There’s no sitting idle doing nothing in the world of Michael Sweet. If it’s not Stryper, it’s solo albums or Sweet & Lynch or Sunbomb or Iconic. And more often than not the result is awesome. And then there’s touring. Never a dull moment. George Lynch (ex-Dokken) is no couch potato either. He has a solo career too. Lynch Mob of course. KXM. The End Machine. Gotta get busy, right? When the couple decided to collaborate it resulted in a record called Only To Rise back in 2015, a brilliant effort and quite a big success. That made for a follow-up of course and in 2017 they gave us Unified, an album that got some mixed reviews. Personally, I loved it. The guys didn’t care though and decided a third record was needed – much to my delight – and since I loved S&L’s both records, I had some high hopes for this one as well.
The album opens hard, heavy and fast with the powerhouse title-track and it only take seconds to realize who’s playing. The riff just screams George Lynch where he flirts with the faster parts of his Dokken days and drummer Jelly Cardelli comes on like a tornado going for the hard punch. It’s an in-your-face, metal-fueled hard-rocker with a main melody reminiscent of modern day Stryper. A kick-ass rocker that would be a perfect show-opener. Please play live. On a beefy, punchy and busy rhythm, “Where I Have To Go” brings on both the heaviness and distinct melodies. Gritty guitars with a bluesy edge creates the chunky riffs, ballsy rhythms makes for a hard hit and memorable melodies that culminates in a sharp-hooked refrain takes the song for the win. Splendid.
Second single “Miracle”is an upbeat and direct Hard Rock stomper that contains some classic Lynch riffing and picking that as a whole comes across as a mixture of classic Lynch Mob and Michael Sweet’s solo stuff. It’s a groovy little thing with smoother vocal-lines that brings the song into Melodic Rock territory where the big chorus screams early 90’s Arena Rock, catchy as damn. Great stuff. Latest single “Leave It All behind” is a mid paced rocker that’s carried on a groovy and lively stomp and Lynch’s very tasteful and personal guitar sound. The verses brings the tempo down some but it rises higher with the big chorus comes around with an instant catchiness. Very good.
The album’s leading single “You’ll Never Be Alone” is a slower rocker with an early 90’s Hard Rock vibe that takes a good look at the debut Lynch Mob Album Wicked Sensation (1990) but with 80’s Stryper-like melodies on top. That it holds classic Lynch riffage goes without saying but it also brings on a rhythmic stomp and darker parts. The chorus however is uplifting and grabs a hold right from hello. Great. “After All Is Said And Done” opens slow and low-key with a bluesy and even western-like acoustic guitar intro before some dark bass-lines bring along some edgier guitars and a robust rhythm-section. It’s a pretty heavy tune on a semi-ballad note that holds a juicy and crispy main-melody and a contagious chorus that really does its job. Terrific.
80’s Arena Rock meets Metal and classic Hard Rock in the driving and upbeat “Give Up The Night”. The verses takes on a more mid-tempo pace while bringing on some darker vibe but the song takes on a faster tempo when the pre-chorus comes and the actual chorus brings on some powerful rhythm structures and edgier riffage and some a mazing vocals from Sweet. I’s a distinct and intense chorus with striking melody-line that grabs a hold. Good one. “Will It Ever Change” opens slow and sparse with a moody atmosphere and even if the song keeps the slow pace it gets heavier and grittier with a dark gloom. It holds a intense, raw and edgy guitar over a beefy beat and a groovy bass-line with a brooding vocal melody and a concise and rowdy chorus. Good one.
Fast, raucous and Heavy Metal smelling, the high-octane “It’s Time To Believe” blasts out loud and fierce with some muscular, smattering drums and firey riffage on a galloping rhythm. It’s dark, heavy and flirts with industrial, very in-your-face and ballsy with powerhouse vocals, attitude and a balls-to-the-wall chorus. Good stuff. Keeping up the fast tempo, “Every Day” is hard, rough and aggressive, very direct and straight forward with a sound of early 90’s Hard Rock. It kicks up dust along the way and goes right for the throat and both Lynch’s guitars and Sweet’s vocals sound if they’re here to hurt you. It’s a decent track but it falls a bit on the way-side and it just doesn’t stick with me.
Also on a heavier note, the tuned-down and gloomy “It Rains Again” brings on a darker character with a powerhouse drum pattern and it opens with a cavernous, distorted bass. It’s a poundy number that blends a mid 90’s melodic Hard Rock style with a 70’s touch and some big melodies. It’s another decent track but it doesn’t really strike a chord with me. The album closes with the slow and mellow “World Full Of Lies”, a ballad that’s built on 70’s Classic Rock but also holds some 60’s touches. The song holds a bluesy style with some crisp guitars and smoother, affable vocal-melodies. It’s a tender piece albeit not mawkish – it’s just emotional. Memorable melody-hooks everywhere and a strong chorus on top. Very good indeed.
Where the two previous albums didn’t contain any fillers, this one has two. That said, they’re not skipper because of that. Once again the couple has created a strong album and the Dokken-Stryper meet-ups works extremely well, so well that it gives Sweet & Lynch a sound of their own. What we’re given here is melodic Hard Rock with slight inserts of both Metal and Blues with lots of hooks and memorable melodies. It’s heavy and edgy but also smooth and polished over substantial rhythms and beefy production. A damn good record and I hope George and Michael will treat us with more where this came from. Also, I’d love to see this project live. It’s not likely but a man can dream, right?
8/10
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Tracklist:
1. Heart & Sacrifice
2. Where I Have To Go
3. Miracle
4. Leave It All Behind
5. You’ll Never Be Alone
6. After All Is Said And Done
7. Give Up The Night
8. Will It Ever Change
9. It’s Time To Believe
10. Every Day
11. It Rains Again
12. World Full Of Lies
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