I will have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I heard of this collaboration between two Dokken members, I think alright, what are these guys up to, especially since George Lynch just a couple of years ago condemned his past by releasing another Lynch Mob, where the advertisement said "This Ain't No Retro Album," what; ignore your past as one of the most influential guitarists of the 80's. I will admit out of all those hair bands, Lynch was one of the more true musicians who had true virtuosity, not to mention the fact that his latest project with Lynch Mob involves only a few originals, containing mostly covers of Dokken and Lynch Mob material.

Well at least we can move away from the whole 80's shtick hear something from the heart here rather than the whole condemnation and revisitation of the past. Bassist Jeff Pilson who played third fiddle in Dokken, to both Don and George, has been underrated as a musician, songwriter, and a vocalist. Here he stands out, just like he does in his War and Peace projects.

Here we have an album of original material played the way it should be from these guys. Lynch steps out with his axe, slinging riffs and shredding in his own classic way, while Pilson fronts as bassist and vocalist (he sounds quite like Don Dokken, but a little bit grittier).

The sound of the album is reflective on the classic Dokken sound with more of an updated sound. Yes, there are the occasional drum loops, but that aside they are used in the right way for this type of album (but it would have sounded fine without them). Most of the album is complete heaviness with pop hook laden songwriting, some songs sounding like they might have been intended for a recent Dokken album. "Breath and a Scream," "When you Bleed," and "Utopia" are the albums high points, all songs like many others, being loud and aggressive. "Ever Higher" starts out as an acoustic ballad, but then transforms into a powerful mid-tempo metal cut, while "Awaken" is the album's straight ahead power ballad.

Overall this is a good album, for fans who have wanted a no bullshit album that featured Lynch soloing like a motherf**ker, without all those connotations to weave out into a different direction. This sort of reminds me of Ray Alder's Engine project, but more pop savvy, rather than leaning out towards the whole "nu-metal" cottage industry. Anyways, this is a must for Dokken fans or someone who wants something a little more freshly done from the whole "Hair Metal" scene. Others, you might want to proceed with caution, but I liked it.

Written by Hashman
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
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Ratings

Hashman: 6.5/10

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Comment by Chickyrdo "DLR" Leppard (Anonymous) - Sunday, June 8, 2003

I agree with your review, however, I think this album deserves a 7, but I will accept the minus .5 as a penalty for Lynch's sellout. It's sad that the true hard rock/metal fans turned out to be more faithful than the "gods" of the genre, namely peole like Lynch and Rob Halford, both wich have commited treason, only to return to their roots later. I have nothing more to add, only that I was eager to listen to Lynch soloing, and that even with the recognition he receives, Mr. Scary is underappreciated as a guitar player, probably because of the attitude people have taken against 80's hard rock thanks to 90's grunge.