W.A.S.P Album Review
W.A.S.P – Babylon
Album review by Ian Dickinson
“W.A.S.P? No shit…really?” This was my initial response upon receiving 80s L.A. Hair Metal scenesters W.A.S.P’s latest release. In all honesty I thought that they had broken up years ago and were even dead, in rehab or writing books about almost being dead and being in rehab. I was incorrect, as usual, and W.A.S.P have thoroughly surprised me with the production of 9 blistering melodic metal tunes under the name of Babylon.
Let’s not get a head of our selves here. They are not pushing the envelope of progressive music. This is nothing new. If you had not been told that it came out in 2009, you would put a hefty sum of money on it being from 1989. This isn’t to say that it is not horrendously enjoyable and catchy. It is and a pure exercise in 80s metal nostalgia and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is bold, beautifully melodic, completely over the top and full of sizzling riffs. It has genuinely surprised me how often I end up listening to Babylon. W.A.S.P are back to remind you of why you fell in love with Metal back in the day.
The album opens with the fist punching and instantly unforgettable Crazy. Babylon’s Burning sees the band in sheer melodramatic splendor. Singing of ancient Mesopotamian cities on fire (or are they using gangster slang to describe the police) and mythological beasts with 7 heads rising out of the sea. It’s reminiscent of Iron Maidens dramatics and theatrical songs. One thing that quickly becomes apparent is the fire motif. Everything appears to be a blaze in the world of W.A.S.P. I guess the more stuff that’s on fire the more Metal you are? Babylon’s Burning, something has been thrown Into The Fire, something else is going to Burn and there are even Seas Of Fire. Fire is cool! Fire is Metal!
Just to make sure that W.A.S.P had created an all encompassing Metal epic, penultimate track Godless Run, is the token power ballad. This is a W.A.S.P power ballad though. It is not soppy or flowery. No Jon Bon Jovi bollocks here. It’s still retains dignity and raw rock emotion.
The stand out track for me comes in the form of Into The Fire. Strangely the track Into The Fire reminds me of a song by Michael Jackson called Give In To Me. (If anyone agrees please leave a comment just so I know I am not loosing the plot) Dead icons aside, it is a real metal heart breaker with a tremendous guitar solo, the song builds and builds to a dramatic climax. Drums crash and angst felt lyrics build to a blistering crescendo.
On a dank and cold morning, what better to warm you than a massive smoldering riff attack accompanying big choruses to sing-a-long to? Put any pretensions you may have aside and just sit back and enjoy some blazing metal tracks. I have very fond memories of the 80s and the music that was made has shaped my life and many others. There is certainly a renaissance and nostalgia surrounding bands playing this sort of Metal, the explosive popularity of Steel Panther and a young band that I recently saw that blow me away called The Morning After are testament that real Metal will continue throughout the ages. So lets embrace and celebrate a band, such as W.A.S.P, who are still rocking out and producing music as good as they ever have.
