Ramones tribute concert.
Now, shake these combinations up and add a massive dose of L.A. Guns and GN’R for spice and you have a sound that kicks some mighty big ass. The thrill ride doesn’t stop there. The singles “Fuck It Up,” which sounds like a rebuke against British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and “On A Noose” are droll little commentaries which flips a proverbial “bird” at the insanity the world has been plunged into recently. It’s a role few rock musicians have taken on much too late.
What passes for rock 'n’ roll of late is in need of a shake-up and these are just the guys for the job. You can hear Donny Tourette’s sneer as he chews through each song. The Rev produces some brilliant solo work ala Buckethead, and drummer Snell assaults his kit with violent abandon, much like the uncontrollably evil Hunt Sales.
Even if this clash of influences isn’t your kind of thing, this album is worth listening to. It has the power to possess you from the inside out, and it won’t be long before you’ll find yourself whispering the lyrics to yourself. Yes, Towers of London serves music history well. And Blood Sweat and Towers is certainly an historic album.
- CD Review: Towers of London - Blood, Sweat and Towers
- Published: August 04, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Punk Rock
- Writer: Larry Sakin
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- Larry Sakin's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
ooo im the 1st person 2 leave a comment! ur lucky im here!
i saw towers when they wer supportin guns n' roses and they wer awsum! there hair, faces, bodies, personnalities, skinny jeans, music, concert n cloths are all mega hawt!!!
hehe
dude i love your fuckin music and im getting my haircut like you guys
or grown
wut ever
you guys are cool
Towers fukin rock
must listen to "i'm a rat"
and must visit bloodsweatandtowers and watch "thanks for the beer mate" fukin funniest movi i have ever seen
also if you like towrs check out pennywise... one of ma fav bands too
kev
"Blood Sweat and Towers is certainly an historic album." Bullshit. Towers of london are not the great band 'Larry Sakin' claims they are, but they are straight to the fucking point and listening to some of the songs is like a punch in the balls, the way punk should be. "On A Noose" is a fun song, good for drinking with your mates shouting along to the lyrics. If you want witty lyrics, look elsewhere, but if you want shouty, teen punk anthem here's ya ticket.
Towers of london make me, a punk, as proud as abu grahib makes me, a briton. They are shit. To add a touch of brutal honesty to the whole scenie bopper love nest we have here, compared to the eighties hardcore scene, bands like towers of london are menial childish power pop.
"Kill the pop scene" must be intentional, a stab at genuine irony? No, they dont have the inteligence to realise that scene backs their popish fans love of skinny jeans and fantastic hair, behind which the importance of meaning and inteligant music trails limply.
"Fuck it up" is not a socio political message, its a childish use of gratuitist self indulgent tripe to publicise a "we jst DnT giv a FUK! ROFL!" message. Listen to the dead kennedys, the bad brains, black flag, the ramones even for punk and meaning. No metal. It's shit. Not this crap
"Punk's not dead
It just deserves to die
When it becomes another stale cartoon
A close-minded, self-centered social club
Ideas don't matter, it's who you know
If the music's gotten boring
It's because of the people
Who want everyone to sound the same
Who drive bright people out
Of our so-called scene
'Til all that's left Is just a meaningless fad"
Jello biafra of the DK's
The towers fucking rule, and their album is ace! I am a punk, but most of my friends are all girly girls and chavs, and even they like this band.Their fucking awesome, and all so hot!!Especially Donny!!
Punk is over thirty years old, Peaches. Old news.
The towers fucking totally rock. they are an amazing band and their songs rule. they are good to shout along to !!!!! I'm obsessed with them haha I've seen the rev. They are all hot and I especially love the rev and donny but all of them are drop dead gorgeous. From their attitude to their clothes, their hair to their bodies they are just mad. Theyre all mine so ladies keep your hands off!!! Towers if you ever read this then I LOVE YOU!!!!!
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right im gunna speak and be heard!
TOWERS OF LONDON F**KIN RULE DUDES!!!!!!!! AND THEIR HOTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bye xx