Welcome to the LOUDEST DOT COM ON THE PLANET!
KNAC.COM News Reviews and More Watch The Latest Videos Buy KNAC T-shirts and More


RED DRAGON CARTEL Red Dragon Cartel

By Damian J. Cousins aka "The Maestro", Dallas Contributor
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 @ 3:55 PM


- advertisement -

- advertisement -
RED DRAGON CARTEL
Red Dragon Cartel

Frontiers Records





It was during one of my final viewings of VH-1 Classic’s That Metal Show where I learned that legendary guitarist Jake E. Lee was coming out of retirement, if you will, to grace us with new music in the form of RED DRAGON CARTEL. I was understandably excited. Although I wasn’t a big BADLANDS guy, I loved his playing with OZZY and The Ultimate Sin is still a personal favorite. So naturally I was curious as to what he had in store for us, and when I heard first single “Feeder” featuring CHEAP TRICK’s Robin Zander my excitement only grew. Not only is it one of the self-titled record’s best cuts, but it has a little bit of an 80’s feel to it, from the guitar work to the overall aesthetic.

The man who sings the bulk of the songs is UK-born vocalist D.J. Smith whose voice you will either be into or you will not. There’s really no in between. I happen to like it, but there were one or two of his tracks that had to grow on me, I can’t lie. On opener “Deceived” both he and Lee come out swinging and it is one hell of a way to kick things off. “Shout It Out” is a rather serpentine affair, featuring that trademark Kevin Churko-produced drum sound we’ve come to expect, and is very groove-laden. Another album highlight is “Slave” with Lee off to the riff races and the band following suit. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when they slow things down, the results are nothing short of beautiful on “Fall From the Sky”.

Of course with all that said, there a few missteps. One of these is “War Machine” that quite frankly sounds like a recycled BLACK SABBATH song. Another is “Wasted”, featuring Paul Di’Anno. You know who he is, don’t play dumb, OK? His voice is and always was god-awful, horrific, terrible, insert your word here, just brutal. I may be scarred for life after that one. And here’s the thing: The music? Fucking great!! But that voice, oy! I NEVER liked it on those early IRON MAIDEN records and I sure as hell don’t like it now. THIS is the kind of singing they should play outside of any building with suspected criminal activity. The perps will come out crying, hands in the air, I guarantee it. Thankfully the guest vocalist situation takes a turn for the much better with “Big Mouth” and “Redeem Me”, starring Maria Brink from IN THIS MOMENT and Sass Jordan (S.U.N.), respectively.

One thing that really struck me from the very first listen was the closing track “Exquisite Tenderness”. It’s a simple, elegant piano piece that is in stark contrast to the bombastic nature of the other songs, and is a very nice way to end things. Overall I was highly impressed with all but two of the songs on RED DRAGON CARTEL’s debut, and I am very curious to see how these tunes will sound in a live setting when the band comes to Dallas on March 16.

STANDOUT TRACKS: “Feeder”, “Deceived”, “Shout It Out”, “Fall From the Sky”, “Redeem Me”

4.0 Out Of 5.0


Back to Top

 

 

 Recent Reviews
RHAPSODY OF FIRE Challenge The Wind
THE AMITY AFFLICTION, CURRENTS, DYING WISH, MUGSHOT In Boston, MA With Photos!
BLUE OYSTER CULT Ghost Stories
BLACK VEIL BRIDES In Houston, TX With Photos!
GATECREEPER Dark Superstition
AMON AMARTH, CANNIBAL CORPSE, OBITUARY, FROZEN SOUL In Portland, OR With Photos!
ULI JON ROTH In Ottawa, Canada
RAVEN, VICIOUS RUMORS, LUTHARO In Ottawa, Canada
BLIND GUARDIAN, NIGHT DEMON In Worcester, MA With Photos!
FIREWIND, EDGE OF PARADISE, IMMORTAL GUARDIAN In Houston, TX With Photos!
KERRY KING From Hell I Rise
DARKTHRONE It Beckons Us All
KAMELOT, HAMMERFALL, AD INFINITUM In Fort Worth, TX With Photos!
ASKING ALEXANDRIA, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, THE WORD ALIVE, NERV In Salt Lake City, UT
ARTILLERY, VAPOR, POTENTIAL THREAT, INFRARED In Ottawa, Canada
BABYLON A.D. Rome Wasn't Built In A Day
ILLUSORY The Ivory Tower Reissue
GHOSTKID Hollywood Suicide
DAATH The Deceivers
ACCEPT Humanoid
BRUCE DICKINSON In Santa Ana, CA With Photos!
GREAT WHITE, SLAUGHTER, QUIET RIOT In Houston, TX With Photos!
STATIC-X, SEVENDUST, LINES OF LOYALTY In Salt Lake City, UT With Photos!
JUDAS PRIEST, SABATON In Youngstown, OH With Photos!
ROCK & BREWS Ridgefield, WA Grand Opening With Photos!
WIND ROSE, XANDRIA, LYCANTHRO In Ottawa, Canada
THE ROCK ORCHESTRA By Candlelight In Myrtle Beach, SC With Photos!
DEICIDE Banished By Sin
2024 MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE Recap With Photos!
LITA FORD In West Hollywood, CA With Photos!
BREAKING BENJAMIN, DAUGHTRY, CATCH YOUR BREATH In Idaho Falls, ID With Photos!
TYGERS OF PAN TANG Live Blood
FILTH Southern Hostility
NECROT Lifeless Birth



HOME | MAGAZINE | VIDS | STORE | HELP/POLICIES

©2024 KNAC.COM. All Rights Reserved.    Link to us    Advertise with us    Privacy policy
 Latest News