Red Dragon Cartel - Red Dragon Cartel review
Long-awaited return of Jake E Lee
Red Dragon Cartel is the long- awaited return by guitarist Jake E Lee, Ozzy Osbourne's axe slinger of choice in the mid 80s (Ronnie Mancuso, DJ Smith, Jonas Fairley and guests complete the line-up).
Indeed, album opener, Deceived, harks back to Lee's most famous Ozzy-era song, Bark At The Moon. Tracks such as Fall From The Sky and Redeem Me have a more modern touch, akin to Velvet Revolver, while the riff-driven Whitesnake-esque War Machine takes us back to the 80s once again. If 30-year-old rock delivered with conviction floats your boat, this is a good listen.
3 out of 5
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
Chris was Editor of Total Guitar magazine from 2020 until its closure in 2024, when he became Lesson Editor for Guitar World, MusicRadar and Guitar Player. Prior to taking over as Editor, he helmed Total Guitar's world-class tab and tuition section for 12 years, helping thousands of guitarists learn how to play the instrument. A former guitar teacher, Chris trained at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford, UK, and held a degree in Philosophy & Popular Music. During his career, Chris interviewed guitar legends including Brian May and Jimmy Page, while championing new artists such as Yungblud and Nova Twins. Chris was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in April 2024 and died in May 2025.
