Simon Rushworth
Manchester metallers Babylon Fire have inked a deal with fast-rising British label Rocksector Records to release debut album Dark Horizons.
The eagerly-anticipated long player will drop on November 12 after the quartet emerged from Cheshire’s MCC Studios confident of making a serious impression in 2012.
Built in 2007 – on a foundation of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and modern American metal, the band has forged a signature sound and built a passionate fan base.
Founder members Ryk Swillo (bass), Rishi Mehta (guitar), Will Reece (guitar), Mark Cooper (drums) and Mark Dunford (vocals) set out with the intention of writing dynamic, powerful and heavy songs with an emphasis on melody.
That mantra was the basis for a self-released four-track EP in 2009. At the same time the band also increased its presence on the live circuit opening up for Orange Goblin, Blaze Bayley, Heaven’s Basement, Panic Cell, Beholder and Fury UK.
Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson championed Babylon Fire on his Radio Six Rock Show but the departure of guitarist Will Reece meant the band faced a fresh challenge.
Opting against recruiting a second guitarist the four remaining members wrote Dark Horizons and a free mp3 download of the track Shattered Crown is available at the Rocksector website www.rocksector.com
Dark Horizons will be available on general pre-order from early October. A special limited edition pre-order package will also be available.
Tour dates will be announced soon but Babylon Fire’s focal point is a special album launch event at Manchester’s NQ Live on November 17.
The Dark Horizons tracklisting is as follows: 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