Today in Metal: W.A.S.P. – “Babylon”

What happens when the evening news starts looking like the end of the world? For Blackie Lawless, it became the starting point for “Babylon”.

Released on October 12th, 2009, W.A.S.P. fourteenth studio album took inspiration from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. But the idea didn’t come out of nowhere. While researching the global financial crisis of 2008 Lawless began connecting what he was reading about the state of the world with the biblical visions in the Book of Revelation.

The result was an album full of fire, destruction, heavy riffs and the unmistakable voice of Blackie Lawless.

W.A.S.P. Stuck to What They Do Best

By 2009, W.A.S.P. had a sound of their own and “Babylon” didn’t try to reinvent it. The album brought back the band familiar mix of classic heavy metal and hard rock, driven by Lawless raspy vocals, Doug Blair guitars, Mike Duda bass, and Mike Dupke drums.

The opening track, “Crazy” wastes no time getting things moving. Its main riff reminds many listeners of “Wild Child” linking the album to W.A.S.P. classic ’80s sound.

“Live to Die Another Day” brings a big, melodic chorus, while “Babylon’s Burning” delivers a faster, more aggressive attack built around the album apocalyptic theme.

There are only nine tracks, including two covers. Some listeners wanted more original material, while others liked the short, direct approach without much filler.

Four Tracks. One Very Fiery Theme.

The end-of-the-world mood runs through the album, but the track titles almost take the fire theme to another level.

“Babylon’s Burning”, “Burn”, “Into the Fire” and “Seas of Fire” all bring flames into the picture. That’s four out of nine tracks W.A.S.P. certainly wasn’t being subtle about the destruction!

Still, the album isn’t all speed and aggression. “Into the Fire” brings a dramatic power-ballad moment, while “Godless Run” takes a slower route, building into something more epic.

That contrast gives “Babylon” room to breathe between the heavier tracks.

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A Deep Purple Classic That Almost Ended Up Elsewhere

One of the album covers has a story of its own. W.A.S.P. recorded Deep Purple’s “Burn” for the previous album, “Dominator”, released in 2007, but the track was left off for reasons that remain unknown.

It eventually found a home on “Babylon” where its fire-heavy title fits right in.

The other cover takes things back to rock and roll. The album closes with Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land” but W.A.S.P. used Elvis Presley 1973 version as their main reference.

Listen to the very end and you’ll hear Blackie Lawless say “How about one of them peanut butter & banana sandwiches”. It’s a little nod to Elvis that gives the track a fun final touch.

The End of an Old W.A.S.P. Live Favorite?

Around the time of “Babylon” Lawless religious and spiritual convictions were also becoming a bigger part of his public life.

Shortly after the album release, he announced that he would no longer perform W.A.S.P. controversial debut single “Animal (F**k Like a Beast)” live. He has continued to stand by that decision.

For a band whose early reputation was built partly on shock and controversy, that was a major change. It also makes “Babylon” an interesting point in W.A.S.P. story: the music still had the familiar bite, but the man behind it was looking at the world through a different lens.

Classic W.A.S.P. or Playing It Safe?

“Babylon” received generally positive reviews, with critics praising Lawless voice, the guitar work and the band old-school metal spirit. Others felt it played things too safely and could have used more original songs instead of two covers.

But if you want W.A.S.P. doing what W.A.S.P. does best big riffs, strong choruses and Blackie Lawless bringing biblical destruction into heavy metal there’s plenty to enjoy here.

Is “Babylon” an underrated W.A.S.P. album, or did the band play it too safe with this one?