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On their website, Towersound call themselves a "ballad and heavy symphonic" band. I can definitely hear that on their album Who's Guilty. Funny how things change as time goes by. Today, we use the term "Symphonic" to describe music with classical influences but back in the 80's we said "Neo-classical." Guitarists like Malmsteen, MacAlpine, Becker, et al were the main proponents of this style, and their influences are present on Who's Guilty, an album with a modern sound that would probably have fared well back in the day.

Because they choose to focus on ballads (Who's Guilty has three songs that qualify), Towersound bear more than a passing resemblance to some early 80s bands that were considered "metal" at the beginning of their careers. Bands like Motley Crue, Ratt and especially Dokken, circa Tooth and Nail. Rockers like "Seven Sins on Six Strings" exemplify this similarity, right down to the title. Blues-based and mid-paced, it chugs along like one of those radio-friendly songs of yesterday. Around the time of track seven, "The Demons Playground," Who's Guilty takes a very European turn. Switching to a sound more akin to bands like U.D.O. or Masterplan, Towersound ramp up the keyboards a bit and, thankfully, guitarist Lonn lets his presence be known. Not as flashy as the 80s guitar heroes, Lonn nonetheless cranks out some pretty good leads and hooks (his slow "lead" throughout "The Demons Playground is damn cool). He even ventures into that old, "neo-classical" realm with the instrumentals "Strings Overdrive" and "Quartet No. 11 in B Minor." Can't you just hear Yngwie thinking "why didn't I come up with that last title?"

The knock on Towersound is that they aren't very heavy. Melodic Metal/Hard Rock aptly describes them as they meander back and forth over the line between the two styles. Overall, Who's Guilty is a decent album, not incredibly memorable, but fun while it's on. If a walk on the lighter side of the Metal path works for you, check out Towersound, just don't expect to be blown away.