Babylon in Bloomington, MN

While they started off being marketed as a band, past a certain point,
W.A.S.P.
became primarily a
Blackie Lawless
-led project. Which shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as it was the
Lawless
one that has written the vast majority of the group's tunes and has dictated their direction from the get-go. And also past a certain point,
went from shock-rock poster children for the PMRC (
"Animal,"
anyone?), and began focusing on conceptual albums and more mature lyrical subject matter. And it's the latter direction that
continues with on their 2009 offering,
Babylon
. Supposedly based on "biblical visions of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse (as confirmed by the album cover's doodle),
is still metallic-based, and such tracks as
"Live to Die Another Day"
and
"Babylon's Burning"
are instant
anthems. Elsewhere, you'll find a pretty darn dandy cover of the sadly oft-overlooked
David Coverdale
-era
Deep Purple
classic
"Burn,"
and while they're known first and foremost as headbangers,
has always had a soft side for power ballads, and
"Into the Fire"
(not to be confused with the earlier
ballad,
"Sleeping in the Fire"
) gets the nod this time 'round. As far as '80s metallists go,
is one of the few artists from the genre whose songwriting has only improved with age. ~ Greg Prato