Here we have the eighth album from Lynch Mob, the first since 2017’s ‘The Brotherhood’, and apparently is the last one as George Lynch has decided to call time on the band after 35 years. Mind you, there is an 18-month long tour to get through first so anything could happen to make him change his mind. Lynch Mob have always been a cross between a band and a project, ever since George formed the band on leaving Dokken the first time, and this time around we again have long-time on and off drummer Jimmy D’Anda along with new members Gabriel Colón (vocals) and Jaron Gulino (bass). There has never been any doubt in my mind that Lynch is a fine rock guitarist, and I have loved his playing ever since I came across ‘Under Lock and Key’ in 1985, but being a great guitarist does not make him a great songwriter and that is again the case in point with this album.

He needs someone to bounce ideas off, and possibly even fight with, to get the best out of him, which I am sure is one reason why he has kept returning to Don Dokken even though they obviously have significant personal issues. Here we have an album which actually becomes more boring and the less palatable the more it is played even though his playing is always on point. Gabriel Colón is a Puerto Rican singer who started his career with Fast Taker, since when he has made his name in bands such as Gothic Knights, Culprit, White Wizzard, and Rowan Robertson, and he has a fine set of pipes but there is little here which really stands out. Gulino (Tantric, Heavens Edge) is a fine bassist used to playing this type of music, while D’Anda (Bulletboys) knows how to work with Lynch, but the individuals are more than the sum of the parts as the material just feels too basic, giving us melodic hard rock from the Eighties with little in the way of hooks. Not one to which I can see myself rapidly returning.

Rating: 6/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/LynchMobBand/
https://www.frontiers.it/