Review LYNCH MOB “Dancing With the Devil”

When you listen to the first song on “Dancing with the Devil,” there’s no doubt you’re listening to George Lynch. His signature guitar sound is unique, and the new Lynch Mob album is fueled by Lynch’s roaring guitar.

“Dancing with the Devil” is an important album for Lynch and Lynch Mob. Not only is it the band’s ninth release, but it is also their final chapter. Together with his bandmates — vocalist Gabriel Colón, bassist Jaron Gulino, and drummer Jimmy D’Anda, who also worked with Lynch on “Babylon” — the guitar virtuoso recorded ten new songs that echo the typical Lynch Mob sound.

Lynch founded the band after parting ways with Dokken, and “Wicked Sensation” marked the beginning of an exciting musical journey. Despite various lineup changes, Lynch Mob has consistently produced excellent albums, blending hard rock and blues. Combined with a great groove and a modern twist, the final chapter of Lynch Mob delivers music that hits you immediately, while the embedded details provide lasting thrills during repeated listens.

There is no doubt that the guitar is in the lead. Lynch Mob is the guitarist’s brainchild, and the guitar is an essential element on “Dancing with the Devil.” There are no compromises though on good melodies or well-integrated hooks.

There is the throbbing “Pictures of the Dead,” one of the fierce rockers on the album, and “Sea of Stones,” which is calmer and gloomier. Elements of doom give this song a Sabbathian vibe, making it a slow, sinister piece that gives you the shivers.

The acoustic instrumental “Golden Mirror” shows another aspect of Lynch Mob’s wide-ranging musical style, which is rooted in rock and blues. “Saints and Sinners” is another powerful song on the album featuring a blistering guitar solo, and Gabriel Colón’s voice fits perfectly with Lynch Mob’s hard rock sound.

The pounding “Lift Up Your Soul” is another vibrant moment on the album, which unveils its bluesy roots with “Love in Denial.” The album ends with the darker, atmospheric “The Stranger,” which alternates between a calm verse and a powerful chorus.

“Dancing with the Devil” is the final chapter of the Lynch Mob story, providing a fitting conclusion to what began in 1989. Despite the band’s on-again, off-again setup involving breakups and reunions, it was the musical vision of the bandleader that acted as the connective factor, serving as the band’s musical compass. Fans of well-crafted hard rock with a bluesy flair shouldn’t miss “Dancing with the Devil.”