WASP - Babylon

Heavy Metal
Demolition Records

2009

1. Crazy
2. Live To Die Another Day
3. Babylon's Burning
4. Burn (Deep Purple cover)
5. Into The Fire
6. Thunder Red
7. Seas of Fire
8. Godless Run
9. Promised Land (Chuck Berry cover)

WASP are a band who have pretty much settled into a predictable formula for their releases. When you get a WASP album, you mostly know what you're going to hear. That being said, I've enjoyed many of their releases older and newer and a new WASP album is always something I wait for. Their last album in particular, Dominator, had some really strong songs. It's standout songs with good hooks that make WASP if not originality.

Unfortunately, on Babylon I have a gripe that drags down this album before even listening to it. 43 minutes of music with TWO cover songs? One of which was recorded during the sessions for the Last album by the way. We're talking about 35 minutes of original material here... and listening to the album I use the term 'original' pretty loosely. Really there's about enough original songs here for an EP. I must say that I do like the cover of Burn though. I'm not sure if a cover being one of the highlights is a good or bad thing, but it is for whatever that's worth.

That being said, there are some decent if mostly unremarkable original cuts here. Crazy is a good album starter and has single worthy catchiness. Unfortunately while a lot of the other songs qualify as pretty decent they are also highly typical to the point of not standing out a great deal. When I listen through this album I never really find a bad moment, but neither do I often go 'this rocks!'. Most of the songs here are a little Too familiar.

In the end I have to say that they kinda phoned this one in. It's not a bad listen at all, but it's also not by any means a great one with a bunch of new songs for the WASP live catalogue. Pretty forgettable. More and more it seems like WASP is putting out formulaic albums just for the sake of a release and a sale. I mean the last album was about 43 minutes as well, similar sound, etc. Less musical expression and more of a standard product at this point. If you like WASP this is decent, but don't set your hopes too high.

Highlights: Crazy, Burn

Rating - 3.0/5

WASP - Dominator

Traditional Metal
Demolition

2007

1. Mercy
2. Long, Long Way to Go
3. Take Me Up
4. The Burning Man
5. Heaven's Hung in Black
6. Heaven's Blessed
7. Teacher
8. Heaven's Hung in Black (Reprise)
9. Deal With the Devil

WASP has always been an interesting band in my personal tastes. It seems that this band is capable of doing great or terrible things to my ears and I'm never quite sure which to expect. The last two part snoozer left me cold, but there's always hope with a hit and miss band and I did hope for more this time around.

In many ways this album is the exact opposite of the Neon God albums. While that one was a long winded, stretched thin, conceptual piece this one comes in at a short 43 minutes (less if you don't count the reprise) with a much more direct approach. Also, the production seems to be like night and day when you compare the raw, stripped down feel of Neon God and the slick, melodic feel of Dominator. Another contrast is just the energy level as this one seems to scream with it and Blackie definitely lets loose on the vocals. In short, this album is more or less everything I wanted but didn't get out of the Neon God albums.

All the songs on this release are keepers. What we have here are energetic straight up rockers in the best WASP fashion. While I like conceptual albums and think WASP is capable of excelling at them (The Crimson Idol is all the proof needed of this) this is a refreshing album full of tunes that hit you in the face. It wouldn't be a WASP album without some good emotive, ballad-esque tunes though and Heaven's Hung In Black and Take Me Up are extremely powerful and total highlights of the album. Don't take 'more direct' for meaning hollow when it comes to this review because this is a very moving album at times. The difference is Dominator doesn't get bogged down in concept and doesn't overextend itself. I'll take quality over quantity any day and Dominator just delivers.

Basically, if you like WASP this is a no brainer and I would hope you have heard some WASP by now. This band is certainly capable of making some classics and when Blackie is on there are few who can compare vocally. Dominator is just a solid straight up metal release sure to please fans of the band and anyone into some traditional ass kicking metal.

Highlights: Heaven's Hung In Black, Long Long Way To Go, Take Me Up, Mercy

Rating - 4.0/5