When heavy metal and hard rock hit the big time in the United States, it gave the world a plethora of amazing guitarists who would inspire musicians for decades to come. We all know the likes of Slash, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Alex Skolnick, but another name who made his mark would be George Lynch. First of Dokken and then of his eponymous Lynch Mob (a name he's since retired), George Lynch blew fans away with his incredible playing and has continued to rock to this very day. As if to prove this all over again, Lynch has formed a new partnership with Paralandra vocalist Cassandra Carson, and it's proved to be a very fruitful pairing. Not to spoil the rest of the review, but they seem to have brought out the best in each other on their debut offering, "Garden Of Earthly Delights."

While George Lynch is undoubtedly the more famous name of the two, showing just what made him a guitar hero straight away in "Stranger," Cassandra Carson proves that she's every bit as talented when her powerful voice enters the fray. Though not the best song on the album, it's a strong one and demonstrates the underlying theme of the album; taking the hard rock and heavy metal of the 1980s and refreshing it for the modern era. This is proved all the more on the following track, "Impatient," another song that was selected for a single release before the album came out, where the guitars sound like they're glistening as they ring out throughout this sunset-kissed rocker.

Excitement is something else that runs through "Garden Of Earthly Delights," with one of the key examples being "Ring Me Around," a perfect encapsulation of how it feels to be head over heels in love while still being fully charged. It's rock and roll at its very finest and it's perhaps the first truly great guitar solo from Lynch up to that point on the record. Meanwhile, "Run For Your Life" seems to tap into an Iron Maiden influence, utilising galloping rhythms and a rallying cry for a chorus. Carson is on fire in this one and though I don't know how popular Skunk Anansie is in the US, she seems to be channeling her inner Skin here, practically spitting out lyrics with a fierce wail. Speaking of metal influences, closing number "Kneel Before You" has a touch of Black Sabbath to it, mostly thanks to a stomping beat and heavy blues edge.

The only problem with reviewing this album is that it may not be as metal as some people would be looking for. Obviously, not every review needs to focus on death or black metal, but I get the impression that this hard rock sound is something heard a little more Stateside than in the United Kingdom, so it might sound fresher to my ears. That being said, even if you're someone surrounded by hard rock, "Garden Of Earthly Delights" will still stand out, because it's fantastic. There is so much on offer, running the gamut of rock and roll from anthemic choruses to Western influences to wicked guitar solos.

If you're a longtime fan of Lynch, you'll be pointing to this album as an example that he's as good as he ever was, and if you're a newcomer to his work, the record will make you want to discover what you've been missing for so long. As amazing as Lynch sounds, Cassandra Carson is the star of the show here, and not just because her name's in the moniker. Her voice is absolutely incredible and she'll stun everyone lucky enough to hear "Garden Of Earthly Delights," especially on as yet unmentioned tracks like "Mind Eraser," which is one of the most metal tracks on offer, and "Waltzing Nites," another song with a lot going on. This may well be the debut album of the year and I sincerely hope this isn't one and done from Cassandra's Crossing.