Metal Underground.com

On the band's debut EP, "The Day The Angels Died," Babylon Fire looks to combine classic metal riffing and solos with more modern grooves and vocals. Though there's nothing earthshaking here, the good far outweighs the bad.

The guitar work on the EP is excellent, with the solos on the title track and "Freight Train" especially standing out. Riff-wise, "Freight Train" is definitely the best song on the disc, with Rishi Mehta and Will Reece's ax-work sending the track racing right down the line.

Singer Mark D is adequate to the task, with a decent melodic voice, joined with Mehta and bassist Ryk Swillo's to create an excellent large chorus in "Freedom." There are also some interesting death-y screams at the end of "Freight Train" and toward the end of "The Day The Angels Died."

On the downside, there isn't a lot here that feels all that memorable or original. The four tracks definitely have a radio-ready vibe to them, and they wouldn't sound out of place right next to Disturbed and Drowning Pool songs.

Competently performed, if on the unoriginal side, Babylon Fire's "The Day The Angels Died" is a decent debut EP. Here's hoping the band finds a bit more of a voice for itself on its next release.