Shock to the System

Classic metal remains classic for a reason — even without any bells and whistles, it’s all about the energy. That shit’s eternal. How else do Iron Maiden and Judas Priest keep picking up new fans 40 years after their peak? Tower get that, and they deliver in (ace of) spades. Sarabeth Linden channels the same shrieking fury as Doro Pesch, and her co-conspirators meet that storm with riffs to match. “Blood Moon,” “Running Out of Time,” and “The Black Rose” would be welcome on any of Accept or Raven’s masterpieces; even if they very much have a throwback sound, it doesn’t feel tired when they tap into such timeless power.