Description
George Lynch – Kill All Control – Double Silver Splatter Vinyl Record
If you’ve followed George Lynch since his days with Dokken, Kill All Control can feel like reconnecting with an old friend who still has plenty to say. Released in 2011 under the George Lynch name rather than one of his many side projects, the album isn’t an exercise in nostalgia. Instead, it sounds like a veteran musician enjoying the freedom to make a hard rock record without chasing trends or trying to recreate the 1980s.
Of course, Lynch’s guitar work is the reason most listeners arrive, and he doesn’t disappoint. His playing remains instantly recognizable: muscular riffs, fluid legato runs, wide vibrato, unconventional phrasing, and solos that often seem to wander into unexpected harmonic territory before finding their way home. What has always separated Lynch from many of his peers is that he rarely sounds like he’s simply demonstrating technique. Even at his flashiest, his solos feel conversational, full of tension and release rather than endless streams of notes.
Rather than building every song around guitar heroics, Kill All Control emphasizes solid songwriting. The riffs are memorable, the choruses are substantial, and the arrangements leave enough space for the band to breathe. When Lynch finally steps forward for a solo, it feels earned instead of obligatory. That’s a surprisingly restrained choice for an album carrying the name of one of hard rock’s most celebrated guitarists.
A major reason the record works so well is vocalist Mark Torien of BulletBoys. Torien brings a gritty, soulful voice that fits Lynch’s blues-based approach perfectly. Rather than trying to imitate former Lynch collaborators, he injects his own personality into the songs, balancing melodic hooks with enough edge to stand up against the dense guitar work. The chemistry between guitarist and singer feels natural, making you wonder why they hadn’t collaborated more extensively before.
The album sits comfortably at the intersection of hard rock, blues rock, and classic heavy metal. There are flashes of the aggressive riffing that made Lynch famous, but they’re balanced by grooves that owe as much to 1970s blues-rock as they do to the shredding era. Even the heaviest songs retain a certain looseness, a reminder that Lynch has always valued feel as much as precision.
Lyrically, the material explores familiar rock themes—resilience, frustration, personal freedom, and determination—but the emphasis is clearly on mood rather than storytelling. These songs are designed to be played loud, where the emotional impact comes as much from the interplay between guitar and rhythm section as from the words themselves.
The production deserves credit for resisting the temptation to over-polish the performances. The guitars are thick and present without dominating every frequency, the drums have real punch, and the mix preserves enough dynamics to let the heavier passages hit with genuine force. It sounds like a band playing together instead of a collection of meticulously edited tracks assembled on a computer.
One of the pleasures of Kill All Control is hearing an established musician who seems liberated from expectations. Lynch isn’t trying to prove he’s still one of rock’s great guitarists—his body of work settled that question long ago. Instead, he focuses on making songs that showcase what he still enjoys most: heavy riffs, expressive solos, and the simple satisfaction of a band locked into a powerful groove.
Kill All Control may not be the album that introduces new listeners to George Lynch—that role is still better served by classic Dokken records or his early solo work—but for fans who appreciate seasoned musicians continuing to evolve without abandoning their strengths, it’s a rewarding listen. It captures an artist who has traded youthful flash for confidence, experience, and taste, proving that great guitar playing isn’t about playing more notes; it’s about making every note count.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Kill All Control
Done
Flys On The Wall
Brand New Day
Wicked Witch
Voices In My Head
Resurrect Your Soul
Rattlesnake
Sun
Man On Fire
My Own Enemy
Son Of Scary
Go It Alone
Someone You Loved
