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LYNCH MOB
Babylon

Frontiers (2023)
Rating: 8/10

I’m not sure if it’s mere coincidence that Lynch Mob and Dokken have released albums at virtually the same time, but both are proof that Don Dokken and George Lynch can still, quite happily, live without each other.

Yes, Babylon is better than Dokken’s latest (Heaven Comes Down) although the vibe here reminds me more of George Lynch’s old project Souls Of We. And yep, Babylon is another way for Mr Lynch to flex his muscles as groove after groove slithers and struts like it is 1992 all over again. This time around though there is a new vocalist on board in the form of Gabriel Colón who does an adequate job, although the tone does start to grate due to its untamed sneering nature. Babylon harkens back to the more classic Lynch Mob sound which we all fell in love with decades ago. The riffs remain slick and infectious, the drums are a powerhouse and the bass drives like a dream.

Opener ‘Erase’ is bombastic and fluid as it swaggers into the arena. Whips of funkiness streak through this opus bringing with it occasional Van Halen droplets but it remains a bulbous record that struts, cavorts and, most importantly, rocks. If you want the harder edged slaps then leap on to the racy rodeo of ‘How You Fall’ or the speedy ‘The Synner’, but there are so many levels to this platter. Lush ballad ‘Million Miles Away’ slots nicely in amongst the grit of ‘Fire Master’ and the sleazy ‘I’m Ready’, while filtering through the cracks is a sublime grunge heaviness that taps into classic Alice In Chains.

George Lynch is still that masculine guitar god with fingers all over the fret board, as well as in many pies, but it’s the cocksure fluidity of his Lynch Mob baby that makes us writhe around to its cool contours.

Neil Arnold

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