Rising from the ashes of Dokken, guitarist George Lynch formed his new project, Lynch Mob, back in 1989. While Lynch has been the only permanent member of the band, Lynch Mob has become a household name in Hard Rock/Metal. Debuting with Wicked Sensation in 1990, the album is still considered to be their best work to date. Following a self-titled, sophomoric album in 1992, Lynch Mob disbanded once they realized that the Grunge movement was in full swing, and sadly, the trending scene had no place for them. In the following years, Lynch tried at resurrecting Lynch Mob with an attempt at a Rap/Metal hybrid album titled Smoke This (1999), as well as 2003’s extremely heavy REvolution, before coming full circle back to their roots after a performance at Rocklahoma in 2008. While the lineup has continued to fluctuate and change, Lynch Mob returned with their first full-length studio album in five years with 2014’s Sun Red Sun. Calling on the same lineup that wrote and recorded 2012’s Sound Mountain Sessions EP, Lynch worked with original vocalist Oni Logan, drummer Scot Coogan (Ace Frehley’s band), and bassist Robbie Crane (Ratt) to put together the eleven songs of Sun Red Sun. Released on Ratpack Records on December 9, 2014, the album was mixed and mastered by Chris “The Wizard” Collier” (Lita Ford/KXM), making it a highly anticipated album fans had been wanting to hear.
Firing up the amplifiers is the Classic Rock song, “Believers of the Day,” brimming with a strong drum beats, sweet guitar riffs, driving bass, and rich, warm vocals. Main songwriter, Lynch, is known to be a critic of religion, and this opening track is certainly fitting in with his philosophies. Next is a down and dirty tune called “Erotika,” speaking of sex in a very topical fashion while featuring some some hippyish harmonies and slightly Eastern flavors, followed by a cover of Bad Company’s “Burnin’ Sky” that comes in a very traditional, Blues Rock style that pays homage to the original. “Black Water” is a song of two halves, beginning with a delicate and spacy instrumental before changing dramatically into a more discordant, experimental, dirty riff. Without drums, this is a pure guitar piece and perfectly showcases Lynch’s remarkable talents.
Returning to a Classic Rock format, “Play the Game” is catchy and easy to sing along to, but the elaborate guitar solos of Lynch are what make the track worth noticing. Continuing to show diversity in style, “Subliminal Dream” projects a primal sound that has a hypnotic beat and overall positive lyrical message, showing that Lynch can dabble in a variety of stylings and still create gold. Title track “Sun Red Sun” is a sweet acoustic song revealing the powerful vocals of Logan backed with sweet, earthy, unpretentious harmonies. Interestingly, the song was written as a tribute to the late, great Badlands singer, Ray Gillen. The final four tracks of Sun Red Sun are carried over from the aforementioned Sound Mountain Sessions, but remastered to create a slightly different tone. Those who have heard the older EP will be able to pick up on the tweaks in the tracks and to appreciate the differences. “Slow Drag” sees the return of Bluesy Rock with a Southern twang and a solid groove throughout. The hopeful “World Of Chance” is psychedelic and mystical, while “City of Freedom” follows in a similar if not more Rock-like vein. “Sucka” is possibly the most contemporary of the tracks with an attitude, a swagger and some fine noodling that brings the album to a close.
Many have suggested that Sun Red Sun is as good as Wicked Sensation, making it extremely well received and leaving no doubt about the serious talents of each band member. Lynch is a superb, Classic guitarist with the hint of a Progressive sound. Marrying everything together nicely, Logan’s clear, strong, Classic Rock voice is similar to David Coverdale, Ian Gillan or Robert Plant. Sun Red Sun certainly does have class and the songs are solid and very retro. Rather than repeat the mistakes of the past, Lynch has decided to forget trying to fit in with today’s trends and just make an album that sounds like Lynch Mob. It will not break new molds, but it will please Lynch Mob fans. CrypticRock give Sun Red Sun 4 out of 5 stars.
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