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Babylon A.D.: Revelation Highway
Babylon A.D. - Revelation Highway CD Album Review

Babylon A.D.: Revelation Highway

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 01.11.2017

Thirty years is a long time for a band to stay together. It's even more astonishing if the band has the same members from the start. Despite some gaps and downtime since forming in 1987, San Francisco's Babylon A.D. has had the same original members: vocalist Derek Davis, guitarists John Mathews and Ron Freschi, drummer Jamey Pacheco, and bassist Robb Reid. With the Sunset Strip sound clashing with the Northwest's grunge, the band was still able to score some hits, including Bang Go The Bells, Hammer Swings Dow, and The Kid Goes Wild from their eponymous debut album. Studio silent since 2000, Babylon A.D. returns with their fourth album, Revelation Highway.

Babylon A.D. Band Photo

Babylon A.D.

As recollection my serve you, Babylon A.D.'s sound is classic late Eighties melodic hard rock, with a generous metal edge and some AOR sensibility. Fleshing that out a little, you'll hear some sharp and assertive riffs from twin guitars for that metal edge; melodic vocal harmonies combined with catchy refrains for that AOR accessibility; and, underneath it all, the rhythm and roar of a hard rock groove.

You'll find some tough and robust heavy metal rockers right from the top with Crash And Burn and Fool On Fire, then later with Saturday Night, I'm No Good For You, and Rags To Riches. That latter song sets itself off from the pack with its fine drum and bass line start, which is quickly joined by some tight harmonious riffs. Alternatively, perhaps on a calmer note, Babylon A.D. dials into their AOR groove with One Million Miles and Tears. The former has a nice piano and acoustic guitar blend to start, coupled with sweet vocal harmonies, and then finished with a tasty solo and more piano. The latter song, Tears, the closest thing to a ballad, bumps up the acoustic guitar at the beginning, but then the movement quickens and the riffs rise, all the while the vocal arrangement leading the melody. These two songs were easily my favorite cuts across the album.

Suffice to say, Revelation Highway is a strong return to the game from Babylon A.D., a fine platter of metal-infused melodic hard rock sweetened by some AOR accessibility. Check it out. Recommended.



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The Bottom Line

Revelation Highway is a strong return to the game from Babylon A.D., a fine platter of metal-infused melodic hard rock sweetened by some AOR accessibility. Check it out. Recommended.

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