MATT SKIBA AND THE SEKRETS
Babylon
[Superball Music]
Verdict: 7.0/10
RIYL: Alkaline Trio, Bayside, Bad Religion

While Babylon doesn’t stand up to Skiba’s Alkaline Trio albums, it is a huge improvement from his solo work that came out within the last two years. Teamed up with Hunter Burgan (AFI) and Jarrod Alexander (My Chemical Romance), the threesome play rock very much similar to Skiba’s fame. While it doesn’t seem to be as memorable, fans of A3 will definitely feel at home with Babylon. The songs are cleverly crafted and original sounding, though they do seem to blend together at times. Lyrically, Skiba still shines as he always has. Fans will still be able to relate to these songs as strongly as they have in the past. Of the highlights, you have “Voices” (the opening track), “The End of Joy” (an upbeat, yet darkly written track), “Olivia” (which has an old school A3 vibe to it), and “Angel of Deaf” (the simple, yet very memorable acoustic closer). While I wouldn’t say that Babylon is one of Skiba’s top records, it is certainly a good one. This is a group I’d definitely want to hear more from. – by Nathaniel Lay

>> Recommended Tracks: “Voices”, “The End of Joy”, “Olivia”, “Angel of Death”
>> Release Date: May 7, 2012
>> In Conclusion: Similar to the later Alkaline Trio albums, Matt Skiba and the Sekrets play some original rock blended with punk and indie. It could do better with some faster and more upbeat tracks, but there are some real gems to be heard here.