Guitar Blogs | News and Reviews

One of the challenges of maintaining a long, successful career in the world of rock is keeping things fresh. No, that doesnʼt mean showering daily (though we recommend that anyway). It also doesnʼt mean sacrificing your style for the flavor of the moment; we canʼt think of anything more sad than a metal band suddenly switching over to hip-hop in a weak attempt to sell a few more records.

But keeping it fresh is crucial for one reason: it allows you to remain into your own music, thereby giving you the ability to make exciting new tunes, year after year, that everyone can enjoy. Few people know what it takes to remain as a top-tier respected player than George Lynch. We donʼt need to give you much background on George; his track record as the musical force behind Dokken, Lynch Mob, and his other solo works speaks for itself. A huge influence on several generations of players, George continues to remain near the top of many guitaristsʼ Top Ten lists.

So when George gets involved in a new band, itʼs time to take notice. His new band, Souls of We, combined the talents of George along with singer London Legrand (Brides Of Destruction). In a funny story that illustrates the tight-knit nature of the Los Angeles hard rock scene, London recalls how he and George hooked up. “Back when George was putting together Lynch Mob, I read in a magazine that he was looking for a singer,” he explains. “I made a home-made audition tape on my jam box and sent it to his manager, but I never got a call back. Anyway, years later I’m standing on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood and I see George. I decided I didn’t have anything to lose, so I walked up to him and said, ʻHow come you never got back to me on that tape?ʼ He looked confused at first and then started laughing.”

Legrand and Lynch hit it off immediately, and George showed him a new batch of songs heʼd been working on. The chemistry between the guitarist and singer was instant and undeniable. “London is a unique visionary and poet,” states Lynch. “His words are powerful and descriptive. I feel like I have finally found my musical soulmate.”

But a singer and guitarist does not a band make. Needing a rhythm section, the two recruited powerhouse drummer Yael (Tom Morello, Alex Skolnick) and bassist Johny Chow (Systematic, Fireball Ministry). “Souls Of We is a dream band where I got to pick and chose players not because one is more famous than the other, but because I really respect and want to play with these people,” states Lynch.

“We auditioned many technically great drummers, but something was missing,” says Lynch. “When Yael walked in, she brought the swagger and sleaze we were looking for as well as technical ability.” Having played all styles of music, from performing with full orchestras to playing with rock bands, Yael is well versed in music and her musical depth is unmatched in the drumming world.

Chow and Lynch were introduced by a mutual friend. “A friend of mine kept telling me that George and I would hit it off and that I would be perfect for his new project,” says Chow. “Yael was already in the picture, and I had already played in three other bands with her, so I knew the chemistry was there. After hearing the music, I knew this could be something great.”

Thatʼs all fine and good, but more importantly, whatʼs this band sound like? As youʼd expect from the people involved, Souls of Weʼs debut “Apache Ghost” is a powerful, inyour-face excursion into hard rock, with a sound thatʼs both classic as anything George has ever lent his name to, along with sounding current and modern as anything youʼll hear on your modern rock radio station. If youʼre looking for some jaw-dropping Lynch guitar performances, you wonʼt be disappointed; songs like “Push It", “Come and Go” and others will have you hitting the rewind button many times, trying to figure out what the master of metal is doing once again.

The best albums are made with a little help from your friends, and this is true of “Apache Ghost”. While the album was self-produced by the band, they brought in Mudrock (Avenged Sevenfold, Godsmack) to mix. Also, guest performances by drummer Morgan Rose (Sevendust) and ESP family member/bassist Fred Leclercq (Dragonforce) helped round out the tracks. In any case, thereʼs both danger and beauty to be found here, with the sound of Georgeʼs custom ESP guitars shining through on every track.

For more information, song samples, and more, you can visit www.soulsofwe.com, or www.myspace.com/soulsofwe. “Apache Ghost” can be purchased directly from the band, and we offer our highest recommendation that you get it… today!