BABYLON A.D. isn’t sitting back on the success of their last album “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day”, they spent early 2025 in the studio recording their follow up album WHEN THE WORLD STOPS and are now excited to announce they signed a deal with Kivel Records for the release of the new album before the end of 2025.
Derek Davis, lead singer, spoke about the new album and signing with Kivel Records, “We are so excited about this release, WHEN THE WORLD STOPS! This album is gonna blow peoples minds, there are so many different types of Babylon A.D. songs on this one and signing with Kivel Records we think is going to help us with the promotion structure and backing that we need for the album. The excitement and professionalism that the owner John Kivel has shown us, along with his belief in the band really sold us on signing with his label. Our last album “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day” really helped put the band back on the map. All the fan support, radio play and reviews we received from the album were so amazing. It really feels good to know… We Are Truly Back!
The first Single/Video “When The World Stops’ will be released the first week of August in conjunction with our first show at the “Whisky A Go Go” on August 8th! We then play a couple shows the following weekend in Denver and Salt Lake City and the band is very exited to take our Power of Music to the U.K and Greece in September.
The band is firing on all cylinders and we can’t wait to share this album on the road and the shows we have lined up this year are gonna be a blast for the band and the fans.”
John Kivel, President of Kivel Records, “I couldn’t be happier with this marriage of band and label. We have always prided ourselves here as being fans of the genre first and foremost. BABYLON A.D. has been a favorite band of mine since day 01. In fact, sometimes things are just meant to be. Back in the day as a young photographer, I photographed the band on tour. Years later, some of those photos made it into the bands first live cd. Years (decades!) later we are working together. How serendipitous if you ask me.
With that said, we couldn’t be more excited, as this album is a call to arms for the band and will certainly please fans of the band’s unique sound. A perfect blend of the first album and the more recent “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day”. A band that has walked a fine line of balance between maintaining their signature sound while expanding on it. However, not becoming something they are not. Undoubtedly no easy task, but most definitely a fantastic reward of music.
BABYLON A.D. is a welcome addition to the Kivel Records family. We are planning to accomplish a lot together, and we have no plans of slowing down. Well, not until… “The World Stops””
Praise for the Babylon A.D. last album “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day”:
“All these years later they still “Bang The Bells”. – Max Volume / 105.7 KOZZ Reno’s Classic Rock
“Derek Davis and his Babylonians deliver the cornerstone of their catalog. Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day is a gem-riddled roof of songs that sits firmly atop the Babylon A.D. empire that has been under construction for more than three decades.” – Scott Itter Dr. Music/All Music Magazine
“The new Babylon A.D. album… might just be the comeback that 80’s Rock fans have been waiting for… If you love 80’s Hard Rock this is an essential purchase.” – The Rock Pit
Babylon A.D. is excited to bring the WHEN THE WORLD STOPS tour to Europe this September.
2025 Babylon A.D. Tour Dates:
Aug 8 – Whisky A Go Go – West Hollywood, CA
Aug 15 – Wild Goose Saloon – Parker, CO
Aug 16 – Liquid Joe’s – Salt Lake City, UT
Sept 4 – Underworld – London, United Kingdom
Sept 5-8 – Hard Rock Hell Sleaze Festival – O2 Academy – Leicester, England
Sept 5 – Suburbia – Southampton, England
Sept 7 – Eleven – Stoke-on-Trent, England
Sept 10 – Bannerman’s – Edinburgh, Midlothian
Sept 11 – Yardbirds Rock Club – Grimsby, United Kingdom
Sept 12 – Nightrain – Bradford, United Kingdom
Sept 13 – Vinyl Tap Preston – Preston, England
Sept 14 – The Patriot – Crumlin, Wales
Sept 16 – The Victoria – Swindon, United Kingdom
Sept 20 – Piraeus Club Academy – Athina, Greece
Band Members
Derek Davis – Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar
Ron Freschi – Lead Guitar, Background vocals
John Mattews – Lead Guitar
Craig Pepe – Bass, Background vocals
Dylan Soto – Drums / Background vocals
About Babylon A.D.
Formed in 1987, Babylon A.D. hail from the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Original members, Derek Davis vocalist/songwriter, guitarist’s and music writers John Mathews and Ron Freschi drummer James Pacheco and bassist Rob Reid met in high school before they began playing together as “The Persuaders” making a name for themselves with their powerful live performances and catchy songwriting skills becoming one of the top drawing original Hard Rock bands in the Northern CA.
In 1989 the band changed their name to “Babylon A.D.” and caught the attention of Arista Records President and industry music mogul “Clive Davis”, who signed them at a live showcase in Los Angeles thanks to their impressive three song demo and a home made video. John Mattews departed the band and was replaced by another high school friend Dan De La Rosa just before their self-titled album “Babylon A.D.” was released in 1990. The album included their hard rock classic hits “Bang Go The Bells”, “Hammer Swings Down” and “The Kid Goes Wild”, which featured Screaming “Sam Kinison” and was the trailer song and promotional video for Orion Pictures (ROBO COP 2). The band scored three #1 songs at Metal Radio and reached Gold status on their first release, which spent 38 weeks on the Billboard top 200, peaking at # 46. Their sophomore effort (Nothing Sacred) was produced by the legendary “Tom Werman” and released in 1992, it produced two more top-ten metal rockers. “Bad Blood” and “So Savage the Heart”. Constant touring throughout the early 1990s and several MTV videos made them one of hard rock fans favorite bands.
In 1999 the band and released “Live In Your Face” on Apocalypse Records, a compilation of live tracks recorded at various cities’ across America. Their next release “American Blitzkrieg” soon followed in 2002 and both records were well received by critics and fans alike. In 2008 the band released Babylon A.D. “In The Beginning” on Perris Records, a compilation of songs from the original demo tapes that secured them their recording contract with Arista Records.
After a long hiatus the band started playing and recording again in 2014. Touring across the States and Europe releasing the four song E.P “Lost Sessions”. in 2018 John Matthews rejoined the group and the band signed with Frontiers Records for their forth studio release “Revelation Highway” Four singles/ videos and more touring followed through the beginning of 2020. In 2022 original members James Pacheco and Robb Reid left the band for other pursuits remaining connected to the bands legacy and part of a brotherhood of friendship that has lasted for over 30 years!
PRESENT DAY…
Fast forward to 2023, BABYLON A.D. announced new members Craig Pepe (bass) and Dylan Soto (drums) and a new live concert album “Live Lightning” from Perris Records. The album included their top-ten rock-radio classic hits from their debut album as well as songs from “Nothing Sacred”, “American Blitzkrieg”, and “Revelation Highway”.
In 2024 they released their 5th studio album on Perris Records titled “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day”. The 11 track album is classic Babylon A.D. firing on all cylinders, showcasing great songwriting talent, performances and the hard rock sound the band is known for.
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