Babylon Fire: Dark Horizons

Really? Dark Horizons is a debut album?? You've got to pulling my leg, having a giraffe and, well pulling my plonker don'tcha? Babylon Fire are far too accomplished, quietly eclectic and punishingly intense to be a new act on the block, surely?

Well yes and no, for while Dark Horizons is the first full length effort from these Manchester UK metallers, the band did come together back in 2007 and have, some three years ago, slipped out too far under the radar for my liking, a four track EP. Which, if it is anything like as good as this adrenalin shot of straight up metal, will be required listening. Recently slimming from a dual guitar attack to a sole fret burner hasn't knocked this band out of their stride either, what with Dark Horizons being a powder keg of radioactive riffs, bruising bass, detonating drums and volatile vocals. A quick blast of the likes of "Demonocracy" reveals a diet of Pantera and Machine Head, but dig a little deeper and the likes of Ozzy, Priest and even the less obvious touch of Therapy? appear. It may sound an odd mix, but in execution it becomes far from it. Pulsating beats bounce off razor sharp riffing and a real eye for a keen vocal melody provides killer hooks - offering up a far more accessible edge to metal than that which usually has those of a more refined nature, ducking diving and running for cover.

Mark Dunford proves to be a real earful on vocals with his voice brutalising through growls and screams one minute, soothing with clean vocals the next. However he also avoids falling into the current whiny or overly aggressive attacks that kill so many new bands stone dead. Leaving Rishi Mehta the room to deliver muscular riffs till his heart's content, while drummer Mark Cooper and basist Ryk Swillo lock everything down expertly. "Blood In Blood Out" gallops with evil intent, "Shattered Crown" offers a mighty groove to latch on to, while "Cycle Of Addiction" combines both those aspects with shouty vocals and cracking, punchy melodies.

Babylon Fire may have created Dark Horizons, but I can see only light at the end of their tunnel!

Track Listing
1. The Clarion Call
2. Darkness Draws Me in
3. Blood In Blood Out
4. Stripped Away
5. Demonocracy
6. Shattered Crown
7. Gates To Oblivion
8. Wrath Of The Fallen
9. Cycle Of Addiction
10. Within The Mouth Of Madness
11. Rise Through Babylon
12. I Still Remember

Added: November 30th 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Babylon Fire on Rocksector Records
Hits: 3313
Language: english

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