Hello,

I am in the tower level of Soul Reaver 1 and I cannot get the bells to ring. Whenever I hit either bell it makes a noise for a second (like a clipped frame) and then stops suddenly. The video walkthroughs I see show the bells ringing long enough to run to the other one and hit it, smashing the glass. I can't smash the glass and get to the next section with the hyroglpyh after pulling the lever.

I did the two block puzzles in this area first, does that affect anything? Thanks

Make sure you definitely solved both block puzzles. If solved, you should get small cutscene showing what you did.
Now hit the upper bell first and quickly make your way to the shaft (blocked in spectral world) and jump across it with jump directed little to the left. RUN and hit the other bell.
Works every time for me. Don't glide over the shaft, when gliding you move slower.