Both musically (1) & conceptually (2), this is a tremendous effort. As a self-realized Agnostic, I don't go for the whole "Satan is at the center of Christianity" notion. I feel the concept of individual beings encompassing all that is either good or evil, and that they are ultimately responsible for our decisions, to be total rubbish...but the album does tell a very thought-provoking story & I openly give tremendous praise for that. But vocally (there's #3), I find the album severely lacking. Despite such an inspired story, I find the vocals terribly UN-inspired. It sounds much more to me like he's just trying to sound spooky & authoritative. I'd rather he hire someone like Zachary Stevens to breathe real life & bravado into the vocals.

this is my new favorite cd, maybe band. thank you man! wonderful.

Babylon Mystery Orchestra is a one man project under the guidance of a vocalist, guitarist and composer by the name of Sydney Allen Johnson. Getting started in 2003 with the full length debut Divine Right Of Kings, a concept album dealing with America’s role in Biblical prophecy as the doomed “Mystery Babylon The Great”, BMO returned one year later with On Earth As It Is In Heaven, another conceptual effort that traced the 4000 year history of rock n’ roll along with the diabolic origins of music. The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy Of Satanic Christianity, the latest endeavor from BMO, is also a concept album but this time revolving around the theme that the church, from its inception, has been attacked and manipulated by Satan and his principalities and angelic followers. It is the contention of the artist that the church has been the place where Satan has expended most of his power and influence over the centuries, getting the church as organized and centralized as possible for his purposes. In the words of Johnson, “His (Satan) prime directive is to lead as many people away from God as possible. The churches are where the people seeking God go.....and so does he!” He further summarizes, “It is the intention of the record to show that the church is not a sanctuary from evil but, in fact, its primary target.” The best way to describe The Great Apostasy would be a hybrid of gothic and doom metal with some classic hard rock elements thrown in. The album, for example, is built upon a foundation of dark and atmospheric mid-tempo plodders such as “Holy Ghost”, “Prey For Me”, “Church Of State” and “King Of The Earth”, a powerful of a track as you will ever find. The presence of acoustic guitar, at the same time, helps lend to the bands classic rock influence, a trend showcased on “One Way, One Truth, One Life” and the stunning ballad “Who Mourns For Philadelphia”. “Pentecost” and the hook driven “Wolf In The Fold”, on the other hand, deliver a faster and more up-tempo sound while ten minute album closer “Antichrist Superczar” gives rise to an almost progressive feel.

Sidney Allen Johnson has proven to me over the years with his first two Babylon Mystery Orchestra releases that he is super talented.With the latest incarnation "The Great Apostasy" not only does he once again show us that he is talented he also now shows that he is an absolute musical and song writing genius. The songs on "The Great Apostasy" deal with the thought that the Christianity we believe in and cherish now was actually nothing but a great deception conceived long ago. I have to really commend Sidney Allen Johnson for such thought provoking lyrics and the hours upon hours of time it probably took to get all of these thoughts onto paper and eventually into songs. Musically this has got to be Babylon Mystery Orchestra's crowning achievement. The music is not only hard hitting but very diverse and sometimes very catchy especially on songs such as "Prey For Me".But there are also songs like One Way, One Truth, One Life which have the beautiful infusion of Hard Rock with some eliquent synthesizer and beautiful acoustic guitar. Eye Of The Needle has some very thought provoking lyrics that deal with two points of view from both sides of the coin and that is homosexuality and Christianity. Overall I'd have to say that the music on "The Great Apostasy" sounds alot like Babylon Mystery Orchestra which to me is an overwhelming achievement in this day and age and that is to create your own sound and your own persona and stick to it. Again I'll state again that this is a very serious thought provoking album with some of the best acompanying music you'll ever hear. I would recommend this album to anyone who wants to listen to music that's very fresh but also craves a message that will keep your mind going at full tilt.