Babylon A.D. - Lost Sessions

Babylon A.D.

Lost Sessions

by Matt Coe at 01 May 2014, 3:26 PM

During the late 1980’s in America, Hard Rock ruled the airwaves in all capacities. Bands were going multi-platinum in sales, charting with singles and albums, and bringing their brand of entertainment to arena audiences at a fairly consistent clip. BABYLON A.D. were one of those bands that back in the day received modest video play on MTV during the Headbangers’ Ball era, and I found their two full lengths to be a great synthesis of melodic hard rock and AOR-style music.

Newly reuniting for a comeback, the band felt it was a good idea to release this 4 song EP “Lost Sessions” that was originally recorded in 1993 when the band was hoping to gain a new record deal. As those who lived in that time period remember, anything associated with glam, hard rock, and metal in the United States could be ostracized, as the Seattle alternative scene took over and bands like NIRVANA, PEARL JAM, SOUNDGARDEN, and ALICE IN CHAINS dominated the public spotlight.

The first song “Love Blind” has a lot of that latter 80’s DOKKEN feel, the guitar work very reminiscent of classic George Lynch while the multi-part vocal harmonies during the chorus just sink the musical hooks in that much deeper. “While America Sleeps” has a comfortable cruising tempo, once again bringing the best of the Sunset Strip to mind as I feel it would have been perfect on BABYLON A.D.’s second album “Nothing Sacred”. And of course what melodic hard rock band release wouldn’t be complete without a tender power ballad, in this case the longest arrangement of the EP as “Love Is a Mystery” proves the band’s expertise at being restrained, emotive, and still musically on point.

Ending on a re-recording of “Bang Goes the Bells” (given a little bit more of an unpolished, rawer feel from the debut album’s first appearance), I just felt that this band was a victim of bad timing in the industry as they had the skills, playing ability, and songwriting chops to keep up against any of the big sellers of their day. So this is a nice little piece of history for all BABYLON A.D. fans to treasure.