Review by Adam M on December 12, 2013.

The new Vulture Industries surprised me with its quality and variation. There are many interesting moments on this album that recall the likes of Arcturus and Danzig in combination for a fascinating listen. Right from the start, this infusion of Danzig-style vocals with avant-garde elements works to perfection.

The opening title track “The Tower” is one of the most compelling ones on the album and features a number of bizarre twists and turns. Overall, there is plenty of variety and use of dynamics to be found throughout this listen. The atmosphere and presentation displayed by Vulture Industries is really top notch. In terms of an atmospheric experimental release this is one that is welcomed. However, it is also a relatively accessible listen for this type of an album which should attract a more diverse audience to the outfit. Arcturus comparisons are appropriate because that band has produced much material recently and a similar outfit is very welcome. I was surprised by the quality of Vulture Industries and can’t wait for more in the future from this band, since this was actually my first exposure to them. Other highlights include the epic “The Hound” and the closing track “Lost Among Liars”.

All things considered this may be a late entry to my top albums of the year list and one that all fans of interesting metal should give a listen. A few tracks are not up to the standards of the ones mentioned here, but The Tower is generally a very high quality album overall.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 9
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.8 out of 10