Rich’s Rapidfire Recommendations – bite-sized metal morsels to let you know about albums that have grabbed Rich Davenport by the ears, that we hope you’ll enjoy too! ROCK ON!

Artist: LYNCH MOB
Album: Sun Red Sun
Label: Rat Pak Records
Release Date: December 9th, 2014

Track Listing: Believers of the Day, Erotika, Burnin’ Sky, Black Waters, Play The Game, Subliminal Dream, Sun Red Sun and also includes Re-mastered Bonus Tracks: Slow Drag, World Of Chance, City Of Freedom, Sucka

In the last 12 months, George Lynch has maintained a work rate that must qualify 2014 as one of the most creative periods of his career. More importantly for fans, he’s kept the quality at a level that would suggest that he positively thrives on having the opportunity to collaborate and keep developing his craft as a guitarist and songwriter. A hit album from KXM, another very strong release due anytime now from Sweet/Lynch, and in between comes a new Lynch Mob record, “Sun Red Sun”. Four of the songs here were previously released as an EP, but in their new setting here, remastered and partnered up with six additional new numbers and a cover of Bad Company’s “Burnin’ Sky”, there’s no lack of cohesion, and “Sun Red Sun” flows well from beginning to end as a complete album in its own right, with plenty of light and shade in the music.

Last year, the band’s acclaimed first album “Wicked Sensation” was re-released, and for me, on listening to “Sun Red Sun” after revisiting the debut recently, there’s a clear sense of continuity. The writing partnership of Lynch and vocalist/lyricist Oni Logan is still potent, and these songs preserve enough of the Blues-infused feel of “Wicked Sensation”, whilst managing to add new influences and show definite growth and progression. Logan is a soulful singer and thoughtful lyricist, and George Lynch excels here as both songwriter and soloist, with a fresh, inspired performance, his trademark razor-sharp riffs and stinging solos retaining all the elements that first marked him out as an exemplary guitar player. Songs of the calibre of “Believers of the Day”, “Subliminal Dream”, the acoustic based title track, and the more atmospheric “Play The Game”, make it clear that this is a band still capable of taking their sound forward without losing sight of their roots. “Sun Red Sun” is an inventive and engaging album, and I’d rank it among the best George Lynch has been involved with.