ROME – The Tower (Album Review)

ROME – The Tower
Released: December 19, 2025

Lineup

Jerome Reuter | Guitars / Vocals

“You do not travel if you are afraid of the unknown, you travel for the unknown, that reveals you with yourself.” - Ella Maillart.

There is a significant probability that many readers of this fine publication may not be familiar with the Swiss travel writer, photographer, World Championship and Olympic sportswoman in multiple events (during a time where sports were reserved for men), and adventurer known as Ella Maillart. She was the first woman to walk the Russian Caucasus, the first woman venturer to travel solo through Soviet Turkestan, and to venture across China and Central Asia in a duo. Also, she was the first woman traveller to reach Kabul, with another woman, in a Ford convertible made in the 1930s.

She released multiple books in numerous languages about her travels, life and experiences. She even appeared in, and helped produce numerous films, and won many prestigious awards along the way.

She was arguably the embodiment of the “adventurer”.

Dark folk musician Jerome Reuter, also known as ROME, is probably not especially recognisable to a great deal of the readership either. The Luxembourg born singer-songwriter has crafted a commanding collection of work encompassing more than 20 full-length albums, and numerous other official releases; in 2025 alone he has already released two full-lengths. Mr. Reuter has deservedly attained a remarkably loyal following from Berlin to LA, from Sydney to Saigon, from Lisbon to Kyiv, and beyond. Jerome’s artistic approach blossoms from his travels, but also his research of world literature from Burroughs to Brecht, Celine to Cioran, from Hesse to Jünger. ROME’s detailed concept albums fuse his interest in the arts, philosophy and history in an above fascinating way.

‍Jerome Reuter also exemplifies the “adventurer” spirit.

Before 2025 concludes, ROME is astoundingly releasing a double LP set (four records in total for this year), and this writer encourages the readers to travel into the unknown of Mr. Reuter via his amazing artistry (then perhaps research Ella Maillart further).

Welcome to The Tower… (be warned, there are no singles to share with this article).

‍‘The Twine And The Twist’ begins this journey with an eerie synth reminiscent of City & Colour’s ‘Woman’, the track then time travels backward towards the aura of the charming acoustic minimalism of Dallas Green’s debut album Sometimes. However, it is when ROME brilliantly broadcasts his haunting baritone, that the mood undertakes a marvellous melancholy.

“This ever-growing mist that surrounds us.” Reuter evocatively illustrates, as if this poetic phrasing itself is the exact atmosphere that is metaphorically, and sonically, overshadowing the witnesses. We are in Jerome’s universe now, and the bone chilling bell-like chimes similar to Joy Division’s ‘Atmosphere’, offer a tranquillity amongst this darkness.

‍‘To The Great Work Only’ follows as Josh Pyke instruction, with an incredible injection of Gothic folk – the repetition of: “Black years” offers the imagery of bleakness, but it is also wondrously inspiring. ‘Twilight Leaves’ adopts a lightness comparatively, although there is an inescapable gloom engrained within the composition. Imagine the song as a possible B-Side to The Assassination Of Jesse James film soundtrack, that Nick Cave and Warren Ellis decided not to include in the track-listing, or movie, then regretted that decision after its release.
The sensational spoken word section that carries the song ghoulishly to its conclusion, exemplifies this motif superbly.

‍‘The Lighthouse And The Catacombs’ is an immensely more cinematic expedition, an almost post-war or disaster remembrance. It is a difficult yet absorbing listen, with a presence of latter-day Iggy Pop vocal character; the deep brooding hum executed by Mr. Reuter is one Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts would in-all-likelihood envy beyond measure. The track is then delightfully decorated by faint SURVIVE driven synthesizers, and faint breathtaking electronica.

‍‘This Slaughter Behold’ returns to that City & Colour ambience, namely ‘Sleeping Sickness’, yet it is more dreamily deathlike and historic. “Fading flowers in every field” ROME articulates in a delightful drone, which attaches itself to the listeners’ minds and souls prodigiously. The majority of humans may have witnessed such visual portrayals at some point in their lives, and intrinsically Jerome is phenomenally conjuring that possible memory which reveals you with yourself – maybe even subconsciously, but more importantly, beautifully.

‍‘Remember To Dare’ supernaturally summons Johnny Cash in a fantastic homage that will assuredly have his adorers miss, and marvel at this contradictory yet charismatic song-writer again and again. The mystical melodic moans delivered by Reuter are divinely devilish, and honestly, this composition escalates the journey of The Tower to new levels of spiritual captivation.

‍‘Mine Were Of Marble’ will hopefully bring about another collaboration between Adam "Nergal" Darski and ROME with its spectacular sinister glimmer. ‘The Baron (Ordeal Of Fire)’ commences with a discarded “church echo effect” that transported this writer back to Dark Mofo festival, namely the defunct sandstone church entitled Basilica. The song tremendously transforms into nearly a carol, with Jerome mystifyingly serenading “and round and round it goes, where to, nobody knows”. In a sense, it is the single Editors’ potentially wish they had composed.

‍‘Ire And Truth’ returns to the Me & That Man marvellous motivation, especially with the mirrored chorus: “If it causes no stir, it covers no ground”, that is practically impossible not to sing-along to in a duet arrangement.

To close, ‘This Hour Her Vigil’. A truly exceptional exploration of beauty reminiscent of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds work found on Ghosteen and Skeleton Tree. A post-punk monument, that possesses an ethereal fragility, but also a bewitching radiance of existential perplexity, as ROME eloquently croons:

“Why did you turn us all down? Just to watch it burn to the ground. And if we fall, they’ll bury all.”

It is an evocative afterthought to conclude on, with infinite interpretations.

Admirers of the aforementioned sound influences, and harmonious artists should be encouraged to undertake the adventure of ROME’s The Tower. Do not be afraid of the unknown, travel to The Tower through Jerome Reuter’s poetry and magical macabre enlightenment.

It may reveal more about you to yourself, or even the world you wish to know.

The next adventure is entitled: THE HIEROPHANT.

Rating: 8.5/10
The Tower is out December 19. Pre-order/save here
Review by Will Oakeshott. Insta: @teenwolfwill