Metal Reviews

Live In Your Face

BABYLON A.D.

Well this sort of came out of nowhere, didn’t it?

I mean, when’s the last time anyone’s heard of Babylon A.D.?

It has been a while—six years to be exact. The band, born in a time when the fabled glam-rock scene was bottoming out toward the end of the eighties and early nineties, really did have the talent to become superstars but the misfortune of poor timing.

So a decade later when it seems the rock world is ready for anything, they’ve produced a live recording spanning three years and several city stops performing all of their past hits from their self-titled debut and ‘92’s “Nothing Sacred,” as well as a couple of interesting AC/DC and Aerosmith covers.

The California based outfit rocks hard and true with a twelve song set list that includes an eager blend of solid rock and acoustic ballads consistent with their time of arrival including past hits like “Bang go the Bells,” “Hammer Swings Down,” and a killer version of “Maryanne,” bitter feelings and all!

Even those of you who are not so familiar with this band had to have heard of “Bang go the Bells.” That was their biggest hit, a guitar-driven rocking anthem which they’ve done a great job translating and capturing the raw aggression from a live on stage perspective.

Hey, if Ratt, Motley Crue and Warrant can do it, (or Slaughter!) why not Babylon A.D. right?

The world’s ready for a change and it’s time to bring good time rock and roll back to the forefront. This live release would have been a better idea to do a couple of years back when the name still rang in the minds of their listeners, rather than shooting from the dark several years after they’d gotten enough of a chance to become a distant obscurity. But fear not fans of hair metal and the 4B’s as they’re presented on “Live in your Face,” Babylon A.D. is on the comeback trail and ready to jump on the coattails of the next successful 80’s rock act coming back for another taste of glory.

Released by Apocalypse Records

20885 Redwood Rd.
#167
Castro Valley CA USA
94546

Babylon A.D. Website : http://www.babylonad.com/
Review by Vinnie Apicella

American Blitzkrieg

Babylon A.D.

Well this is a new twist… the opening title track features a bit of a rap overlaying some interesting droning effects and pushy backing vocs in the spirit of WAR-and what is it good for… right, absolutely nothing!

Here's a real anthemic pounder that signifies a much heavier groove than I remember-it's like "Bang go the Bells" times ten, only this time, all's not quite so well!

An interesting first cut, but I'm not sure where I stand with it personally… but they have moved on. I think one thing listening to this new disc-their first in quite some time, is reminding me that Babylon A.D., though they came out in a time where melodic hard rock and showmanship was running rampant, they always packed a heavy punch and moved often enough away from those atypical pop-like tendencies that never fit comfortably well with the whole concept of metal.

"Magic Mary" sets down the ground rules here as the second track and again, there's this in and out vibe-a verse that bobs and weaves efficiently like a boxer trying to avoid contact while making the jabs they do throw mean something.

Yes, this one's got the groove… let's move on. The overall sound's a lot stiffer than before-they definitely have not made the same album twice here so if you're looking for a complete nostalgia trip, you'll have to dig pretty deep to find it.

Sure there are many of the same elements present from the past-this is the same group, but they've done well to move forward while maintaining their strengths and identity.

The recording's done very low-barely above ground level it seems, and there's little in the way of catchiness… bits and pieces can be found however with the likes of "Sinking in the Sand" which boasts a potent chorus and gritty guitar groove.

The first ballad makes its way about halfway through but for me it's too late… I'm already past the point of complete aggravation!

I like the song though-the melody they'd been saving up all this time really shines through on this one-"The Sky's Falling" and so why am I enjoying it so much?

With a title like "American Blitzkrieg," the suggestive influence is that it would possess a slightly darker more aggressive direction, which they've done-and it works well for them.

Released by Apocalypse Records

20885 Redwood Rd.
#167
Castro Valley CA USA
94546

Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu]