Thursday, January 16, 2014

RED DRAGON CARTEL / Red Dragon Cartel (2014)

Finally, one of the best and most effective guitarist Jake E. Lee is returning to the music scene with a new project which is titled RED DRAGON CARTEL!! The band consists of Jake E. Lee on guitars, Ronnie Mancuso on bass, D.J Smith on vocals and Jonas Fairley on drums.

The new self-titled Red Dragon Cartel debut album was cut at The Hideout and produced by R. Bernard Mann (AKA Ronnie Mancuso and Jake E. Lee) and executive produced, mixed and mastered by Kevin Churko. This new effort, also, features stellar guest appearances from legendary vocalist Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, original Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno, former Pantera and Down bassist Rex Brown, Slash’s Conspirator’s, Todd Kearns and Brent Fitz, Scott Reeder of Kyuss and The Obsessed and new metal icons like vocalist Maria Brink from In This Moment and Five Finger Death Punch’s Jeremy Spencer.

The album kicks-off with the amazing and Ozzy-esque "Deceived". This is a huge guitar driven tune and the right one that this guitarist's fans asked for; it includes a great ass-kickin' riff, an 80's vibe in it and the vocals reminds of Ozzy's earlier works. Brilliant stuff!!! Next, "Shout It Out" is another excellent hard rock stuff, darker with a monstrous groove in it that will blow your speakers!!!! Play it on maximum volume!!! "Feeder" includes a more 'modern' hard rock vibe with an excellent guitar work while "Fall From The Sky" is the most different track so far. Another modern cut but with the Lee's signature on!! This is a kinda of alternative meets Ozzy newest works. Not bad at all!!! "Wasted" kicks some serious asses here.....a bad attitude and much heavier tune that takes no prisoners!!!! Imagine Zakk Wylde in a softer version. "Slave" and "Big Mouth" are both good songs while in "War Machine" Jake E. Lee and his Cartel are delivering a great heavy rocker in an old-fashion way! "Redeem Me" is a more melodic with, again, a groovier mood and the last track that closes this debut is an instrumental one, "Exquisite Tenderness".

Solid album! I really enjoyed every single minute of this debut release. Jake E. Lee is one of a kind and after a long time of silence is back with this impressive record. In some parts, it reminded me of early Ozzy's records, in others Zakk Wylde's band but, also Bad Moon Rising's latest release. By the way, the thing here is that every single fan of this great musician must check this one out and the sure thing is that will rock your world!!
Heavy Paradise's Rating : 8,5 / 10

Track List : Deceived; Shout It Out; Feeder (featuring Robin Zander); Fall From The Sky (Seagull); Wasted (featuring Paul Di’Anno); Slave; Big Mouth (featuring Maria Brink); War Machine; Redeem Me (featuring Sass Jordan); Exquisite Tenderness.



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