RED DRAGON CARTEL – ST [Japan SHM-CD Tour Edition +2] Out Of Print *EXCLUSIVE*

Guitar legend Jake E. Lee, the man behind Badlands and one of Ozzy Osbourne’s finest albums, Bark At The Moon, returned after almost two decades out of the spotlight with his new band RED DRAGON CARTEL, and their self-titled debut released by Frontiers Music.
This Japanese Tour Edition, pressed on high quality SHM-CD format, includes the regular bonus track for Japan plus a new bonus for this version titled ‘American Dream’.

Clearly standing out from his countless contemporaries, Jake E. Lee first rose to international prominence as Ozzy Osbourne’s sideman during the raucous ’80s hard rock movement. Lee’s signature guitar work and songwriting contributions on such million-selling albums as Bark At The Moon and The Ultimate Sin helped further to cement Osbourne’s cred during that decade, while Lee, himself, soared into the stratosphere as rock’s latest guitar hero.

Following his tenure with Ozzy, Lee went on to create arguably his best and most compelling music in the late ’80s and early ’90s with the short-lived hard blues based outfit Badlands. In recent years, the reclusive icon has resurfaced only occasionally appearing on various tribute records and solo releases.
In 2014, the famed guitarist returned with this new project, Red Dragon Cartel.

Recorded at the Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, the self-titled debut from Red Dragon Cartel was produced by Lee and bassist Ronnie Mancuso (Beggars and Thieves), then mixed and mastered by Kevin Churko (Hinder, Ozzy). The band is completed with frontman Darren James Smith and drummer Jonas Fairley.

However, the recording session was also gifted with some guest talent including singers Paul Di’Anno (ex-Iron Maiden), Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, as well as females Sass Jordan and Maria Brink (In This Moment), and Five Finger Death Punch’s Jeremy Spencer adding vocals.
And how Red Dragon Cartel sounds?

In a few words: pretty darn terrific.
It’s generally straight up melodic heavy rock with a modern tone, driven by Lee’s wall of riffage and wicked good guitar solos. Additionally, underneath all this is some serious groove getting your toe tapping, while you’re banging your head.

Perhaps the only Ozzy-like track on the disc is opener and lead single “Deceived” (a highlight), which possesses a no-holds-barred Bark At The Moon melodic energy. Along with “Shout It Out”, these two hooky, guitar-driven groove monsters make for a powerful pair of openers.
But even if the album revolves around Jake E. Lee’s endless talent, it’s interesting to see how each of the guest artists are able to somehow slice off a bit of the Lee pie to showcase their wares. For instance, Zander on the track “Feeder” shines with an almost psychedelic feel and Maria Brink provides a Joan Jett-like moment that is a nice change up on “Big Mouth”.

Haunting and melodic, “Fall From The Sky” is another stand-out, as is the bona fide pedal-to-the (old school) metal nugget “Wasted” featuring first Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno.
Another power point, “War Machine”, lies stylistically somewhere between classic Black Sabbath and modern metal. Additionally, Sass Jordan’s guest vocal on “Redeem Me” helps it to stand out from the rest of the hard-hitting pack as a straight-up and gritty blues rocker – one that’s fabulously reminiscent of Badlands.

“Fall From the Sky” is fantastic ballad with superb instrumentation, centered on a strummed guitar pattern while vocalist Smith shines and gives his most passionate performance.
However, Lee’s most vicious and enticing riffs (possibly) ever are heard on “Slave”, which is another highlight here. You can hear a terrific palm muted fast picked riff that blends into an arpeggiated verse before slamming into a fist-pumping shout along chorus.

Red Dragon Cartel self-titled debut record is an impressive amalgam of Lee’s past output mixed with a modern spin. Blues inspired killer riff driven hard rock with melodic vocals is still the blueprint.
Jake’s musos are alive & kickin’. His playing makes this CD a must-own for any fan of ’80s guitar driven rock full of melody, but can also rip your face off with his dynamic speed and virtuosity.
In sum, Red Dragon Cartel is a mighty debut – a record that’s as strong as of any from Jake E. Lee’s awe-inspiring 30-year career.
HIGHLY Recommended

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Victor Entertainment ～ MICP-30061
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01 – Deceived
02 – Shout It Out
03 – Feeder (feat. Robin Zander)
04 – Fall From The Sky – Seagull
05 – Wasted (feat. Paul DiAnno)
06 – Slave
07 – Big Mouth (feat. Maria Brink)
08 – War Machine
09 – Redeem Me (feat. Sass Jordan)
10 – Exquisite Tenderness
11 – Feeder (Acoustic Version) [Japanese bonus track]
12 – American Dream [Exclusive SHM-CD bonus track]

Jake E. Lee – Guitars
Ronnie Mancuso – Bass
D.J Smith – Vocals
Jonas Fairley – Drums

Out Of Print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MICP-30061