Babylon

Babylon is W.A.S.P.’s dense concept work in its own manner, deftly rendering religious, apocalyptic imagery into weighty riffs and theatrical singing. A grand world with motifs such as the Book of Revelation unfolds. By aggressive, powerful songs and shaded, lyrical melody appearing in turn, it creates an uneasy, taut tension across the whole album. From the momentum of the opener “Crazy” and the drama of “Live to Die Another Day” to the aggression of the title track “Babylon’s Burning,” the songs are firmly tightened by a construction with clear narrative and Blackie Lawless’s overwhelmingly present voice, while cuts like “Godless Run” and “Thunder Red” deeply convey the work’s weighty world. A record on which W.A.S.P.’s sure character strongly appears — dark and grandiose yet never forgetting catchy, memorable hooks. Lawless’s mature expression and skill in drawing a grand concept are splendidly displayed. Binding an apocalyptic theme and powerful heavy metal at high polish, it is an engaging, fulfilling work — a record with a strong Lawless world.