Babylon Fire

Babylon Fire

Babylon Fire is a British heavy metal band formed in 2007. The group builds its sound around a mix of heavy groove-oriented riffs, a strong rhythm section, melodic vocals and guitar-led solos, with influences that range from Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath to Stone Sour, Machine Head and Five Finger Death Punch.

Formation and early line-up

The band starts with founder members Ryk Swillo on bass, Rishi Mehta on guitar, Will Reece on guitar, Mark Cooper on drums and Mark Dunford on vocals. It later becomes a four-piece after guitarist Will Reece leaves for personal reasons on amicable terms. Rather than replace him immediately, the band continues with one guitarist, a change that shapes its later sound.

Early releases and live work

Babylon Fire releases a self-released four-track EP in 2009. Around the same period, the band plays a range of support slots on the live circuit, appearing with Orange Goblin, Blaze Bayley, Heaven's Basement, Revoker, Freedom's Call, Pagan's Mind, Hed(PE), Panic Cell, Beholder and Fury UK.

Recognition and recorded material

The band receives wider attention after Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden talks about it on his BBC6 radio show. Babylon Fire then records Dark Horizons during May and June 2012 at MCC Studios in Mottram, Cheshire, with production by Andy Giblin of Kill2This and iDefi. The release includes the track “Shattered Crown” and features a mix of heavy metal aggression, melodic hooks and clean and acoustic guitar passages.

Style

Babylon Fire is associated with heavy metal, metal and rock. Its music combines powerful riffs, a hard rhythm foundation and melodic elements, with a sound that develops from classic heavy metal influences into a more modern groove-led style.