Review: Babylon A.D. – When The World Stops

Kivel Records (September 1^st 2025)

Reviewer – Grant Foster

I was going to lead with how the name Babylon A.D. (BAD) conjured up the whole hair metal era, names such as Autograph, Black n Blue, Britny Fox, The Scream, Nevada Beach and so many more besides.

But, also, how BAD’s first album was a stone cold bonafide hard rock classic and one I don’t think they have ever bettered. The track ‘The Kid Goes Wild‘ featured In Robocop2.  

After the second album, ‘Nothing Sacred‘, there was a rake of releases on smaller labels and it wasn’t until ‘Revelation Highway‘ in 2017, a gap of 17 years that BAD were heard of again.

RH was a worthwhile addition to the band’s catalogue, but the 2024 follow up, ‘Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day‘ (review here), suffered from production problems and stilted the album.

You see, when Babylon A.D. hit top form, they are excellent.

The rockers – the title track is a strong start, quintessential BAD in all its glory. Singer Derek Davis‘ signature vocal has lost absolutely none of its character over the years. ‘Come On Let’s Roll‘ has that Feelgood factor about going to a show – ‘’the speakers blasting out ZZ Top’’. 

‘Toxic Baby‘, heavier, with a modern edge, yet a phased guitar in the verse. 

‘Power of Music‘ is a joy. Stomp, stomp, stomp. ‘The power of the drums, the power of the guitar that hits you in the face’. It’s a celebration of music in the best way.

Then there’s the slower numbers. Along with the Scorpions, BAD excel at these. ‘Don’t Ask Questions‘ is definitely up there with one of the best they have written. It’s not complicated, take an easy ear worm of a melody line and a moody guitar harmonic and back it simply but strongly. Hard on its heels comes ‘Love Is Cruel‘. It lilts and caresses you, yet Derek’s vocal is urgent and impassioned enough to keep you from nodding out. It’s a perfect combination of rough and smooth in many ways.

Yet when it doesn’t work, it feels like something is missing. ‘I Don’t Believe In You‘ is a slower number, but it doesn’t have the magic required. The chorus comes across as forced. Too much angst even for a power ballard.

‘The Damage Is Done‘ veers from an early Iron Maiden feel to a power ballad. It’s not bad, just not as good as it may have been.

Then there’s the strange. ‘Torn‘. The drum intro, not quite a solo. A stuttered guitar riff. Then the pre chorus into the chorus feels as though it belongs in another song completely. A cut and shut.

‘Oh Suki‘. This sounds like an outtake from ‘American Blitzkrieg‘ from 2000. It’s jarring and discordant and sticks out like a sore thumb and not in a good way. It couldn’t be more less like BAD if they tried!

‘Sadness Madness‘ closes the album in a positive fashion. Light, airy and breezy.

Babylon A.D. were so close in producing a really good album here. 

Like I said, the highs are really high, but when there are lows, boy they are deep.

As for the production it’s way better than the previous album with one exception. The bass drum. For some reason my ears can’t stop picking out the click punch of it which protrudes into the mix generally. It might just be my ears!

”Bang Go The Bells”.

Tracklist:

1. When The World Stops 
2. Come On Let’s Roll 
3. Don’t Ask Qustions 
4. Love Is Cruel 
5. Toxic Baby 
6. I Don’t Beleive In You 
7. Power Of Music 
8. Torn 
9. The Damage Is Done 
10. Oh Suki
11. Sadness Madness 

Line-up:

Derek Davis – Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar

Ron Freschi – Lead Guitar, Background vocals

John Mattews – Lead Guitar

Craig Pepe – Bass, Background vocals

Dylan Soto – Drums / Background vocals

Web Links:

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