Tell us about what got Babylon Mystery Orchestra [BMO} started and to what intentions do you have for this project?

I had been somewhat plotting this since I made the move back home to Greenville Alabama, from Augusta Georgia back, in 1995. I had prior to that been involved in some music projects but after a 1987 trip to the Heavy Metal Mecca Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles I concluded you could only get anywhere in music if you were a mindless immoral buffoon. It was quite disillusioning. That movie “The decline of Western Civilization: The Metal Years” is very real. I was there when they filmed it and talked myself to many of those very people. So I really didn’t involve myself with music the whole time I lived in Augusta although the music scene there was very enjoyable most of the time I was there.

Shortly after I returned to Greenville the KISS reunion happened and I bought the reissue of Paul Stanley’s PS10 “Iceman” guitar and rather than just let it be a part of my KISS collection I kept playing it. The technology of recording by this time had made it more economically feasible to acquire recording gear that could produce album quality recordings and I slowly made up my mind that I could actually make my own records and eliminate all those elements of dealing with other musicians that inhibit the process.

I can’t say that I have any intentions with Babylon Mystery Orchestra. I want to make records about the things that are on my mind. The fact is that these very serious subjects are, and have been, on my mind for as long as I can remember. I know that such subjects aren’t the normal kind for this type of music but, in many ways, it seems the only kind of music that can deliver this type of material properly. There is a lot of misuse of the term “independent” out there in the music world. You are NOT independent if you have someone paying to have your record made. You are not independent if you have a paid producer and you are not independent if you have a marketing campaign getting your record advertised in magazines. All these “independent” record labels are just as capable as was Elektra Records when they signed the Doors.

Why is it so important to be as provocative as you with the ideas presented in your albums?

There is no reason to make a record unless you have something to say that either hasn’t been said before or really needs to be said. I believe that the points of view presented in BMO records are very likely the truth. And they are a unique and non traditional point of view. Many people will identify with what these records project yet no one else wants to come out and say these things. It is very important to me that I not pass through this world and leave these things unsaid. If they are controversial and provacative so be it. I am not making the records with the intent of being shocking or controversial, I am saying what I believe to be the truth as I have been led to understand it. None of it is controversial or provacative to me. I have lived with these things a long time. I feel as though this is the right time for these things to be considered. Therefore these messages are very important to me. That I get them out there is very important to me. If someone thinks they are provacative, I am sure thats a good thing, but it is just a by product of actually being true to the message.

What is the background theme of the latest BMO album and what, directly, are you addressing as the issues of Christianity within itself?

The new CD, “The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy Of Satanic Christianity,” deals directly with the concept of Satanic involvement and manipulation of Christianity itself. This is a concept with considerable biblical validation as a Satanic method of operation. Both Old and New Testament. The simple fact is that if Satan would directly access Jesus and tempt him, he certainly is not going to fail to do the same with The Church. The letters to the seven churches mentioned in the beginning of Revelation bear out the fact that this process had already begun and Jesus is directly warning the churches about this. Somehow the idea of Satanic manipulation of the churches is not all that appealing a subject for churches to study on their own. It would force you to look at your church and realistically evaluate its failures. No church will readily volunteer for that. It is always easy to see the failings of someone elses church….but never your own. It would mean that you have been in some way decieved. The fact is, virtually every church has been victimized by some sort of Satanic doctrine. No matter how insignificant it may seem, Jesus warned that such things are dangerous and he clearly warned that such things are to be EXPECTED.

It is one of my contentions in this record that the doctrine of the pretribulation rapture is the single most dangerous Satanically inspired deception within Christendom. It is a belief that in some way is shared by just about all protestant denominations. There are other false doctrines that infest various churches to be sure but this one seems special. Once you acknowledge that it is Satan’s entire duty to attack and decieve Christians above and beyond anything else he does, then you can look at your church and its role in your life more accurately. Decieving you and your church are more important to Satan than anything that will ever happen at a Marilyn Manson show. Christians and Christianity ATTRACT Satanic influence, NOT repel it. How much influence they get in the churches depends entirely on the spiritual strength of the churches. Too many people view their church as an authority figure in their lives and a sanctuary from Satan and his angels. There is no biblical foundation for this. Satan went face to face with Jesus. What strength have you got that he didn’t have? The church was meant to be “the body of Christ.” Not a place you go. Not an authority on the word of God. People gathered together to sincerely study and worship is a good thing. Institutionalized, well financed organizations that have extra-continental outreach are not. I just don’t think that Jesus intended it.

What is it that you witness about ‘Commercial Christianity’ and how it is harming the church?

What we see in today’s world is, essentially, results based Christianity. The desired results are simply to fill the seats. If you fill the seats then you will increase the cash flow which, thereby, increases the visibility and influence of a church. To achieve these results you have to streamline Christianity into a “good news” philosophy. Don’t get me wrong, I more than agree that the message of Jesus’ salvation is truly good news. But there is so much more to Christianity than Salvation. That is your first day as a Christian. Unfortunately the churches fail  to get past that. This is especially true of prophecy. There is so much prophecy in the Bible that I cannot be led to believe that it is not of extreme importance. Unfortunately Biblical endtimes prophecy is anything but good news. As a Christian you have your salvation but that does not disqualify you from possibly enjoying the same treatment that Jesus recieved from the world. The servant is NOT greater than the master. This “pretribulation rapture” doctrine is a good way to shove this truly challenging time(tribulation) aside and replace it with a false sense of comfort. This, of course will keep the seats filled but it is not going to be good for anyone who lives through this. The truth should be told regardless of its popularity. I personally think we should feel priviledged to live through those times if it befalls us. Not try to convince ourselves we are “entitled” to escape it.

Let me give you an example of something that can also show the misplaced priorities in the Church. I was talking to a leader in a local church and asked why, if there is so much concern over schools and their worldly curriculum, doesn’t their church simply become a school itself. They have the space and plenty of adults to instruct and oversee the teaching. This is of course one of the great things churches of the past did, educate children. I was told there would be too much risk of being sued as well as being a huge financial burden through things like insurance etc. I found that a strange response. Would God think there was a better use of what everyone claims is his money? What exactly is the church’s true treasure? Its money and influence or the souls of its people. Could there possibly be a better use of God’s money than to take care of God’s children? Then of course there is the fact that most of the people in the church would not support it as a school. They’d keep their kids in the other schools. Why? Football, proms etc. Sometimes I think the Ahmish are the only “Church of Philadelphia” left. They are nothing if not committed.

What themes are covered in this album and why would many ‘Christian’ bands veer away from such topics and how you have had a ‘direct’ approach to them?

Bands generally label themselves “christian bands” because they percieve themselves to be as non controversial as possible. How many times do you see Christian rock stations claim they play “positive music.” That by its very nature will steer the average band away from the topics that Babylon Mystery Orchestra thrives on. Such themes as the aforementioned pretribulation rapture, homosexuality within the church as well as overzealous homophobia within it as well, pedophile priests and even how the removal of God from the government will make the state its own religion. There are always subplots to everything in these songs.

For a band to take on these topics they would have to present some form of a point of view. This in itself can be seen as limiting their audience. This is why I often scorn the idea of Christian Rock Music. Given a choice, the bands will err on the side of rock music more than they would try to delve into the deeper word of God. If they do actually make the effort to have “Christian” themes and lyrics, they will be very generalized and typically very shallow. Once again to avoid creating the very controversy Babylon Mystery Orchestra wallows in. People have argued about the Bible for centuries. There is much good in such things. It shows if you have  passion in your beliefs.

What is different about your lyrical approach for this album and why is this?

My approach to this record was not really any different from other Babylon Mystery Orchestra records. Almost every song I write is built from the lyrics. The music is made to enhance and reinforce them rather than the other way around. Most bands don’t care about their lyrics and it shows. They believe that songs are merely platforms for them to display their (percieved) musical skills. I don’t want these records to ever be such things.

The thing that separates this record somewhat from its predecessor is its direct reflection of real and verifiable historical events. The previous CD “On Earth As It Is In Heaven” was built around the Dead Sea Scrolls books of Enoch and Secrets of Enoch and dealt with the original history of music. The events being so long ago as to be intertwined with the same mythology that led to the old religions or “gods” of the past. Since Jesus said  “As in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son Of Man” I was drawing a necessary conclusion that the infestation of music in our society is, in itself, a sign of his imminent return. The new CD deals more with the obvious realities of Satanic infiltration of the church, from the beginning right up to now.

Not only in your lyrics do you use parts of the gospel, but who else have you quoted and why?

I thought it would be useful to have other perspectives from well known people on the subject of religion/christianity. In some places it was very specific. Quoting both the Rev. V. Eugene Robinson and  Rev.Fred Phelps in the section just before a song directly about them(Eye Of The Needle).  I also thought the quote at the beginning from Aleister Crowley was quite telling for the whole concept of the record. Crowley pretty much claiming Satan to be that which Jesus is. In Crowley’s eyes, Satan was his messiah. Putting his words next to Jesus goes a long way to prove the idea of Satanic replication.

Are you at times fearful that listeners will misinterpret your messages and what you were intending to state. If ever, how do you resolve this?

You don’t resolve this. People have taken the Bible itself and “misinterpreted” it for their own purposes. I, therefore, cannot believe that the same couldn’t happen to my words. I can’t worry about that though. I go into great detail in these records so that everyone can see why I say what I say. I don’t think I could do any more to preserve my intentions. That being said, people get from your music what thay get. I am very conscious of the fact that if you hear a song by itself totally separated from the record you will get a totally different meaning than you would if you hear it in context. That is very intentional in Babylon Mystery Orchestra music. You could get the impression that the perspective was quite Satanic. Many people are surprised at what they find when they dig deep into these records.

Describe the process you go through when preparing the music for a song.

Every time a begin writing a song I know what the song is about before I start. There are many instances where I will have a piece of music that I want to use but I won’t start work on that until I decide where it would fit into the whole process. Usually I will have the choruses and most of the lyrics before I start really working on the arrangement of the song. From getting the arrangement done I put down the main guitars, drums, bass, keyboards(if any) lead guitar and then I will record the vocals. That is pretty much the same for all of them. I do not record the songs in the order that they will be on the record. In fact, on the record I am currently working on I have finished the first song and what will be the last three.

What do you find the hardest in preparing the music as a solo artist and what freedoms do you find as well?

I really think the hardest element in making these records the way I do is finding the time to work on them. If I only had music to concentrate on I could probably make three albums a year. Since I actually have to maintain a “day” job it becomes somewhat of a chore making myself stay on a steady progression. On the other hand, as a solo artist you can make them when you want to. The only pressure put on me to finish these things is self imposed.

Do you think you would find that BMO would be a stronger force if it had a full band line up?

Absolutely not! The only thing a full band can really do is provide a format for presenting the music live. Unless this music could really be fleshed out theatrically I don’t think live performances of it can help at all. The so called “independent” labels out there won’t hardly touch an artist that doesn’t play out live so maybe having a band would help increase the visibility of the music. That is really what Babylon Mystery Orchestra needs more than anything. To get noticed on a larger scale. To have the resources to really push this music out there. maybe having a full lineup would help acquire that. But you have to give other musicians something in return. Ultimately musician’s want to be liked. I fear that having that influence within this music could only dilute the messages I am trying to present.

It took a year and a half to make this album, how did you fit this album in with your everyday life?

That, as I have said, is the most difficult part. You have to impose deadlines on yourself and fix your recording to a schedule. Then you have to have the discipline to stick to it.If you want to accomplish anything in this world artistically, you have to have some self discipline. I have done it three times now and I am about halfway through #4 so it does work. I know and have known many bands with four or five people in them that get a lot less done. Scheduling around one man is inevitably preferable than scheduling around several.

What else would you like to state at the end here?..

I would like to thank you for asking some interesting questions. I love to do these kinds of interviews and would appreciate another one with you sometimes. Look for the next Babylon Mystery Orchestra CD sometime in early 2008. I assure you there will be some interesting surprises.

This is Sidney Allen Johnson of Babylon Mystery Orchestra and I am going to take you on a track by track run through of the new BMO CD “The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy Of Satanic Christianity.” First I should say that my overall intention was to present a “responsible” criticism of christianity as it pertains to the institutional apparatus of the church in its heirarchal earthly form. Essentally I view this work in a similar way to the writings of Martin Luther who himself was critical of the church of his time. The great Apostasy follows the evolution of the church with the basic premis that the church was never a sanctuary from evil, but, in fact,  a target of it. So on with the tracking….

1. Holy Ghost begins with the promise made by Jesus of a comforter that could only be sent when he left. This song is meant to show the church as it was meant to be in the beginning.Full of potential. This song has some carefully chosen quotes from Jesus. Those chosen by Jesus out of this world would be hated by this world. Initially this was the condition of the early church as the early church was persecuted. I particularly like the Gothic sound of this song.

2. Pentecost. The arrival of this Holy spirit after the crucifixion creates quite a disturbance. Many people observing the apostles on this day actually thought they might be drunk. Apparently it was quite a sight. So much so that people try very hard (sometimes way too hard) to recreate this mass euphoria in churches to this very day.

3. I, Lucifer is an instrumental that acts as a transitional song taking us from the church as it should be as represented in the first two songs to the church as we will come to know it. Suffice it to say that our favorite fallen angel was observing the spread of this “good news” and was devising a plan to deal with it.

4. Prey For Me. Alas said plan is hatched. Simple and brilliant all at once. After encouraging the persecution of early christianity was in fact making it stronger the fallen one decides its better to not try to destroy the church….but to infiltrate and ultimately run it.This is validated by much Bible prophecy and even more world history. The Crusades, The Inquisition, The Spanish Armada, St. Bartholemew’s Day Massacre and even the outcome based modern Christianity with its Pretribulation Rapture can be traced to this simple diabolical idea. The Apostasy of the Church is built into it right there in Christianity’s first century. A perusal of the first chapters of Revelation will reveal the initial success of the plan as 6 out of 7 churches mentioned have been poisoned with something Jesus is warning them about. The first Christian churches had to meet in secret as it was a truly persecuted faith at the time. Lucifer is not an omniscient being. You can hide from him and his angels. Ask yourself who it truly benefits for the churches to meet at specific locations on a known schedule? In order to control the churches he had to find them. A society tolerating and accepting a religion is the first step in gaining control of, and making use of it.

5. One way, One Truth, One Life…this is a song of confusion. After all there are many different faiths and beliefs in this world. There are many different faiths and beliefs in Christianity.Why? Was all of this confusion an “intelligent design?”

6. Church Of State.  Here in America there is this tremendous belief in the idea of a separation of church and government. There is also a tremendous belief among political conservatives in the foundation of God AND country. You cannot serve two masters and you will serve something. Church of State is a song about the government as a religion. Considering the way the American people worship their “constitution,” you can view this as the state of America today!

7. Eye Of The Needle. This is one of the favorites. Two very real people whose names were not changed are put on display in this song. Extremes is the theme here. The extreme liberalism of “Father Gene” who invites abomination into the church in the name of tolerance is opposed by the extreme evangelical conservatism of  “Reverend Fred”  who would banish the sinner with the sin in the name of intolerance.

8. Wolf In The Fold gets into the diabolical heart and soul of that most evil of creatures…..the pedophile priest. A journey through his unrepentant mind. Never does the “church” hold these scoundrels in contempt. Quite the opposite. Their silence is sanctioning!

9. Who Mourns For Philadelphia? Has the one true and faithful church fulfilled biblical prophecy and been “kept from the hour of temptation”……by dying? Who noticed the death of the church? When did it happen? Did anyone mourn? And what does that say about all the churches in the world today?
10. King Of The Earth. The celebration of a plan having reached fruition. Satan claims that which is his: ALL the Christian churches of the earth! They have acquired all the world has to offer: wealth, power and the pleasures of the flesh. Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world. Its obvious the churches of the earth do NOT serve his kingdom. They belong to someone else! There will be no rapture for these churches. They have a special reward awaiting them….

11. Antichrist Superczar. The ultimate reward for a church that favored worldly pursuits over its humble purpose. The churches of the earth shall be delivered into the hands of him which they fear the most: “The Abomination of Desolation.”

Of course this is an oversimplification of all the themes and ideas that are dealt with through the story of “The Great Apostasy.” As with all Babylon Mystery Orchestra CD’s I give considerable attention to the booklet that accompanies the disc. There is a lot of extra text to provide more insight into what went into each song as well as the actual lyrics. I take these themes seriosly and present them that way and I appreciate any and all that take an interest in Babylon Mystery Orchestra.

There are additional essays written about “The Great Apostasy” CD as well as one about the song “Eye Of The Needle” available at:

http://myspace.com/babylonmysteryorchestra

www.babylonmysteryorchestra.com

Thanks,
Sidney Allen Johnson
Babylon Mystery Orchestra

I am Sidney Allen Johnson also known as Babylon Mystery Orchestra. BMO exists to bring my unusual musical perspectives to life as well as a point of view on the reality of the world that I believe is far different from the norm. Though all of BMO’s recordings have been reguarded as “controversial” in some manner I can assure you that I don’t see them that way at all. Nor is the controversial nature of it the true purpose. I believe everything I relate on these records. That may ultimately be the most I can say about them.

2. You recently released your third full-length, how has it been received? Have you sent it out to labels?

This record has met with the most favorable response of all the Babylon Mystery Orchestra CDs. I have been getting a lot of interview requests and I really like doing interviews. There are, as should be expected, some negative reviews. Some are very harsh even. But most are positive and there are many that have been very enthusiastic about this record. That is something I have noticed all along with BMO records. The people who like them tend to be very enthusiastic about them. It is often greatly appreciated by people who do not consider themselves Christians in any way. In fact many of them contact me telling me I have really spoken their point of view with this record. It is definitely not a record that comfortably falls into an easy categorization. Many Christians as well are very excited about how it was done. Although there are some who worry I focus on the negative aspects of my subject matter too much. The fact is, I believe now is the time for these subjects to be dealt with both seriously and severely.

I have only sent this CD out to 2 labels as of this writing. I really haven’t yet tried to shop it around. Believe it or not, I am already almost finished with a 4th song for the next CD. I am trying to keep focused on getting the records made. I should spend more time trying to get signed by a label but I just don’t. I will send some more out at some time but it is not a priority. I often hear people claim that they are doing this or that for God and he will lead them. To an extent maybe I am doing the same thing. I believe these records do serve a greater purpose than just entertainment or amusement, so this music will find its ears.

I have however managed to acquire distribution for the new CD through Lance King’s Nightmare records. So that should increase the visibility of BMO music considerably. In the greater scheme of things, this might be the best position to be in anyway.

3. When reading through the lyrics and the rest of the booklet of The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy of Satanic Christianity, I was quite surprised by how controversial they are. Do you fully stand behind these lyrics? Do you go to church? Could you explain a bit of why you chose this subject?

Absolutely I stand behind these lyrics! As I said this record, as are all Babylon Mystery Orchestra records, has a greater purpose than just to amuse the listener. They are intentionally designed to provolk and entice the listener to think for himself. In an era where Bibles are readily available and basic literacy is the norm, people should not look to other people or institutions to do their Biblical thinking for them. They should think for themselves. Lately I don’t go to a church that often but I am a member of a Southern Baptist Church. I believe people should read the Bible for themselves and then decide which church is right for them…..if any. Unfortunately people tend to go to church for indoctrination rather than fellowship and discussion. The churches feel compelled to have an answer for everything. I cannot be too critical of the process though. I was raised in the church and went every Sunday growing up. So I know all about the indoctrination process. And there are very good points about it as well. You can be well exposed to all aspects of the Bible this way. But that can also have its negative aspects. Because there very definitely does exist an entity known as “the wrong church.”  I tend to view most denominations the same way Jesus does in his messages to the seven churches at the beginning of Revelation. He points out many good things about them…then points out what is wrong. I think you can find that to be the case in them all. As well you should expect that if that situation already existed 30 years after the crucifixion. It certainly would grow and expand over 2000 years. Both the good and the bad.

I chose this subject because it is very near and dear to my heart and mind. These are things I think about all the time. Especially as it relates to Biblical prophecy. I cannot understand where most Christians keep their minds. There seems to be a fixation on the rewards of Christ. And they are great rewards. But there are expectations and consequences as well. At least if you really believe. Too many are inebriated on their own salvation and they seem to lack a purpose.

4. You describe the church, Biblically described as the Body of Christ, as a tool of Satan. Don’t you think this can be a misguiding interpretation, or at least a rather one-sided one?

True, when you accept Christ and are baptized you are a part of the “body of Christ.” But this is also where the brilliance of Satan and his plan to poison this body comes into play. All the acoutrements that have been assigned to Christianity as we know it, do not improve or enhance the experience of Salvation, nor do they assist in growing with your faith. The massive outlays (and therefore, requirements) of money for buildings, ornaments and….idols are not a part of this body of Christ. Nor is the heirarchical levels of authority. Maybe a flock needs a shepherd. But why must many flocks be organized and further authority established to the point where you may be given religious instruction from someone thousands of miles away who may even speak another language? No. This level of authority only is necessary for CONTROL. The omnipotent God of the Bible does not need this. All everywhere amswer to him. But am non-omnipotent, mischievous angel does need this high level of organization. So what I am suggesting with this record is that the concept of “church” has been polluted. But….That was made very obvious by Jesus himself. Since the Devil did not leave Jesus alone, why would you think he would leave his followers alone? Jesus was divine, and therefore above deception…..his church, NOT! History has borne this out. That is why I believe this material is important on a level far above trivial entertainment.

5. Your previous works were also rather controversial. What’s your goal with Babylon Mystery Orchestra?

There is no goal other than to present these ideas in this particular and peculiar format. I am not trying to lead anyone to or away from God or any belief system they have. This point of view is unique and rather blunt. Considering it is paired with a gothic metal kind of music, it delivers this point of view with power and conviction. That is the purpose. When I was growing up I used to hear people talk about the old “Fire and Brimstone” preachers of the past. Well. it doesn’t get more “Fire and Brimstone” than Babylon Mystery Orchestra.

6. I had the feeling the lyrics on The Great Apostasy were more complex and more thought out than the music. What’s your biggest concern when writing a new album, which do you find more important; lyrics or music?

Babylon Mystery Orchestra is probably the only hard rock or heavy metal artist out there where the music serves the lyrics. The music is built around the lyrics to enhance and empower them. The lyrics are the dominant aspect of the entire presentation. Probably every artist will tell you they don’t want to be labeled in a certain genre and I do not go around calling BMO a “christian” band. Not that I mind if someone else says it but I do not identify with that line of thinking and I will tell you why. I don’t believe in any such thing as Christian Rock music. I do not endorse the concept of it. I do not believe music is neutral and therefore any kind of music can be used for praising God. The biggest reason I don’t advocate Christian Rock is because the lyrics do not dominate rock music music and everyone knows that whether they wish to acknowledge it or not. Rock music is not humble music. It is full of self centered braggadocio, defiance and rebellion. I just don’t think you can drop in a few “positive” lyrics or a Jesus praise into that kind of music and think it in any way is of use to God. Unfortunately with Rock music the lyrics have almost always been disposable or purely rebellious. It is the NATURE of the music. On the other hand, Heavy rock music is excellent music for accompanying songs about damnation and destruction. It is why the lyrics are so important to me with BMO. And why the music MUST be subservient to them. Still, is this Christian music? It is more Christian than almost any Christian Rock band you can name right down to its full fledged proselytizing. But it does not often focus on praising God. More on the consequences of rejecting him. The only type of Rock music that could really accomplish praising God is the big chorus style hair metal anthem. After all that style of music was pretty much built on the same frame as Gospel music whether Bon Jovi set foot in a church or not. Yet hair metal is frowned upon these days and Christian rock bands tend to follow the same trends as everyone else. So much for being different. Too many “Christian” artists claim that mantle simply because they put “positive” messages in their songs. Well BMO focuses on a lot of negative messages but never compromises the Biblical approach.

My saying things like this might make some people mad, but I just want everyone to understand that BMO is not just another frivolous band. There is way more thought behind it than what I see from everyone else. Rock music is not thinking music!! It never was and never will be. At best it is an amusing, entertaining distraction. No one should ever think it capable of more than that. I would call BMO many things, heavy metal included, but never rock music. Once you apply seriousness to your approach you cannot claim to be rock music. I therefore keep my rock and roll separate from BMO. I do not wish to be percieved as critical of others who believe in the concept of “Christian Rock.” That is just not the viewpoint that I approach BMO from.

7.What’s the meaning behind the name Babylon Mystery Orchestra?

The first CD, Divine Right Of Kings, focused on the prophecy of Mystery Babylon in chapters 17 & 18 of Revelation. I also originally felt I would put a lot of orchestration in the music in a way similar to bands like Therion. So I was toying with the word “Orchestra” all along. Mystery Babylon Orchestra really doesn’t sound too good but Babylon Mystery Orchestra flows off the tongue real easy. Plus, since I am the only musician currently playing in Babylon Mystery Orchestra, the word “Orchestra” has a desirable sense of preposterousness.

8. About the music, what gives you inspiration to write music? Which bands have influenced you?

I have been a fan of KISS all my life. Do you hear their influence in Babylon Mystery Orchestra? Maybe not so much in the sound of BMO(I think my guitar solo’s reek of Ace’s influence) but in the packaging of the CD’s. I work on the presentation of the CD as a whole. This is probably where the KISS influence shows. They took a lot of care to make the packaging special. So I like to make sure the booklet is a neccessary part of the presentation. I take a lot of influence  also from RUSH in the way they presented their 2112 and Hemispheres records. As far as other musical influences, I have thousands of CD’s and vinyl records. Mostly heavy music. Just too much to list but I think you can hear Blue Oyster Cult, The Doors, Black Sabbath, Manowar, Sisters Of Mercy, Therion and Tiamat swirling around as influences on the BMO sound.

9. What can we expect in the future from Babylon Mystery Orchestra? Got more controversial subjects to work out?

Absolutely! I firmly believe the next Babylon Mystery Orchestra CD will be the most “controversial” of them all. On this CD I made my position clear on the concept of the pretribulation rapture. I firmly believe that the rapture will not happen before the tribulation and that the Churches MUST go through it. In fact it is almost entirely designed for them. This I will explore on the next CD. If, as I proposed on “The Great Apostasy,” the pretribulation rapture doctrine is a Satanically planted poison designed to decieve Christians into believing that the prophecies of Revelation do not apply to them, the the ramifications of the mark of the beast will be most severe. I assure you, no one has ever said or suggested what will be presented on the 4th BMO CD. If there is a true message and purpose to BMO then this will be it. A tremendously frightening warning. I firmly believe it to be true. But that is all I will say about it now. I am working on the main message songs for it right now. I even have several booklet parts done. I am excited to finish it but do not look for it until early 2008. I might finish it sooner but I doubt it. If I do I will put it out sooner. I am contemplating the 5th CD to be a non conceptual record at this time. I need to try that once don’t you think? Who knows, maybe my vision will “lighten up” for it.

10. Any final comments?

I want to thank you for providing me with this opportunity to talk about Babylon Mystery Orchestra and its concepts. I know I say a few provocative things but I like to make people think and give them an interview worth reading. I really enjoy doing them and I hope you will let me do another one again some time.
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Babylon Mystery Orchestra currently consists only of me. Unless of course you count my cat who is credited on all of the records. This is mostly out of neccessity. I have long since grown weary of dealing with “musicians.”  I am tired of trying to explain to musicians that being a musician in no way means you are an artist. Being the sole musician and composer is quite liberating. It has made music fun for me again.

In your own words describe BMO sound & influences?

The BMO sound is something akin to gothic classic metal. There is a lot of Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Kiss and Thin Lizzy in the mix as I have always loved those bands. But there is also a nod to sounds from  Sisters Of Mercy style goth rock. It is intentional that the songs are written, at least musically, for simplicity and accessability. They don’t “sound” difficult. This is to clear the way for the lyrics to take the dominant role in the music. The lyrics dictate how the songs will sound and how the vocals must sound. It is very rare that you will hear this said of any band but in the case of Babylon Mystery Orchestra the lyrics are the dominant factor in the music. The accompanying music is designed to support the feeling of power that the songs are often about.

Now the lyrics themselves are always centered around themes that I take very seriously. There are religious and political themes throughout BMO music. None of it owes an allegiance to any particular viewpoint except my own interpretation of the world around me.This is about true artistic expression. Other bands have claimed they believe in their music.What does that mean? They don’t express their beliefs in their songs. Mostly in heavy metal the lyrics are nonsensical violence and posturing. With Babylon Mystery Orchestra you know where my beliefs are. That may be the most terrifying part to some people. I believe in the things I write about. This is making full use of the right to free speech. BMO shies away from no subject.

Where was “The Great Apostasy” recorded?

I call it “Fallen Angel Studio.” It is my own home studio right here in Greenville Alabama. Not too far from the world famous “Pigeon Creek.”

Which tracks do you feel are the strongest & why ?

Now that is a difficult one. I would probably say “Eye Of The Needle” is one of the stronger tracks. It has that mix of acoustic verses and heavy choruses and is quite catchy. But what makes it stand out for me is that it is about real people. “Reverend Fred” and “Father Gene” are real people and I thoroughly identify them in the booklet. Those are their real names and the subject of homosexuality and Christianity is dealt with severely. I also think “Wolf In The Fold” is a strong track as well for its harsh dealings with the Pedophile Priests. My favorite track however is probably “Antichrist Superczar.” Its powerful heavy in both words and music. So is “Prey For Me.”And I get to be both Antichrist and Satan between them. But since the record is built on a unified theme all the songs work together to deliver a strong message. So in the end I look at the whole thing as one musical piece and the songs are just movements within the larger work, even though I think the songs can stand alone as well. Often times they can provide a totally different view when separated from the whole.

What’s the long & short term goals as far as touring, recording,
writing etc ?

Touring may happen one day. I would like to see this material performed live I believe. However that is not a priority. To me music has always been about records. I have always loved buying records and finding new music that I liked. So it was always my desire to make records. I have already finished 2 tracks for the next CD. I hope to get back to recording again soon so that I can get that one finished. I am full of ideas and I am already excited about where I will be taking BMO on that one. There are so many subjects that I want to deal with in my music. One life may not be long enough to get to them all. Recording like this takes a lot of time.It would be nice if I could devote my full attention to making new music. That is essentially the long term goal I have.

How did the band name come about?

The first CD, “Divine Right Of Kings” was written around the theme of the Mystery Babylon prophecies in the New Testament book of Revelation. Chapters 17 & 18. I just sort of worked on the name. Initially I wanted BMO to have an orchestral sound similar to the likes of Therion. Plus I thought having the word “orchestra” in the name of a one man band provided a desired sense proposterousness. So I reversed Mystery Babylon added Orchestra and there was Babylon Mystery Orchestra. This was a name I never had to worry was being used by someone else. So I trademarked it too. Ultimately I do love the name and the way it fits the sound of the music and its serious content.

What do you feel sets The Babylon Mystery Orchestra apart from other Metal Acts?

With Babylon Mystery Orchestra,  music is the vehicle, not the destination. That alone will separate it from virtually everyone else. More often than not, I believe most metal acts have no real reason to exist. They are just musicians seeking attention. Music is just a “craft” to them and all they are doing is displaying their craft. Sure they are often really skilled players, but I am no more interested in a really skilled guitarist that I am a really skilled plumber. And lets be honest, no one will ever NEED a musician for anything, ever. Music therefore has to be something special. You have to WANT it in your life. Most bands these days may have well constructed records, but they are as useless as a beautiful boat sitting in a desert. Just like everything else of value in this world, music should have a greater purpose  beyond its own existence. BMO isn’t going to get lost in the crowd of “musician” bands that dominate the current metal scene. The first rule of setting yourself apart is to be different. Heavy Metal is built around bands. Not BMO. Almost exclusively heavy metal is dominated by the music way over the lyrics. In fact most heavy metal lyrics are disposable. Not so with BMO. Everything said on a BMO CD NEEDS to be said. Most heavy metal bands are only interested in fitting into the pre-existing subgenres that are out there. They will look and sound, almost always, exactly like someone else. In fact most bands are only influenced by that narrow subgenre they are trying to fit into. Think of it as conforming to fit in with the non-conformists! BMO is influenced by everyone from the Doors to Kiss to Sisters of Mercy to Therion to more than I could list. On most heavy metal band’s records all the songs sound like the one before it, and the one after it. Not BMO. Every song is different so as to reflect that not only do I play music, but I have been listening to it longer than the last three years.

What would you say is your biggest gripe about the music industry?

Somewhere along the way the rock music industry stopped looking for the artist who is different and instead sought out the  copycat musicians. In many ways I feel the rap industry is far superior to the rock industry. Rap very much an artist dominated  industry. The more independent you are the more control you can exercise over your creation. Rockers lack that independence. Thats why rock music is so dominated by bands over individual artists. Rock bands seek out labels and then depend on them to do everything for them. It is also why the bands are so lazy and just follow the same path, hoping to fall into the same pot of gold as their idols. Their is no more originality in their approach to presenting their music than there is to the music itself. If touring is the way to sell records then why does Mariah Carey sell any? She doesn’t go anywhere it seems except to parties to get her picture taken. Yet her records sell in the millions. The record labels that sell rock music are just not looking for interesting  bands. Just a shortcut to a quick dollar. If they found interesting personalities and developed that, there would be a lot bigger reward for both them and the artist. They too need to learn the difference between “artist” and “musician.” We generally don’t let electricians, plumbers or brick layers design buildings. Why do we let musicians create music? I say again, an artist has a greater purpose.

Your musical influences ?

I have always been a big KISS fan. Since Kiss Alive! came out in 1975. I have bought thousands of records since, but I have never bought a better one. I also have always been a big fan of Ronnie James Dio. I discovered him shortly after I started listening to rock music when he was still in Rainbow. “Gates Of Babylon” is probably, in my opinion, the best heavy metal song…..ever. The truth is I have a lot of influences. If anything I may have too many. Be it Blue Oyster Cult, Tiamat, Manowar, Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Nick Cave or…..the Partidge Family. But I mostly listen to the heavier stuff.

What is your fan base like?

In America, it tends to be a largely Christian audience. This being, I suppose, because I often deal with deep Biblical topics. They are controversial and most artists that actually seek out the “Christian” label don’t want to touch such things. They claim its too “divisive.” Christian artists generally wants be viewed as “positive” all the time. BMO is actually very negative. The truth hurts. It got Jesus crucified. I think there is a large audience of Christians who actually don’t want a false “positive” message in their music and they appreciate the BMO approach. Christianity has long since become too “reward” oriented. Salvation is sold to the Christian flocks as though it is an extended warrant plan on life. BMO is actually out to strike a blow against that kind of thinking.

In Europe the audience are largely  fans of gothic metal and hard rock music. And the approach with the lyrics and its harsh realities appeals to them just as much, even if they view the music from a totally different perspective. I like gothic music a lot so I can understand that. A lot of the best heavy metal has had a very gothic edge throughout its history.

Any road stories you can let us in on ?

Not really. I did live out in Hollywood back in 1988 when the filmed that movie “The Decline Of Western Civilazation pt. 2 The Metal Years. I saw a lot of those freaky people out there. They didn’t make them up. I actually talked to some of those very same people. In fact I was so disillusioned that I moved to Augusta Georgia and lived there till 1995. That whole time I virtually never touched a musical instrument. If it wasn’t for the KISS reunion I may have never played again. But I bought that reissue of the Ibanez PS 10 that Paul Stanley plays. I decided it wasn’t just going to be part of my Kiss collection. I was going to use it.

Parting shot ?

I thank everyone who has expressed an interest in Babylon Mystery Orchestra. I hope I can continue to make records that cause people to think. Especially to think about things they may not have wanted to acknowledge. The world is way more than it appears to be.

BABYLON MYSTERY ORCHESTRA

Angel Bollier’ with:
Vocalist/Solo Musician – Sidney Allen Johnson
Online Interview
March 30, 2006

Hailing from Greenville Alabama, Metal Coven is honored to speak with Sidney Allen Johnson, vocalist, guitarist, song writer and all the above and below of the ‘one man’ project called Babylon Mystery Orchestra. We’ll be discussing exactly what his purpose was and the message(s) he’s trying to portray with his newest and quite possibly the MOST controversial album ever made, The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy Of Satanic Christianity. I have to admit to something, this was a little hard for me to do, but I’ve purposely avoided reading any reviews or interviews concerning this album. My reasoning behind this was for me to let you, the reader see what I first saw in his work upon receiving and listening to the promo the very first day it arrived. I did not want to be influenced by what anyone else has said or written about the man or the new album. You will be reading this Interview with the same virgin eyes and ears that beheld me that first day. I hope you enjoy the new discoveries both he and I are about to present to you.

Angel: Greetings, Sidney! I’d like to first take the opportunity to thank you for taking the time to speak with me on behalf of Metal Coven Webzine and all its members and fans. How’s everything going over there in the good state of Alabama?

Sidney: It’s a cat’s life here in Greenville Alabama. Nice and slow.

Angel: Just for kicks, I was first going to title this Interview “The Witch and the Godman”. Would that have been fitting or offensive to you?

Sidney: It doesn’t offend me at all. “Godman” seems a bit much but if that’s how you perceive me, that’s fine with me. This is the 3rd CD that I have released so I have had a few names thrown at me. Some good, and some bad. I guess my favorite description came from a relatively negative review of the second CD. He called me “Heavy Metal’s Prophet of Wrath.” I have to admit, I kind of liked that. I have used it in some bios I have sent out. Its not that I would ever actually consider myself some sort of “prophet,” but if people are going to find ways to describe me, I like the way that sounds.

Angel: That’s cool because it wasn’t meant in an offensive way, I just thought it was rather funny, you being Christian and me, well, being… NOT a Christian. “Heavy Metal’s Prophet of Wrath,” that fairly well covers it. I like that too.

Sidney: Now if this was Islam we were dealing with you might have forfeited your head with such a remark. They seem to have a low tolerance threshold for criticism of that sort.

Angel: Haha, that’s true!

Angel: Sidney, we’re going to conduct this interview assuming that no one has yet heard about this album, much less Babylon Mystery Orchestra as a band, just as I have never heard anything about the band or your latest album, The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy Of Satanic Christianity until it was sent to us in hopes of getting it reviewed. Upon first listen I thought it had a cool Gothic/Metal sound to it, you know, not thinking much about it but really digging it. Later I played it again and decided to read along from the booklet that contained the lyrics and I was stunned! I remember thinking “what the hell is he doing”? So I have to ask, what ARE you doing with this album? You do realize that it takes some pretty big balls to throw an album like this out there and expect people to swallow it without choking, right?

Sidney: Whether anyone chokes on the statements made with this record is their own affair. I cannot be concerned with how this tastes in someone else’s mouth. I have made a record which truly reflects views and concerns I have had for quite some time. I have seen that other people feel the same way about these things as I do. They either can’t or won’t give voice to their concerns. I have suggested that the church is not a refuge or sanctuary from evil but in fact, a tool for it. I know that will strike many people offensively, but the truth often offends people. Jesus didn’t end up on that cross because he was well liked by those in charge of the establishment or its traditions. Though I view this CD as being highly critical of the institution we call “church,” I am in no way suggesting that Jesus is not who he claimed to be. Quite the opposite. I am suggesting the churches are NOT what they claim to be. There is plenty of Biblical evidence that this was already the case in the early church as mentioned in the first part of the book of REVELATION. Out of seven churches specifically mentioned five were poisoned by something they were being warned would compromise them. One was already considered too far gone. Only one church, the one at Philadelphia, was considered to be in line with its intended purpose. This was only between 30 and 60 years after the crucifixion. Already 6/7 churches attacked and compromised in some way. Just think how that percentage plays out over the next 2000 years.

Sidney: I don’t see anything particularly wrong or heretical in criticizing the church. Although it has been an unhealthy practice in the past. This isn’t the “Black Metal” approach. The material is dealt with seriously and from the point of view of someone (me) who believes the Bible is the inerrant word of God. I, in many ways, view this CD much the same way as Martin Luther’s writings against the church in the 1500′s. At the time the printing press was the new technology and he put it to good use writing alternative interpretations of theology. He was wanting the church to recognize that it was in error and he tried to work within their system. He was a catholic priest after all. They were not too tolerant of him then, and it led to hundreds of years of killing over doctrines and theology. The man even had the audacity to print a Bible in the language of his own people so they could read it for themselves. Unfortunately, even today, most people get their theology and philosophy on Christianity not from reading for themselves, but from the guidance of the churches. I kind of view the new CD as the kind of record Martin Luther might have made if he were around today. They say he did like music.

Angel: I’m almost positive that many people are aware that the church is not what it claims to be, but so many of those very people are self-blinded. Closing their eyes and mouths and walking around like puppets. To me that’s a lie as well, and no better than the church itself. I can’t live that lie.

Sidney: That’s interesting. Many times I have heard that a Christian shouldn’t be a “stumbling block” for someone else. This is basically where the church tries to instill in someone the idea that others will be judging Christianity, as such, through the actions of its individual members. I grew up in what they call a dry county. There was no alcohol for sale at all here until the mid 80′s. This had a lot to do with the churches encouraging people to keep voting down alcohol sales in the local referendums. The idea being that Christians shouldn’t drink at all…ever. There is tremendous encouragement not to be seen engaging in that activity or any activity that can be perceived as sinful. But yet the church as a whole is beyond reproach. Many people within them wonder why they have an insatiable need to expand. Always acquiring more wealth and influence. Ultimately banding together in large groups like the Southern Baptist Convention. This is the single largest Christian denomination in North America. But why should a church in Alabama have to be in step with a church in Oklahoma? Why can’t the congregations grow and evolve independently? The reason is, that its not beneficial for the institution as a whole. There is more power and influence not over just the congregation…but on those outside of it. That’s how for years they could keep alcohol sales out of Butler County Alabama. It did not make the people any more pious. They just went to the next county, and the church was not just dictating behavior for its followers, but for nonbelievers as well. They were joining forces and exercising their influence over the community as a whole. So not much has changed over the centuries. Just the tactics evolve.

Angel: Just for the record, so no one thinks that I am bashing you or this album, I fully stand behind and support you and the message you are portraying with this album. In my opinion your message needs to be said. Hell, it should have been said centuries ago! This is the main reason why the album got my attention from the beginning and took me by storm…because of what you are trying to get across to everyone, and the fact that your words, and the entire point you are making is exactly what took me away from Christianity to begin with! And I hardly think I’m going to be the only one that thinks this or that will be affected by it.

Sidney: This message has been said over and over through the centuries. It’s really nothing new. Just what do you think heresy truly is? Criticizing the church has always been with us, but the church is not an institution that tolerates criticism well. Now don’t let me be accused of saying their is nothing right with them at all. Its just like it says in the Bible. Jesus knows their works and he knows what they have done well. But he also has something against them as well. I don’t believe there is safety in numbers. But there certainly is danger in it. There is a great truth in the Bible that most people never acknowledge. At no point in the Bible was the majority ever right about anything. Every time the majority was allowed to run things, the great Biblical calamities followed. Jesus was even executed by popular consent over Barrabas. That’s what makes the pretribulation rapture belief so dangerous to me. Most Christian churches teach that all the Christians of the earth will be swept away to meet Jesus BEFORE the great endtimes tribulation promised in Biblical prophecy. The fact that MOST Christians are believing this is the first reason to question it. If you were the devil and you knew the word of God has already detailed significantly how you were going to manipulate world events, how would you get around that revelation and deceive the Christians of the earth? You would find a way to convince them that what’s in there doesn’t apply to them. For some reason, there is an arrogance among Christians that allows them to believe that being a Christian somehow puts you out of the reach of satanic deception. In fact this arrogance increases their vulnerability. There is a popular series of books called the “Left Behind” series. It is a fictional account of how the antichrist will wreak his havoc on the earth AFTER the church has been raptured. This series has sold in the millions. I believe it is way more dangerous than any of the witchcraft in the Harry Potter books. “The Great Apostasy” in many ways is a direct refutation of the Left Behind premise.

Angel: Since The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy Of Satanic Christianity is still a new album, exactly what have the opinions been like towards it? Can you share with us a few accounts of the publicity you’ve received so far from the Christian community as well as the non-Christian? Have you received any comments from the non Christian community as misunderstanding the album and assuming that you are bashing the church, religion AND Jesus as a whole, possibly thinking you are Anti-Christian?

Sidney: So far it has received only good reviews. But most of them haven’t been written yet. There are only a few so far. It’s still way to early to tell. However I have heard from many radio people in the Christian music community and they seem to be really supportive of it. So far there isn’t any Christian backlash and I don’t know that there should be. When dealing with the subject of church apostasy it is always easy to see it in someone else’s church and to view your own as the exception. The modern equivalent of the church of “Philadelphia” if you will. The CD actually follows a trajectory beginning with the song Holy Ghost about the promise of the holy spirit’s arrival and how Jesus must go for it to come as well as “Pentecost” which champion its actual arrival. So we begin with the idea that the church, as it is meant to be, is actually powerful, essential and rewarding. It then progresses into the “intelligently designed” conspiracy to hijack the church and its purpose. Because I went to such detail in the booklet I hope there isn’t much room for someone to misinterpret my intentions. I consider the booklet just as important as the music and the additional text and Biblical passages are meant to help guide the listener through my thought process. That’s why I hate the new Ipod way of getting music. You can’t get anything but the song. You need more than a 4-minute song to responsibly deal with these issues.

Angel: I fully agree. If I had only listened to a few songs on the CD and not bothered to read the lyrics and booklet, that’s exactly what I would have assumed…that you were Anti-Christian, and I’m almost positive that I would not have received the powerful effect of your entire message. And honestly, that would have been a shame.

Angel: Let’s discuss a little more in depth about the album itself and the work that went into it. Like I have already admitted in an ‘off the record’ discussion with you, I only recently discovered that you were the one and only person involved in Babylon Mystery Orchestra and that just blew me away. So that means that you play all the instruments on here yourself? Are there any, shall we say, artificial elements involved? It’s very well done and professional sounding for ‘one’ man is what I’m trying to say.

Sidney: Well first off. All the music you listen to is artificial. Guitars don’t sound powerful and distorted naturally. That’s a processed sound. Drums don’t ride high in a mix without a mixing board and a compressor. Vocals as well. And I am describing Mariah Carey’s production! Let alone metal bands. Nothing about modern music is natural. It is all artificially processed. Go back and listen to some old Hank Williams records from the 50′s and hear the difference in how the instruments come together. That is closer to a natural recording, and there is even still some processing in that! Having said that, there is nothing out of the ordinary in BMO’s instrumentation. I do play everything myself. I actually have fairly limited recording gear. No pro-tools computer setup. But I have gear that I am pretty comfortable with. I would be apprehensive to go into a “real” studio for fear that it could almost do too much. If you have 300 reverbs to choose from you will take forever to make up your mind. So in spite of the fact that doing everything yourself is a more complicated approach, I do try to keep it as simplified as possible. I want to focus the attention on what I am creating, not how I do it. I don’t like records where the musicians take over and their playing becomes the center of attention, so I definitely would not like for the production to take over either. However I am very happy with the way BMO records sound. I am glad they sound every bit as professional as any record made by anyone. I think that it is because I know what I want BMO to sound like and I know how to get that sound.

Angel: Well put. Being that you brought up the subject of Hank Williams, have you ever received comments saying that not only does your sound have a Gothic/Metal vibe, but also a minuscule feel of Southern Rock? I’m saying this because several parts in this album yell out Skynard and Charlie Daniels to me. Sort of like a southernized version of a “Charlie Daniels Doom Metal” band. Now don’t get me wrong, I love both those bands and I think it’s absolutely amazing that so many different musical vibes and sounds can be found on this, yet it all fits perfectly. I might also add that you are one kick ass guitar soloist on here. The few areas where you’re ripping sends my veins throbbing and I’m always finding myself repeating those certain areas on the CD. I’m a MAJOR fan of shredding guitars, especially solos, and you do an astounding job on this album. You really should consider adding more shredding solos into a future album and making them longer. You wouldn’t see me complaining!

Sidney: Actually no one has said, that I can remember, that they hear any “southern rock” in the sound of it, but once a reviewer actually said he thought it sounded like “cowboy goth.” I don’t really know what that was supposed to mean. I think a lot of the BMO sound is really reminiscent of classic rock as much as anything. Did you know I actually live in the county that Hank Williams was born? He was born in Georgiana, which is just a few miles south of here and he spent a lot of time in Greenville as well. It’s easy for someone from here to bring him up, although I can’t say I really listen to him a lot. His songwriting style which he called “keeping it vanilla” is something I have taken to heart though. You have to write songs with an ear toward simplicity and not try to impress people with complex musicianship. I think that also leaves plenty of room to make the lyrics the most meaningful part of the song and keep the music in the role of support. Powerful support.

Sidney: I never have considered myself particularly accomplished as a musician. My guitar solos are, once again, designed to add something to the song and not just display instrumental prowess. I think they all reek of late 70′s Ace Frehley and Scott Gorham. But people don’t play guitar like that anymore so maybe it is a little different. I think the solos were a little bit longer on the first CD. I wasn’t consciously doing anything different but maybe they were shortened somewhat. Maybe I will make an effort to consciously extend them on the next one!

Angel: LOL, I think you should! You know, now that I think about it, perhaps that’s what I’m actually hearing here, that long forgotten 70′s guitar sound. In reality, that’s what I grew up on and that sound was my first love as far as guitars go. So I suppose in a way you’re right, it has been removed from today’s music styles, and greatly missed, without anyone even being aware that it’s gone.

Sidney: Too many guitarists, well all musicians actually, overplay everything. This is a real problem with heavy metal music. There should only be one instrument in the lead at a time and everyone else should be supporting that. That seems to be lost these days as everyone is full on the whole time. When the singer is speaking he or she is the lead instrument. Another thing I see getting forgotten lately.

Angel: Now what about that voice of yours, Sidney? I mean, let’s face it, to look at you and then hear that voice…well, it’s hard to imagine them actually being as one! Where the hell does that thundering power come from? On the last track of the album, the song titled Antichrist Superczar where you’re more or less talking in the opening then jump right into a SCREAMING YELL scenario in the last line just before the actual song begins nearly scared the piss out of me the first time I heard it. Even now I skip past it because of the feeling that I’m being scolded and punished for something. Do you have a deep voice like that in normal everyday conversation or does it only come out when you are singing?

Sidney: Not really. I learned to talk when I lived in New Hampshire so I actually don’t speak in what should be my natural voice. I don’t have a Yankee accent but I actually get tired if I talk too much. But the deeper more powerful BMO voice is actually easier on me. It’s very natural to do with the music. The fact is these lyrics do not need to sound “frivolous.” The words need to be the center of attention and need to be delivered with conviction. That is more important to me than a purist attitude towards singing. I believe that also lends to the music sounding somewhat more original than most.

Sidney: I thought that intro to Antichrist Superczar would catch some people by surprise. I truly do love that song.

Angel: And what about the third song on here titled I, Lucifer? Is there a reason or a purpose why this particular song was made to sound so enticingly seductive? It makes one want to grab the bible, a bottle of Jack, summon up the devil and have a good ol’ argument with him…or try and seduce him, either or. I mean, was not Satan supposed to be more beautiful than God? I’d suspect he’d be quite the ‘Hottie’.

Sidney: I have been working on that little instrumental for some time. I wasn’t sure something that sounded like that would really fit in well with the rest of the record but it actually works perfect in there. That’s something I strive for though, I don’t like records where all the songs sound the same.

Sidney: Oh yes. Satan would not be ugly at all. Nor will the anti-christ. Very beautiful and very charismatic. You know he has to have charisma. Even in the form of a serpent he got Eve to peel that fruit and give it to Adam…Of course she peeled it. Adam wouldn’t have eaten it if he recognized it for what it was. But he didn’t know what it looked like on the inside!

Angel: LOL, I like your thinking.

Angel: I noticed that you also have two previous albums out. How do you feel about this album in comparison with your previous 2 releases and how are they different? Do they each have different themes as this new one does?

Sidney: Well, as any other artist would say, I think the new one is the best one yet but I am still relatively happy with the others as well. I think as an artist releases more records you see some changes and evolution to the sound. Each record should be unique, yet remain within the realm of expectations created by previous works. I certainly think that is the case with BMO records. All BMO records so far are built around a big theme with several lesser themes swirling around them. The first BMO CD, Divine Right Of Kings was built around the Biblical prophecy of Mystery Babylon mentioned in Revelation 17 & 18. The suggestion being that the United States IS this place. A place that will be destroyed in one hour. The second CD, On Earth As It Is In Heaven is taken from the “Dead Sea Scroll” books of Enoch and Secrets of Enoch as well as part of the Genesis story from chapter 6. This CD suggests that music was a key corrupter of the pre-flood world of Noah as well as some 200 meddling fallen angels. The correlation is made between the ancient music of that time and the current evolution of Rock music in ours. Since that ended badly and Jesus said “As it was in the days of Noah, So shall it be also in the days of the son of man.” I am suggesting that the music of today is in fact a sign that we are in the Biblical last days.

Angel: What does Sidney do when he’s not making music? Do you work at a full time job doing something else?

Sidney: Absolutely I do. I build patterns at a wood laminating plant. Huge arch patterns that are used to cut out big arches that more often than not are used in…Churches. Oh the irony I’m sure you will find in that. The guy who wrote this CD is actually involved in the construction of hundreds of churches every year. Reality is stranger than fiction. Isn’t it?

Angel: Yes it is, and that’s very interesting. Sydney, you mentioned something just now about the United States being THAT place and how it would be destroyed in one hour, and I would simply adore hearing more about that but I fear that we might be getting close to ‘that time’, perhaps another interview when the next album comes out.

Sidney: It’s a very interesting possibility and you will find that a great many people believe it likely the United States is Mystery Babylon. The churches don’t want to acknowledge that though. How could the nation with the most Christian churches possibly be worthy of such a fate?

Angel: Let me ask you one more thing before we close. What are the fans in store for on your next album? Please tell me there will be another!

Sidney: Well two songs are already recorded for the next CD. It is probably well over a year and a half away at the pace I have been doing things lately. There will be a message on this record that no one has ever dealt with before. The greatest crime of Satan is his mocking of God. And that will lead to the greatest fear of all of Christianity. I have seen it clearly, but since the church has rewarded itself by teaching that they will all be removed in a rapture before the great tribulation, they are totally unprepared for what will be done to them. I won’t reveal it until the record is finished. Suffice it to say that Satan has brilliantly played his hand. That message will play a dominant role on the CD. There will also be several underlying themes as always. I haven’t dealt with Islam on record yet. But already one song about that is done. As I have said many times, Babylon Mystery Orchestra will not shy away from difficult subjects. I shall embrace them.

Angel: That’s awesome! I can barely wait! Please, by all means get Metal Coven a copy as soon as it’s released, we would be honored to review it on here. Oh, and don’t forget more of those shredding guitar solos.

Sidney: I will definitely keep Metal Coven high on my list. We’ll just have to see how things work out on those shredding solos.

Angel: Well Sidney, I’m sure that I’ve pulled just about everything from your little soul that I could possibly think of, is there anything else you’d like to share more, or elaborate more on before we close?

Sidney: I can’t think of anything. I just want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview. If I had to leave with one statement this might be a good one: “Good people do good things and bad people do bad things. To get a good person to do a bad thing you need religion.” Jesus is not a religion.

Angel: Thank you as well, Sidney, it’s been a total pleasure talking with you about this new album. I think you are the first TRUE Christian I have ever met in my entire life, and I wish you nothing but the best.

Babylon Mystery Orchestra’s Website: www.babylonmysteryorchestra.com

1) First off, give a brief history of your band and your album releases. Tell our readers where your band is from.

Babylon Mystery Orchestra originated in 2002 when recording of the first CD began. It was set loose upon the world at the beginning of 2003.It is called Divine Right Of Kings and is based on the Mystery Babylon prophecies of Revelation 17 and 18. The second CD, On Earth As It Is In Heaven, came out in the first half of 2004. Its subject matter deals with the origins of music.It is based largely on the Dead Sea Scrolls, including books of “Enoch” and “Secrets of Enoch” as well as Genesis Chapter 6. It proposes to suggest that rock music, perhaps by another name, has been here before and was a major contributor to the corruption of Noah’s time prior to the great flood.

2) Is there a story behind choosing your band’s name?

When I was recording the first CD, I had not yet decided on a name. I knew that even though I was doing it all myself, I did not want to go with just my own name. I wanted a name that fit the apocalyptic nature of the material I envisioned would dominate the musical catalogue. I thought the word “orchestra” should be in the name since I was alone. That was kind of my way of being funny. I even considered calling the band “Orchestra.” Since the subject of the first CD was the Mystery Babylon prophecy, I just fell into it. Mystery Babylon Orchestra didn’t have a ring to it, but Babylon Mystery Orchestra did.

3) How would you describe your band’s musical sound and style?

I would call it something along the lines of subject dominant Gothic heavy rock/metal. But that is only to give someone an idea of the sound of it. The material is largely about Biblical Prophecy in some form or another and usually highlighting the negative aspects of it. I feel that a heavier sort of music will complement that message. I am very much into Bible prophecies, so it comes naturally for me to write on the subject. I believe the music should complement the message, but ALWAYS the message is the dominant aspect of the songs (except for the instrumental songs, of course). There is by design an aspect of the music that involves being critical of certain things that is particularly unusual for music along these lines. I don’t find myself in agreement with the majority viewpoint of many Biblical issues, and this is clearly evident in the lyrics.

4) What are your band’s goals? What does this year hold for your band?

I only have the goal of making records about big and serious subjects. You hear all the time in popular music how entertainers claim their music is “real” and how they “believe in their music,” and then they write songs about someone else’s life and claim it to be their own. Worse still, they just write preposterous songs that you know don’t reflect any reality at all. I believe everything I suggest on these records to either be true or very likely true. Keep in mind that the first CD suggested that the United States is the “Mystery Babylon The Great” of Revelation 17and 18, and the second CD suggested that rock music is 4000 years old. I hope I provide the listener with something to think about as he or she follows the stories told on BMO records.  That is my only real goal.  I have no designs on mass popularity or being recognized by other musicians.

This year will see the release of the third CD. It will be called The Great Apostasy, and I am about to commence working on the last song. I believe the title lets you in on the subjects covered.

5) Where can our readers purchase your albums?

There are several outlets that sell BMO CD’s. CD Baby, Amazon.com and www.babylonmysteryorchestra.com are the most obvious, but there are other places that sell them, too. Better yet, encourage places you know to carry them.

6) Name at least one highlight that your band has experienced.

I consider the completion of each CD a highlight. These things can long outlive me. I also enjoy all the attention that the CD’s attract. There is no real promotional apparatus in place like there is for other bands, so it is all based on real interest. On Earth As It Is In Heaven even made some people’s lists of the best records in 2004. I do like that a lot. Plus, I enjoy doing interviews like this one.

7) What artists or bands have influenced you?

This is probably the secret to the Babylon Mystery Orchestra sound and approach. I am influenced by almost too many bands to name. Many people and reviwers have said that BMO’s sound is hard to describe and very original. Well, the fact is that this music, just like everyone else’s, is quite derivative of the music I listen to. I just draw from a lot more sources. I come from a belief that all the songs on a record should not sound alike.  The album should be more than just a collection of songs. As a result, I try to include a variety of elements to the music, and the songs should flow along in a sequence that carries the story naturally. Having said all that, I can list a lot of bands whose influence I think can easily be heard in it all: Kiss, Therion, Black Sabbath, Tiamat, My Dying Bride, Blue Oyster Cult, Sisters Of Mercy, Doors, Wasp, Manowar, Moody Blues, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC…….It covers a lot of time and a variety of styles. I think the single biggest reason most bands sound so one- dimensional is that they don’t listen to enough music before they start playing it. There are not enough influences at all. The musicians are a lot younger in bands these days, and that also contributes to the lessening of greater influences.

If you could play with any artist (even those from years long past or deceased), who would you like to play a show with or jam with?

I don’t know that I have those kinds of desires at all. The very thought of “jamming” with anyone doesn’t appeal to me. Never has. If it isn’t rehearsed, I want no part of it. I will tell you this though. I think it would be really cool to have a collection of other musicians record these BMO CD’s, as if to make BMO an all-star band to record these songs and tell these stories. That would include a line-up somewhat like this:  Guitars: Ritchie Blackmore, Michael Schenker, and Ace Frehley; Drums: John Bonham and Neil Peart; Bass: Geezer Butler and Roger Glover; and, on vocals: Ronnie James Dio, Andrew Elderitch, and Eric Adams. I would love Therion’s choirs as well as a Sacred Harp choir. I also would love a real orchestra, and Bob Ezrin producing the whole thing. Whether it ever got performed live or not would be totally irrelevant to me. It would be a great record. Although I am very content with Babylon Mystery Orchestra as it exists, this is a very desirable, even if totally impossible, dream line-up. Does that in any way answer that question?

9) Who have you toured with or played shows with, and where?

Currently, Babylon Mystery Orchestra is all about making records. There is no touring or playing with anyone. In today’s climate, with so many bands out there playing, I don’t see much to be gained by playing live. I would do it if the situation were right. I have nothing against doing it. But there isn’t enough time for me to put the effort into that at the moment. The situation would have to change for that.

10) Is there any musical equipment that your band enjoys and would recommend using?

I don’t know that I use anything that everyone else doesn’t know about. I don’t use a whole lot of anything that would over-complicate things. I am doing everything, so I keep it as simplified as possible for my own sanity.

11) Is your band a “Christian band”, Christians in a band, somewhat spiritual but not limited to, not spiritual at all, positive, …or something else????

I don’t go around calling Babylon Mystery Orchestra “Christian rock” as I am uncomfortable with the existence of such a thing. Other people describe it as that, though, and I really don’t have a problem with it. There are Christian messages to be sure, and they are not “cloaked” to try and sneak by anyone as so many so-called Christian bands do. However, the subject matter is more negative than positive. It tends to focus on the judgment of those who do not acknowledge God as well as those non-Christians who wear the Christian costumes for their own gain. That is the world of Babylon Mystery Orchestra.

12) How can our readers find out more about you and your band? Do you have an official homepage?

I keep mp3′s, interviews, reviews, and links to more all at www.babylonmysteryorchestra.com.

13) Anything else that you would like to share (favorite movies, books, teachers, opinions on music, industry, etc.)?

Favorite movies: “The Ten Commandments,” “A Clockwork Orange,” and “Gangs of New York.”

Books:  Biographies–anything from General Robert E. Lee to Jim Morrison (the best and worst of all possible behaviors!!)

Opinions on Music:  Heavy metal–The drums have become too dominant in the music.  They overplay everything.  If the singers aren’t going to communicate, then why have them at all?  Gurgling and croaking are not valid singing styles.  I don’t require them to be good; however, I do require the singers to communicate.

Music industry:  Thanks to modern recording technology, music is being taken away from musicians and given back to the artists.  This is a good thing.  Musicians have been killing music for a long time.  We need more artists;  artists make music interesting, not musicians.  You don’t buy a house for the plumbing; hence, you don’t buy music for musicianship.

14) Lastly, is there anything our readers could pray about for your band?

Yes, I hope I don’t get burned at the stake for the things I say on my records.

February 28, 2005

First of all, how did you get into music and what were some of your influences?

The single biggest influence on me musically is KISS. Although Babylon Mystery Orchestra is intentionally a way more serious type of music lyrically, I like pretty much all of the music that some people like to malign as “hair metal”. I think it was the best and last great period in rock music where it could be said that people were really having fun with it. I have a huge collection of KISS toys. But I am very well schooled in all the areas of heavy metal and hard rock so the list of influences is massive. I don’t like much of the current metal music that the so called ‘”underground” is trying to push on us. Their high speed, drum dominant music with uncommunicative vocals is ruining metal for me. I think Therion is the best band in the world today. That is metal as art in its highest form. A lot of the Gothic metal bands are really good (Tiamat, Lacuna Coil, Moonspell, etc.) But my influences go way back to Blue Oyster Cult, Rainbow, Deep Purple, etc. Outside of the metal realms I really like bands like The Doors and The Moody Blues. So I come from a belief that the songs on a record should not all sound the same. To think in terms of the album as a whole and not just a collection of songs. That’s not the currently popular way to view music but I don’t care.

I listened to the CD several times and I’m amazed that one person could do all this and have it come out so well. What inspired you to do everything yourself?

Necessity. If I could get a band of musicians who would be willing to commit to big projects like these BMO records, I would probably be more than happy to use them. I have known lots of musicians in my life. I tell you there is no more short sighted a creature on this earth than a musician. Here in Alabama there is hardly a music scene at all. The bands are all cover bands that play the same songs. The same songs you will hear on any classic rock radio station if you stay home rather than go see them. But musicians want to be seen, so they join up with these cover bands and tell each other how great they are and wonder why no one is interested in them. I play all the instruments on these records but I do not consider myself a musician. I am more of a composer. I am far more interested in the overall big picture of these projects. A musician can allow himself to worry over one instrument and his own self-importance within the structure of a band. That creates that tension of fighting for his “space” within the music. I am not interested in creating that “space” for anyone. I only care about what is needed to convey the message powerfully. Musical virtuosity is no reason to make music. With the affordability of good quality recording gear there is no reason for a band to limit themselves to only playing covers but it’s the shortcut to a stage and musicians love a shortcut. A band should have a vision and a purpose to be more than a human jukebox. Finding musicians with that vision, especially here, is critical and difficult. The world does not now or has it ever NEEDED a musician. So there must be something interesting, other than a musician’s desire for attention, to make it worthwhile. I have always thought of music as a creative art more than a performing art. I prefer a good record to a good concert. That might be strange coming from a KISS fan, but I love their records. The visuals, even with them, were always second. As far as actually doing everything myself, I have found that to be so tremendously liberating. It allows me to write songs about touchy and deep subjects that other people wouldn’t go near. A band would not want to cross religion and politics as much as I do. Unless they just generally, and ignorantly, trash both. It’s not so hard to do everything myself since I know what I want this to sound like. It would be harder to convey those ideas to someone else. Even if I did have a producer and a big studio to work with, I would come in with the songs done up as much as I could myself to make sure everyone understands what I am wanting to project.

How is the CD doing so far?

So far it’s doing quite well. It has attracted a lot more attention than the first one. But that can be somewhat attributed to the effect of building interest from one record to the next. It has received more positive reaction than negative by a long shot but when people dislike it, they dislike it a lot. There’s really no apathy where it’s concerned. Mostly people find it quite interesting but then so do I or I wouldn’t have done it.

Your music comes across as very bold and your vocals come across as rather intense. What inspired the idea to do this project and what is your purpose in doing it?

The entire idea behind the approach to the vocals in a majority of the songs is to be as heavy handed in the delivery as possible. There is no room for questioning in most of the songs. A particular point of view is expressed with the complete commitment of someone who believes every word of it. That creates a sense of drama and power that might not sound like most of the rest of the music out there, but BMO is often called original sounding even by those who don’t particularly like it. Overwhelmingly this is lyrically dominant music which in today’s metal music scene is completely unheard of. Most metal and hard rock bands treat their music more like an athletic competition. Its all about speed and dexterity, which is really only appealing to other musicians who are trying to compete with them. BMO is all about ideas, and big ones. I want to do big records about big subjects. God, Satan, religion, and politics. That is life! That’s the world we live in. Other people talk about “getting real” with their music. Well, as far as I’m concerned that’s what is going on with BMO music. Just from a different point of view than you will get from anyone else. The idea for “On Earth As It Is In Heaven” goes back to a seminar I attended in the early 80′s about the evils of rock music. This story about a form of music that resembles current popular music was first relayed to me then. I never heard it before or since. At the time I didn’t believe it, but over the years, as music has evolved into an ever more divisive element in our culture, I have come to believe the story is true. It is locked away in the books of “Enoch” and “Secrets of Enoch” which are among the biblical text included in the dead sea scrolls. I have always thought it would be a great subject for a record. To musically tell the story of how music played a large role in the destruction of the entire world. The fact that so many people will find it so hard to believe is actually the best part of it to me. It’s so preposterous that you couldn’t make it up and everything about the evolution of music in our lifetime is running parallel to its previous visitation. Just add to that the fact that Jesus said that “and as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the son of man,” and you have the element of music as a sign of the Biblical apocalypse. That brings an entirely different way of looking at music and how it infests our culture.

What do you think about when you write lyrics for your songs?

The songs are built around the subjects and lyrics rather than the other way around, making them the driving force of the music. The subjects of the individual songs usually are divided up around the main points the record is trying to make. Most of this is actually based on just observing the world through my particular viewpoint. I concede that there is a grand conspiracy against mankind as proposed in the Bible and simply write about it. Where some people see things one way, I see another. I believe there is actual spiritual conflict going around us all the time. As to this record and its subject about the origins of music, it is interesting to note that music only twice has ever been so major a force in the culture of society. Now and in the days before Noah’s flood. Most of the history of the world most people had very little contact with it and even then only a few localized songs. The rich could sponsor musicians but the average person would never hear that music. Music was the tool of sorcerers and…the military. Think about that awhile.

Does Christianity play a heavy part in your life and why do you feel that rock and roll has basically been around since “biblical times”?

Having grown up in a Baptist church I would have to say it is largely how I see the world. Though I have come to the conclusion no one denomination can possibly retain the integrity of the gospel or intentions of Christ. That is clearly spelled out in prophecy as well but you will have to forgive the churches for “overlooking” such self incriminating messages. The music described in these ancient texts is obviously not called rock music. However the similarities are all too obvious. The association with sex and intoxicants, tattoos and the ability of the music to inflame the passions of the listeners. Clothing being particularly flashy and colorful. The fact that violence against each other was multiplied so very much by music is another thing we clearly see all over the place today. From violent death metal to gangsta rap. Originally seen as something that brought people together, music later was not just an indicator of the divisiveness of the people but the very source of that divisiveness. That Satan gave the knowledge of military weaponry to the world’s first musician is another one of those things you should think long and hard about. Music taught him how to motivate people. War gave him the purpose to kill on a larger scale. And always marching off to war with a song. Things are no different today.

Do you personally feel that metal music somehow conveys a powerful dark message or do you think it can be uplifting as well?

Heavy metal is the best form of music for expressing the idea of power. Especially the exercise of power. No other music form can come close. However power almost never manifests itself in a positive manner when under dominion of man. Heavy metal has ALWAYS centered around this expression of power. Be it sexual, spiritual, or just plain animalistically violent. The “hair metal” eighties saw a very male dominant sexual expression of power over women expressed through the music. It was all built around the idea that no woman could resist these Adonis-like rock stars and the lyrics boldly implied that women should (and often did) throw their bodies at them with an expectation of the greatest sexual experiences of their lives. This is certainly an expression of a male fantasy of power over women. The other forms of metal usually employ more violence in their conveyance of the power ideal. Now how much of what these bands believe of what they sing about is of course another story. Everyone likes to hide behind that belief that this sort of thing vents their aggression safely through these “fantasy” lyrics. But “dominance and submission” are themes that are ever present in heavy metal. Dominance is idolized and submission vilified. One of my main gripes against “christian metal” and or “christian rock” is that they fail to take this relationship with power into consideration. Christianity is all about submitting to the will of Jesus. It’s not about the individual but the relationship to God. To stick those themes into a heavy metal format is as doomed to failure as water-skiing on cement. That is why the themes explored in Babylon Mystery Orchestra music are always not about true Christian themes of repentance and salvation but the expression of God’s power over those who choose not to follow his will. That is a huge untapped well of themes that can only be delivered in a metal/hard rock format. When it comes time to talk about the alternative to self- determined destruction in the form of Jesus and his merciful salvation, the acoustic guitars come out. You know there actually is something out there called “christian death metal“? I don’t want to criticize anyone else’s motives or their music but I don’t see how you can have such a thing.

What was the inspiration behind “War Anthem”?

In the story of the world of the pre-flood peoples, this was their natural next step. As the angels they followed convinced the populations they were in fact gods. It was naturally presumed that they would gain separate groups of supporters and combat each other. We really shouldn’t have any problem understanding that today. Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, etc., have more often than not failed to coexist peacefully. Religious beliefs have historically been the best motivators for war. I find it interesting that in the story, Satan personally saw to it that his chosen musician be instructed in military weapons. The other rebel angels were themselves arming their populations but Satan armed the musician. Strangely music and the military have always been linked. “War Anthem” is essentially about the first wars men ever fought but the lyrics are written in a way that sounds like it is straight out of modern times with its references to terrorism. War is seen as the ultimate “correction” to foolish people. I suppose it is. You can’t be foolish if you are dead. Ancient warfare was a lot more vicious than it is today. Annihilating entire populations was the order of the day. You could not send soldiers off to war and then go about your daily business. If your soldiers did not prevail you would have no daily business.

What will be your next project and is all of your music Christian oriented?

The next CD is 8/12ths of the way completed. At least as far as the recording process goes. It will be called The Great Apostasy and I hope to have it finished sometime this year. I don’t think I am moving as fast as I would like on it but I hope the extra time taken on the songs will prove worthwhile. Its subject matter is Biblical again. About the compromise and collapse of true Christianity and how it happened just as it was prophesized. It is flowing with controversial themes. Mostly controversial to “comfortable” Christians. Let’s just say I don’t agree with the premise of the “Left Behind” series of books and movies and this CD will directly address the dangers of some of those doctrines as well as make some observations about a lot of other things going on lately that I think need to be seen in their proper perspective. To be sure, it’s my own point of view. When in doubt, blow the dust off your Bible and see if you agree. You shouldn’t put yourself in the hands of churches and their “comfort” doctrines, read it for yourself. You can understand it just as well as a preacher. Churches inevitably have their own agenda and, unfortunately, a large portion of it is man-made…or worse. Having said all that, I don’t feel that BMO is necessarily going to only Biblical or Christian themed songs. That is generally the lens I view the world through but I might do something with another theme. Or even some cover songs. I am going to record some soon for my own amusement and they may one day be let out. I am making a list of songs I think I could add a new approach to the presentation rather than just rehashing some of my favorite songs. Although obviously I will like the songs I choose. I am possibly thinking of doing a non-conceptual release after The Great Apostasy is finished. I haven’t made up my mind. I already know what the next conceptual story will be. I just might want to do a collection of unrelated songs as a change of pace before I get into the next one. I still have to finish this one though.

Have you thought about putting a full band together to play shows?

I have but that’s not really important to me. I have always wanted to make records and that is what I am doing. Performing this material could be a lot of fun with the right visual presentation, but I am afraid the themes of the music would not go over well in bars and clubs. You generally don’t start out playing other places so that could be an issue. But I would perform it in bars and clubs or churches as well. The way I see it, if BMO gets to the point where it is attracting enough attention to merit performing, there will be an apparatus of support that will make assembling a band relatively easy. Until then I will concentrate on new material. There are plenty enough bands out there begging for scraps of attention. Perhaps in the Internet age, bands ought to rethink things. Instead of going out and developing your band in front of a crowd, develop it through recordings and perform when there is a demand. But then again musicians need attention so I don’t see that happening too much.

Any other thoughts or comments?

I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to do this interview. I hope everyone who has read it found it at least a little bit interesting. I intend for Babylon Mystery Orchestra to always be oriented to material with a serious lyrical angle. I have a tendency to view things from a “conspiracy theory” point of view. I believe there is a lot more to the world than meets the eye. I hope to shine a light on it with these records.

Website Link: www.babylonmysteryorchestra.com

Babylon Mystery Orchestra

Band on the run: Babylon Mystery Orchestra
Friday, September 17, 2004
CINDY PEEK
News staff writer

What: “I refer to it myself as a classic/Gothic/doom style of heavy metal,” Sidney Allen Johnson says of his one-man band. Babylon Mystery Orchestra is from Greenville.

Personnel: “As it stands now, I am the entire Babylon Mystery Orchestra,” Johnson says. “I am not against the idea of adding other musicians and possibly playing some gigs. I have always liked music and I have always thought the creative side of it was far more interesting than the performing side.”

Discs: “Divine Right Of Kings” was released last year and “On Earth As It Is In Heaven” this year. They are available on the Internet stores cdbaby.com, amazon.com, towerrecords.com and the musician’s Web site.

Behind the music: “All BMO material in some way is about Biblical prophecy, although it is far removed from the sanitized messages of comfort being sold in today’s churches,” Johnson says.

Band in making: “(In) 2001, I began assembling the first CD,” Johnson says. “I decided that nobody had ever taken this approach before and committed myself to making no less than four BMO records. I feel you have to keep working on newer and better material all the time. In the world of heavy metal and hard rock music, the idea of a single man band is anathema. Everyone worships the idea of bands. The fact is that bands are incredibly inefficient and undependable. I think that as music has proliferated, and more and more sub-genres created, that the rock band as we have known it is obsolete. The fact is most of them weren’t all they appeared to be anyway.”

What he hopes to accomplish: “I am trying only to put out records that are different from what else is out there,” Johnson says. “I am not guilty of telling people what they want to hear. The ideas expressed in BMO songs will challenge the belief system of the listener, not affirm it as most music does. Most music bores me anymore because the songs are about nonsense. Nobody sees beyond themselves to `the bigger picture.’ BMO is my attempt to point it out.”

Most requested song: “‘Ravishing Music’ is currently the most popular,” Johnson says. “It is a descriptive song about the music of 4000 years ago.”

Claim to fame: “Both ‘We Are Power’ and `Ravishing Music’ have been included on the sample discs that the magazine `Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles’ includes with each issue,” Johnson says. “There have been a few other appearances on various compilation discs as well.”

How it’s unique: “Unlike most music out there, it is dominated by the lyrics,” Johnson says. “The subject of the songs determines everything else. Most other music is beat or riff oriented or centers on the skills of the musicians. It also combines quite a few textures to its sound. The idea is to make the music sound like the story it is telling. Therefore it cannot bow down to the current trends in music.”

Air play: “I know for certain that BMO has been played in Greece, Germany, Portugal, England, Netherlands, Australia, as well as places all over the U.S.,” Johnson says. “There is also some Internet radio play as well.”

Influences: “I am a lifelong KISS fan with a huge collection of their memorabilia,” Johnson says. “So it all starts there even if that isn’t as obvious in BMO’s approach. I think with BMO you can hear a varying combination of Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Tiamat, The Sisters Of Mercy, Type O Negative and even The Doors among many others.”

Fans: “Overwhelmingly, the ones I hear from in America tend to come from a Christian background and they really appreciate the approach I take with the material,” Johnson says. “The people from Europe tend to be more into the Gothic metal and care more about the overall sound of the music. They look upon the material as mythology-oriented, which is not an unusual topic for metal bands.”

Name game: “When recording the first CD I wanted to use a name that had the word orchestra in it since I was the only one in the band,” Johnson says. “The first record was about `Mystery Babylon’ so it just jumped right out at me. As I indicated earlier, fans of this type of music generally abhor non-bands so I felt I needed to use a name that implied there was a band even though there isn’t. It is generally hard for an unknown act to get reviews, but I have not had any problem getting them. Apparently it worked. It is a name that piques a lot of people’s curiosity.”

In ten years: “Probably finished,” Johnson says. “I see clearly the path to take through five CDs. After that I will probably have accomplished all that I want musically. Plus, I think it would be refreshing to see someone say what they want and then go away.”

Web site: www.babylonmysteryorchestra.com.

A brief history of Babylon Mystery Orchestra and how do you define your name?

Babylon Mystery Orchestra as a musical act can be said to have really began in 2001 though the ideas for most of the material go farther back than that. I really started seriously considering doing something like this by myself in about 1997-98 but finally had everything assembled in 2001 and made up my mind to go for it. The first CD, “Divine Right Of Kings,” came out in 2003. I was impressed by the amount of attention it drew considering the limited options I had for promoting it. The second CD, “On Earth As It Is In Heaven,” was released in March 2004.

The name Babylon Mystery Orchestra is derived from the subject matter of the first CD. It is about the “Mystery Babylon the Great” of Biblical infamy. Since I look upon it as telling the story from their perspective, I just named the band for it. I had some notion of just calling it or-kestra. But that idea passed……fortunately.

How exactly it does mean your logo?

Its called a triskelion, but so is any three legged design. It has no particular meaning in and of itself as far as Babylon Mystery Orchestra is concerned. It resembles somewhat a symbol used in an old “Star Trek” episode. It also kind of looks like three KISS S’s stuck in a circle. It reminds me of a pinwheel. I worked on it awhile to get it to look like I wanted and I really think it looks cool but it only is meant to represent BMO nothing else. I kind of wanted a symbol to represent the band much like Blue Oyster Cult has one.

“On Earth as it is in Heaven” it is a quite original and creative disc, tell me, how is the idea of this work born in your head?

The first time I was actually exposed to this idea was 20 years ago at a seminar against rock music. At the time I was doing a heavy metal radio show for the University Of Alabama and I thought it would be amusing to go. I thought the story was preposterous at the time. I grew up going to church regularly and knew that wasn’t the way the story was told in the Bible. But it did plant a seed that kept me interested. I would eventually find the texts that it was derived from and learn their importance and relevance to Biblical history. The way music has evolved in the time since I first was exposed to the story has convinced me that this story is most likely true. Music’s method of operation is identical today as it was then. Ultimately music is not a uniting force in the world….It is a DIVIDING one.

What do defiant rebel angels, music, and a worldwide deluge have in common?

Ultimately they all came and went at the same time. The Bible makes the suggestion in Genesis 6 that the preflood world was where all the stories we know today as classic mythology originated. The “Gods” were in fact Angels that chose to violate the heavenly laws and came to take the earth and dominate it for themselves. It is in the other texts “Enoch” and “Secrets of Enoch” that we are introduced to the details of just who these angels were by name and deeds. It is also where the story of Satan personally introducing music to the world appears. It is important to remember that this was the belief system of a good part of the world 2000 years ago. Prior to the rise of Christianity this was the prevailing belief of the world.They all believed in elements of this story. Either as the old religions worshipping these gods or condemning them. It is Christianity that is actually guilty of hiding the story. When Constantine ordered the assembling of what would ultimately be the first attempt at making a Bible close to what we know it as today, they chose which books to include and not include. These were left out supposedly because of their violence. It didn’t go with their concept of a “forgiving” god. Or so we are told. But they have always been around. They are said to be contained in the famous “Dead Sea Scrolls” as well. These are the oldest known and intact forms of the old testament. By putting together all the pieces of the story we can see it was a very interesting time to be alive…..and a very dangerous one.

How so important the music is in your life?

Like most people I have always loved and been surrounded by it. I am as much a “victim” of this story as anyone else. From the time I discovered the Partridge Family through my love of KISS and Ronnie James Dio and even today. I am surrounded by music even as I come to understand it is sooooo much more than just “entertainment.” It is a force way more potent than perhaps any in the world today. Certainly its ability to motivate people and elevate their emotions (any emotion is equally suitable) is unquestionable.

Well, do tell us which your thoughts are about the man’s existence?

Well you can bet man was put here for a purpose and it was not neccessarily to pursue his own interests. That purpose has been lost and distracted as man has to play out this long dramatic lifecycle to expose and ultimately purge evil from the universe. That, in the end, may be man’s true purpose.

Well “Unrepentant” it could have been an excellent song. Why did you make it so short?

Actually it was intended to be part of “Rainbow’s End.” When I recorded it I was going to mix it together but it sounded like a totally different piece so I made it a separate track. Maybe I will make a whole song out of it yet. There is nothing that says I can’t go and make another full song out of it another day…..maybe I will.

“One man” is one of the deepest songs that I have listened lately! Tell me, for you like the archetype of a man should be?

Man was originally made in the image of God. That is what it ultimately should and will return to. Sin has separated man from God I know there are a lot of people out there who don’t want to hear such things in the world of heavy music, but you asked. The archetype of man is Jesus Christ. After all he referred to himself as the “son of man.” In the end God brings man back to him and his original purpose by giving a part of himself as the means of redemption. Through the sacrifice of his son which is a part of him. Although the song “One Man” is about Noah and the extreme strength of spirit it takes to resist the entire world. Can one man be right and everyone else on earth be wrong. Yes.

Many press means complained about the drum machine. In your later works you do plan to have a real battery, as well as other session members?

If a label would take an interest in BMO it would be real easy to remove the drum tracks and replace them with a real drummer. I don’t know how much difference that will make. I would always record a drummer last anyway as I don’t like the way they get overplayed in most metal bands these days. I think some people in the metal world just don’t like the idea of drum machines. But they are on more metal records than you know. Just because there is a picture of a drummer in the booklet doesn’t mean he played on the record. Most bands write their songs with drum machines and some find out their drummers can’t keep real time when they try to replace them. The good thing about a drum machine is you can get a good dependable sound. The drums always sound good. They may be predictable but that isn’t a bad thing either. You don’t need a drummer taking off on his own do you? But having said all that. I would like for Babylon Mystery Orchestra to have a real drummer and everything else as well. This music would do well in performances. The potential visual imagery alone is enormous. Maybe it will come to pass.

What bands are you listening lately, do you like the current Tiamat and Moonspell? Did you listen your countrymen of Brain Dance?

I love both Tiamat and Moonspell. I am particularly fond of the new Tiamat CD. I think “Cain” and “Cloven Hoof” are especially great tracks. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new Therion records. I just ordered them. I believe Therion is the best band in the world today. But I am also an unashamed lover of hair metal as well. Until you mentioned them I had not heard of Brain Dance. However I have since looked at their website and I am curious. I shall check them out.

For those that didn’t still listen to Babylon Mystery Orchestra, describe us musical and lyrically your work.

I would describe it as gothic metal that delves into subject matter that noone else does. In many ways it is lyrically dominant music in that the lyrics and the subjects of the songs determine the entire approach to the music. You don’t see much music these days where the words are the decisive element of the music. I think if you don’t pay attention to the words that you won’t pay attention to Babylon Mystery Orchestra at all. I suppose that, in and of itself, is an original approach to take. I am sure its not for everyone but then nothing is.

Thank you for time towards me, tell us your future plans and your last words for all your fans in South America…

I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to speak to your readers. I love having an opportunity to present Babylon Mystery Orchestra to people. I am already working on tracks for the third Babylon Mystery Orchestra CD. There will be some more highly controversial subjects tackled on this one. I am actually getting quite excited about it. I hope to have it ready by the summer of 2005 if not sooner. I will keep everyone updated on its progress at the website (www.babylonmysteryorchestra.com). Thank you so very much for this interview.

Official Homepage: www.babylonmysteryorchestra.com

1. FIRST OF ALL CONGRATULATION FOR ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN! IT’S AN INCREDIBLE ALBUM BOTH MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY SPEAKING!

Thanks. It is a story that I have always thought ought to be told musically. Honestly I am surprised it has never been addressed in a musical format before.What is important to remember is that this story was the belief system of a lot of people at one time. Music has been feared for its ability to motivate people. Even today we see how it can be used to influence people greatly. Its no small wonder soldiers have always had some song to sing as they marched off to war.

Let me be bold here. Music, ALL MUSIC, is a living  spirit with a purpose. It is NOT a neutral force in the world. Musicians are the instrument. They are NOT the players. That the musicians involved may not even know the purpose of their music only goes to show the depth of the spiritual involvement. Perhaps the reason why this story hasn’t been popularized before is because the spirit of  music itself was not ready for the story to come out. But in a world where even black and death metal are cliche ridden genres that people are no longer fearful about, the spirit of music must feel there is nothing that can stop it from fulfilling its destiny…..again. (Now that starts the interview off with a “bang” doesn’t it?)

2. IF I TOLD YOU THAT I HAVEN’T LISTENED TO YOUR ALBUM AND I ASKED YOU TO PRESENT IT, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT? WHICH WORDS WOULD YOU USE?

I would say it is the story of music as told by music. The fact that it could be described as “Gothic Metal” is a secondary consideration. I feel the music that accompanies the story is the right music for the story. Its got it all. The quest for power, women, rebellion, transgression of authority and retribution. All wrapped up with a twist on morality. Combine that with the fact that every day you can walk outside and see proof of this story’s truthfulness being played out in modern events, and I hope I have given the listener something to think about. However if you are the kind of person who only cares about “Riffs” and thinks of the lyrics as disposable you won’t like this or any Babylon Mystery Orchestra record. The lyrics dictate not only the approach to the vocals (which is often a narrative type of singing ) but the music as well. I will not allow the words to be buried under the music as so many bands do.

3. I ADORED DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS AND I ALSO ADORE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. HOWEVER I THINK THAT ON EARTH… IS A MORE COMPLEX ALBUM, BETTER DEVELOPED AND WITH MORE DIVERSITY IN ITS SOUND. COULD YOU PLEASE POINT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE 2 ALBUMS?

Well I think it is pretty obvious that they are by the same artist. There is plenty of “style” similarity. However I had a lot more confidence going into this one. On the first record I was concerned with finding out what I could do. I operated in a narrower musical territory because I really didn’t know what to expect when I unleashed a record that was dominated by the lyrics. Plus I knew I had an idea for a vocal style that would sound a little different than what people had heard before. A Gothic narrative singing style. I felt like that people who paid attention to what the words actually said would understand the approach. However I also knew that writing lyrics about religious and political themes could also provoke negative reactions. Especially since the music dictates that I take a point of view. After getting that first one under my belt I noticed that when people said good things about it they didn’t make me a king. And conversely when people trashed it and me, they caused me no harm. So I came into the second one armed with a confidence that I could make a record about music that would be a record I would want to hear. I went even further to put the vocals front and center and I think that confidence comes through in a big way through them. I felt I could tell the story of these angels and tell it in their words with their voice. There is a lot more diversity in the songs because the story dictated that approach. I also felt that I could make even more use of acoustic guitar music as well. I like the interplay between electric and acoustic and I brought a lot of that into it. Yet through it all the record came out a lot heavier than the first.

I actually anticipated that I would be more capable on the second one. That’s why I didn’t make this record first. I knew it would be a more complex record to make than to tell the story of the first one. Plus when you do everything yourself, you just learn a lot about the gear and your capabilities. Its easy to see that type of growth in a lot of artists on their first couple of records. I feel like this record really nails down the Babylon Mystery Orchestra sound and style.

4. THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL ALBUM AND IN FACT I THINK IT’S THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE EVER DEALS WITH THE ORIGIN OF ROCK MUSIC. I KNOW THIS WILL BE HARD AND TIRING FOR YOU, BUT I’D LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN US THE CONCEPT AND HOW YOU DECIDED ON DEALING WITH IT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN WITH THE ALBUM’S TITLE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN?

I can’t say enough how surprised I am that this story has gone untold through music this long. I can only conclude that now is the time for it to come out! I first heard about it myself over 20 years ago. At the time I did not believe it one little bit. Now I am absolutely positive that it is the truth. The evolution (Evilution? R.J. Dio might say) of modern music has proven to me we are dealing with the same thing. That music was actually a gift from the angel of light that all metal-heads know and love by the name of “Satan”. And it was not so much a “gift” as it was an “investment” he expected and got a huge return then. He is getting it now too. In telling the story of “On Earth As It Is In Heaven” I center it on Rock music but the descriptions of the sounds and behaviors are pretty across the board. It applies to all music. Most people today are too “educated” to acknowledge the existence of a spirit world or concede that such beings could have a purpose that could bring an influence on them. Musicians of every stripe have always talked about the “power” of their music. Artists have even called themselves “song-catchers” in describing their writing process. Believe them. I can believe that “Genum” really did sing the BMO song Heaven Can Wait at that last concert before the great flood. But he also sang God Of Thunder and “Freebird”. Some songs just reek of being thousands of years old.
The record isn’t offering any solutions. There is no preaching here. In fact the record is written from the perspective of the rebellious angels who came to earth in the golden age of music. If there is an ultimate message to this it is that slowly through time we have all been taken in by the ultimate conspiracy. The very first conspiracy against man is still active. That music is EVERYWHERE and unavoidable should give everyone pause to think about who is the smarter. Music at one time gave the illusion of uniting people. Rock and roll music once was THE music of the young. Even then though, it was showing its true intent as it was first driving a wedge between kids and their parents. Now there is a music style for everyone and a lifestyle that goes with it. People within a relatively similar genre will despise the music of another and its fans. Don’t think so? Put a Deicide fan in a room with a Bon Jovi fan and see what happens. When you consider the broad context of all music and the people who listen to it it becomes clear. Music has successfully DIVIDED us all into separate camps. Just because you choose to call it “personal taste” doesn’t change that fact. One hundred years ago NONE of these now rampant “personal tastes” even existed. Most of them sprung up in the age of Rock music. NEVER let it be said that music is a uniting force!

The fact that most people will be unable to concede that it is even possible goes a long way to proving the genius of the plan. Everyone loves some form of music, so to an extent everyone is a victim. Brilliant this angel! 20 years ago we used to go around defending rock music. We didn’t want anyone to call it the devil’s music. That was before the black metal bands came along. The road from Elvis to Count Grishnack was a wide, easy to follow path. Where does it go from here. God is holy and never changes. Music has changed much and will again. There will be much more blood on its hands in the future. On Earth As It Is In Heaven was the original story. We are living the sequel.

The title comes from the way the book of Enoch refers to the angels bringing to the earth the “secrets of heaven”. Its sort of a play on the words of the “Lords Prayer” to imply that earth has been like heaven before.

5. ONE MORE TIRING QUESTION FOR YOU… YOU BELONG TO THAT CATEGORY OF BANDS WHOSE MUSIC AND LYRICS ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND SINCE I REALLY LIKE YOUR LYRICS… COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT EACH SONG?

I wouldn’t make records if I didn’t have something to say. As I said ALL music has some purpose whether the musicians involved know or acknowledge it or not. The lyrics are the personality of every song. They dictate the entire approach. Once I give a song a title and write down a synopsis of what it will say I then write the music and record most of it.Then I finalize the lyrics. OK Lets go through the record.

1. Descension. This is an instrumental. However I wanted to convey the feeling of an important event in bloom through the music. There are a couple of beats in there where I use the body of the guitar as a percussion instrument. I got the idea for that from the intro music to the old John Wayne movie “Rio Lobo”. The main lick is something I play almost every time I pick up a guitar. It just occurred to me to make something out of it. For a short piece of music I really like it.

2. Semjaza’s Song. A lot of people think the story that “On Earth As It Is In Heaven” is based on is also the basis that all other mythology is based on. Essentially the same beings just with different names. That would likely make Semjaza the equivalent of Zeus I suppose. This is a song showing that there really is no honor among thieves or angels. Semjaza doesn’t trust the others and therefore imposes a curse on any who betray their oath.

3. Violation. This is just a fast song about running wild through the earth. They knew there time was short and they acted accordingly.

4. A Celestial Kiss. This is about a part of the story that most people are familiar with. The mating of angels with human females. It asks the question could you/ would you/ should you resist them. The highest form of temptation. Having the secrets of heaven laid before you if only you give over that most intimate part of yourself. But there is also hanging in there the thought that if you refuse…They might take it anyway.

5. Receive, Trust and Believe. This is where we introduce music into the story. It is unclear whether or not Satan approved of this venture of these 200 angels or if in fact they did this against his wishes. After all once you rebel against the creator God who is to stop you from rebelling against another Angel? In any event he was not going to let all this go on and disrupt his plans. He finds a suitable human (Genum) and shows him how to make and play instruments. Music is born. Sold as a gift with tremendous power and influence..

6. Ravishing Music. The words “Ravishing Music” are the exact description from the book of Enoch of the sounds that Genum and his “companies” of musicians made. It inflamed their hearts with uncontrollable passions. And soon they began to explore “alternative” lifestyles.

7. Bleed. This is the song that I thought might be most controversial. A lot of behaviors and the appearance of the people who are partaking in the musical festivities very much resemble that which we see today. Outlandish costumes, intoxicants and tatoos are clearly associated with the music. I wrote this bearing in mind the Bibles warnings against marking the body. The song implies that such things in fact render the body a living idol to these “other” gods. It is sung from the point of view of one of these “gods” demanding your blood as his tribute.

8. War Anthem. At several points in both the book of “Enoch” and “Secrets of Enoch” it is spelled out that warfare was introduced by these angels during this time. One story says that the angel Azazel was particularly interested in teaching the manufacture of weapons. Once Satan and Genum had began luring the children of Seth off the holy mountain Satan saw too it that the people of the earth were given weapons for War. Apparently they were so enthusiastic about them that murder became a pastime as well. I used a lot of modern terminology in the lyrics to this. Since Genum the “musician” was the human ringleader of this its not surprising that music and warfare have had such a history together.

9. One Man. There had to be a song about the “one man” that God found favor in.He was NOT the only man who rejected the temptations of the angels. He was the one who was chosen to survive and take mankind to the other side of the flood. This is about Noah.

10. Heaven Can Wait. This is my favorite song on the record. There is mention of Genum playing music at the foot of the Holy Mountain ( the ark was being built on this mountain) for a whole year to entice the children of Seth to come down and join them. It slowly worked. The angels were actually told their judgement was coming and sought Enoch to beg forgiveness on their crimes. All those black metal bands who like to bring up the wicked Azazel in their music should remember he too BEGGED for forgiveness. Not nearly so tough as his current flock of followers would have you believe. Enoch was told they would not be forgiven. This song is written to capture the spirit of the last show Genum and his musicians would play. Denied forgiveness, this is one last unrepentant act of Rock and Roll debauchery. After this night, Rock and Roll would be silenced for over 4000 years.

11. And Waters Prevailed. This is an instrumental about the flood waters ravaging the earth.

12. Rainbow’s End. This song is sort of a eulogy to the loss of all these angels and their followers. If you take the position that they were the basis for all the “god” myths of all the cultures of the earth it’s clear that this truly was a golden age to live in. It may have been forbidden and misguided but there hasn’t been a more interesting time to be alive. At least until today. This laments the loss.

13. Unrepentant. This is an instrumental that I initially was going to make part of Rainbow’s End. It sounded so different that I decided it should be its own track. The laugh at the end is meant to imply that if they had it to do again they wouldn’t change a thing. Since music is back in our world in a big way, one has to wonder not if it is part of our destruction, but how and when.

6. IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRODUCTION AS WELL AND THOUGH THE ALBUM WASN’T RECORDED IN A FAMOUS STUDIO WITH THE HELP OF A FAMOUS AND EXPERIENCED PRODUCER, THE SOUND IS GREAT! HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT FOR YOU TO ACHIEVE SUCH A SOUND WITH THE EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE?

I don’t think it is as difficult as you might imagine. I have a pretty clear idea what I want Babylon Mystery Orchestra to sound like. Therefore I just have to find ways to get that sound. Though I don’t have the best and most expensive gear, I have better equipment to work with than the best studios had not too long ago. The Beatles had 2 four track recorders to do Sgt. Pepper, I have a 16 track. So the gear is adequate if not spectacular by comparison with a studio. After finishing the first record I knew what I had to do. I was somewhat apprehensive about the vocals on the first one and held back somewhat. This one I just made sure that they carried that uncompromising sound. It sounds strange to some people who don’t pay attention to lyrics, but the voice has to speak from the point of view of absolute certainty of conviction. Everyone in my songs believes everything they are saying. No matter the perspective I am singing from. That is why a lot of it sounds like “emotional narration.”  I feel I really know what I want to do with that now. This record really solidified that. The music that backs all this up has to have a very Gothic, clean and powerful sound. Though I don’t have an experienced producer or the high dollar studio, they couldn’t make you sound better if you didn’t already know what you wanted to sound like. A producer will make you sound like someone else if you can’t make your own sound. Having said that there is still a lot more I would love to do if I could get that kind of situation. I would love to have Bob Ezrin produce one of these. I would love to take a record finished as well as I can and tell him: “Here’s the demo, How can we make this bigger and better?”

7. THE ARTWORK IS AMAZING!!!! YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CHOSE IT, BUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING IT AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN US WHAT YOU WANT TO SUGGEST WITH IT?

The artwork was done by a company called Discmakers. They do the pressing of a lot of CD’s. I am told that the artist is the same one who did the artwork for “Divine Right Of Kings.” I talked to the artist during the process and I think that is why it looks so good. She had all the writing that goes in the booklet to read as well so she really got a good feel for what I wanted to present. I actually sent a copy of a famous painting that I thought said everything I would want to say as well. I told her I wanted a long-haired angel with big wings. I hate angels with “Hummingbird” wings. I want to believe that they actually could lift them. (Yes I know that real angels wouldn’t have wings. Its a good look though). I really like what she came back with. Especially the colors. With the female form also off to the side I think it conveys a lot of the elements of the story in one picture. The inside of the booklet was all things that were her idea. I wrote everything and put it in order but the visuals were all hers. I described a few ideas for the picture behind the CD and she found something that worked great. I like having artwork there. The back of the CD with the track listing was very important to me as well since that is visible from the outside of the package. I wanted that Bible verse  above the track listing. The seaweed hanging off the logo was a nice touch. And of course the photos were great as well. Those were taken by a woman named Daniel Nall right here in Greenville Alabama. I think the package looks as good as anything anyone else has out there, and way better than most.

8. IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN YOU FACED NEGATIVE COMMENTS AND CRITICISM FOR “DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS”. I THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE LIKE THIS SITUATION AND PREFER TO BE EYE FOLDED AND NOT REALIZE WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD. I THINK THAT YOU EXPECTED SUCH REACTIONS FROM FANATICS. HOWEVER, HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SAW PEOPLE “ATTACKING” YOUR MUSICAL VISION AND YOUR ATTEMPTS?

Well it comes from several angles. There are people out there who absolutely despise any type of religious connotations in their music and they tend to hate it on sight. Yet you will often find out if it is a music reviewer that they are highly tolerant or accepting of Black Metal records. The only religion some people tolerate is the “Piss on Jesus and his followers” kind. So a lot of people hate it for that, without even caring what it may be about.  There are those who thought the record was a diatribe against America since it is about the Judgement of Mystery Babylon and the record suggests that America could be that place. Then there are a lot of Christians who didn’t like the idea that the record suggested that America could be Mystery Babylon and entitled to annihilation. Here in America all Christian denominations have one thing in common. They all believe that America is somehow a “blessed” nation and that is the reason for its prosperity. There is no Biblical support for this nor is there really any legal support for claims that this is a Christian nation. It is a nation that was once dominated by Christians and there beliefs but that has been changed since the end of WW 2. So there were a lot of Christian reviewers who disdained the record for that reason. Then of course there are particular songs that set some people off. One reviewer virtually centered the entire review on “Its My Right” and called me a right wing racist homophobe. So there has been criticism. But how could I not expect it? Some websites have had a few discussions on the subject. But I have to say that there were more good reviews of the record than bad ones. A lot of reviewers truly appreciated the approach of putting meaningful lyrics in the songs even if it did not reflect their particular point of view.

I suppose it never feels good when someone criticizes your work. But its a hell of a lot better than indifference. I read a lot of reviews of other bands. It appears that with the glut of music that is out there a lot of bands just aren’t interesting to a lot of people. I tend to attribute it to the fact that too much music is centered around musicianship. Its almost like the people making music act as though they must impress and get the approval of other musicians. At least I get peoples attention.

9. BY THE WAY ARE YOU EXPECTING ANY NEGATIVE STATEMENTS THIS TIME? I’M TALKING ABOUT THE LYRICS, SINCE MUSIC IS A MATTER OF TASTE AND NOT ALL PEOPLE LIKE THE SAME THINGS. HOWEVER, I THINK YOUR LYRICS REVEAL AN OPEN MINDED PERSON AND THEY ARE THOUGHT PROVOKING. SO, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THAT WON’T REALIZE THE BEAUTY AND DEPTH OF YOUR LYRICS?

There have been a few reviewers who wondered why I would make a record about this subject, if I believed it to be true. Really I feel just the opposite. Its a subject that can be best addressed musically. Just because I believe that this story is most likely true doesn’t mean I don’t love music as well as everyone else. But I tried to do the record more as a story. As I have said I believe the spirit world is under-appreciated in our so called “enlightened” times. All of this is forgotten knowledge, that now, people want to call superstition. Considering the subject matter of most music out there it should stand out as at least more in depth and interesting. There is a lot of Mythology/fantasy/superstition in heavy music. I am just telling from a perspective of believability. But I know most people won’t acknowledge the story as anything more than mythology. As such, its great mythology.

10. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS STILL CHANCE FOR HUMANS TO CORRECT THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND PERCEPTION OF THINGS AROUND THEM? DO YOU THINK THAT WE HAVEN’T YET REACHED THE POINT OF NO RETURN? GENERALLY WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE AN OPTIMIST OR A PESSIMIST?

Sure there is still a chance but we live in very arrogant times. People think our societies are the most knowledgeable and educated in history. Fine. Build a Pyramid like the Great Pyramid at Giza in Manhattan. Can’t do it. First they don’t know exactly how they would go about it. And second the economics would render it impossible. The ancient Egyptians solved both of those problems and they actually know the real reason they built it in the first place. We really don’t have a definitive reason for that. I don’t buy that it is just an elaborate grave. Obviously they had a pretty considerable knowledge of something we don’t know. Just because it is forgotten or lost doesn’t mean it isn’t the equal to our knowledge. I guess I would call myself an optimistic pessimist. I have a lot of confidence in man’s ability to screw things up. But just because one society or way of life ends does not mean that the world is worse off. Societies have been dieing off since time began.

11.BABYLON MYSTERY ORCHESTRA IS AN ONE MAN BAND. IS YOUR PERSONAL MUSICAL VISION. HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED OF ADDING MEMBERS IN THE BAND OR ARE YOU AFRAID YOU MIGHT LOSE YOU DIRECTION?

That is becoming a more difficult question to answer. Initially I thought it might be a good idea to have other members, but you hit on the potential problem. The vision of Babylon Mystery Orchestra could easily be diluted and I wouldn’t want that to happen. I think the the thing that makes it unique is the idea to take on subject material that no one else would. Inevitably someone else might get worried about the reaction. You should always make sure that you make the statements and music that you want to hear and not be concerned with the reaction. There are are lots of bands out there whose primary concern is fitting in with the other bands out there. This is my primary gripe against the modern state of metal. Its like a convention of musicians who only make music for other musicians. Real artist dominated bands are few to none. No one has the courage to be different or say something that is out of line with the accepted points of view in metal world. Its all about time changes, technique and speed. The music focuses on the skills of the musicians not any real artistry. Skill can always be acquired but idiots will never have anything to say. I really don’t want anyone who would want to use BMO as a platform to draw attention to to pointless displays of musicianship. Even if that means that BMO never gets accepted into the “musician’s club.” It’s strange how conformist the music has become. But once again that’s the illusion that music puts up. You think you are rebels but if everyone is playing the same game you are just as conformist as the people you propose to rebel against.

12. WHICH IS, ACCORDING TO YOU, THE BEST AND WHICH THE WORST PART IN YOUR MUSIC? WHICH DO YOU THINK IS YOUR TRADEMARK AND IN WHICH FIELD DO YOU NEED FURTHER IMPROVEMENT?

I would definitely think the lyrics are the real strength of the music. Particularly the way the vocals are matched to it. I think the way this music is constructed, it for the most part doesn’t lend itself to a different type of presentation or interpretation. There is a lot of conviction in the delivery and I grow to appreciate that aspect more and more myself. The vocals are somewhat unusual, and I suppose they catch new listeners by surprise a bit, but I think inevitably it is a trademark to the sound of BMO.

There are those who think the drumming is a little plain. I am not really sure I agree as I really don’t like for the drums in music to be noticeable for the most part. I have chosen to make sure that they sound good rather than concern myself with making them do more. That is probably something I would say might could be better but as I indicated I am not really unhappy with it for the most part. I certainly wouldn’t fight against a producer who could take this to the next level which would probably entail more of everything.

13. WHICH ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? HOW ARE YOU THINKING OF PROMOTING THE ALBUM?

I have sent it out to more places to be reviewed than the first CD already and will continue to do so. There are quite a few radio shows that are playing music from it. I am always happy to add to that. There really aren’t to many avenues of promotion that are open to me other than those. If a label would take an interest in releasing it then a whole lot more magazines and webzines would take an interest. But the quality of both the packaging and the production has worked rather well in that the places I have sent it have taken it as seriously as a label release.

One of the tracks. Ravishing Music, will be included on the Knuckle-Tracks CD in an upcoming issue of BW & BK magazine. I have both BMO CD’s currently available for digital download on most of the sites that sell downloads. That should help people get it in areas where the CD is harder to find as that makes them available worldwide. There are also plenty of music sites out there where you can sample BMO music. A lot from Divine Right Of Kings.

I have already got 2 songs recorded for the next CD. So plans are well underway. This one is going to go into some very interesting territory. However I do believe all BMO records will prove to be interrelated to one another.

14.I’M ALSO AWARE OF ANOTHER THING YOU ARE PLANNING TO DO… SOME COVER SONGS… I DON’T WANT TO SAY MORE. SO, IF IT’S NOT A PROBLEM, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME MORE INFO?

Well I would like to do some just to see what I could do with them I have a list of about 5 I would want to do to start. It takes a while for me to finish a song so I find myself putting them off in favor of new original songs. I am already doing it again. the ideas for songs for the next record are so strong that I don’t want to work on a cover song. I actually almost recorded Kiss’ God Of Thunder for On Earth As It Is In Heaven. I really gave that serious consideration but decided not to do it. That’s sort of why in the song Bleed I actually use the words “Bow to the God Of Thunder and Rock and Roll” in the song. It would have fit in that part of the storyline. But I do intend to do some covers eventually. I hate to say which ones because I can change my mind kind of easy.

15. WHICH WAS THE BEST AND WHICH THE WORST COMMENT YOU RECEIVED THIS FAR? WHICH PHRASE (FROM A REVIEW) YOU READ DO YOU THINK DESCRIBES THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY YOUR MUSIC? WHICH DOESN’T?

Michel Renaud of Metal Crypt said this about Divine Right Of Kings:  “the vocals and the music are tightly coupled together on this album, and the lyrics just add to the power of the music – you just can’t ignore them. A very impressive album, highly recommended, if you think you can take it. “….I really liked that. That is about the entire intent of Babylon Mystery Orchestra laid out in one statement.

I try not to remember the negative comments too much. Although some of them can be funny. There are reviewers who know how to write a negative review. It is not a problem to find out someone doesn’t like the music. Would I really want everyone to like it? But there are those reviewers who think they can mould others tastes with their words and those are the worst.

16. IF YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THREE THINGS ON THE WORLD, WHICH WOULD THIS BE?

1. One thing I would change is the entire approach to music. If I could eliminate “notes” from music I would. People are hemmed into a musical scale that is so restrictive. The music of heaven I believe is so far above our own as to make Mozart sound like a limerick writer. And I believe that how its done is by harmonizing ALL sound. Not just the frequencies the human ears have “tuned” in. This is why I believe music in many ways is like witchcraft. Musicians are only working with a small part of something far greater than they can understand. Songs are like spells and incantations. But the capabilities and the possibilities are far greater than the limits of human vision will currently allow. As well as ….the danger.

2. I would also eliminate the use of smart bombs in warfare. Collateral damage has ALWAYS been a part of warfare. If we convince ourselves that through technology we can sanitize warfare and keep civilians out of it we will only get more wars and more soldiers cowardly hiding behind civilians. If one nation feels the need to go to war. Let it be total and complete.

3. Here’s another thing. I don’t know how it is in Greece, but here in America it seems like everybody is medicated on some kind of anti-depressant. Prozac is everywhere. If I could stop it I would. There are some people who legitimately need medication but the vast majority of this is based on pure emotional weakness. Sometimes you should be depressed. Maybe your spirit is empty and is yearning for for something (God?) and it is trying to tell you. Maybe you need to remove certain people/ situations/ circumstances from your life. Subduing these feelings with medication is not solving the problem. People need to address the problem and its source, not just take a pill to make them feel better. They are cheating at life and they are cheating themselves.

17. WHICH ARE YOUR THOUGHTS REGARDING THE TORTURES THE IRAQIS WERE SUBMITTED TO FROM THE U.S. SOLDIERS? IS IT PERHAPS POSSIBLE THAT THE U.S. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY THEIR GOVERNMENT AND THIS WAR WAS OVER THE INTERESTS OF SOME FEW? TO PUT IT  DIFFERENTLY WHICH IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SADDAM’S BRUTALITY AND THE SAVAGERY OF THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS?

I will tell you the difference between the two. The people the U.S. WRONGLY treated were prisoners of war. They should have been treated according to the rules of the Geneva convention. However they were not innocent citizens. They were combatants. At that very same prison. Saddam’s son once had EVERYONE in the prison murdered just to make room for more prisoners to go in. That’s 2000 people. They were not soldiers. They were people disapproved of by Saddam’s regime. Innocent civilians. For all that’s bad about what the United States soldiers did, at least we are owning up to it and dealing with it in public, and no one dies. I think that is a considerable difference.

As far as why this war was started I think its a pretty safe assumption that this war was started when G.W. Bush won the last election. However in fairness Saddam had been violating U.N. resolutions all through the Clinton administration. If you get whipped in a fight, and then proceed to antagonize the guy who whipped you, is it really a surprise to get whipped again? A lot of people want to complicate the issue, including President Bush, but it really should be that simple. All those other “reasons” for going to war weren’t necessary; at least not for the American people. All that “explaining” has just made the rest of the world look down on us even more. Perhaps what we need is a good dose of isolationism. But after 9/11 I don’t think anyone is going to go for that.

18. WHICH IS THE WEIRDEST, FUNNIEST OR SILLIEST QUESTION YOU’VE BEEN ASKED?

So far I haven’t been asked anything really odd. One person e-mailed me and asked me if I was really serious about some of the ideas in these songs. Maybe people think I’m so serious that they don’t ask me silly questions. I am perceived as a very serious person and I suppose I am. I wonder why more people don’t ask me about my cat.

19. I BELIEVE THAT THE MUSIC (LIKE THE LYRICS) IS SYMBOLIC. WHICH IS THE SYMBOLISM BEHIND BABYLON MYSTERY ORCHESTRA?

The symbolism behind Babylon Mystery Orchestra I believe is “Apocalypse.” Almost everything done with the music is designed to create an aural spectacle of the Apocalypse. It has all sorts of Biblical and political elements swirling around in the lyrics. But the overall sound is meant to create an atmosphere that sounds like the Biblical End Times. Although you should note that most often the points of view given are those from a perspective of rejecting such truths. The records in total tell  tales of morality while often detailing the perspective of the immoral. In my music everyone gets what they choose. Choices are a very important aspect of this symbolism. Heavy Metal is the music of the damned and Babylon Mystery Orchestra tells their story.

20.THANK YOU! LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE TO THE READERS… THESE LINES ARE YOURS.

I would like to thank you for this interview. Also I want to say that I believe On Earth As It Is In Heaven is a record that has arrived at its proper time. As I indicated, I believe all music has a purpose imprinted on it. I can only hope that my influence has also enhanced the purpose of this story being brought out at this time. I have, over time, come to believe this story. At one time I didn’t want to believe it, but music, musicians and the people who listen have all changed over this time. You can see that distant past being repeated in the current evolution of music. And it really does apply to all music that we think of as “modern”. That which we think is new and belongs to us is really old….and we belong to it.