'Red Dragon Cartel' review: Jake E. Lee shines

Red Dragon Cartel's Jake E. Lee is one of the mysteries of rock. A guitar virtuoso from the '80s, with his group Badlands and as part of Ozzy Osbourne's backing band, Lee has been under the radar for the past decade or so.

But with "Red Dragon Cartel" (Frontiers), he returns with a memorable batch of songs that showcase his talent. Though his regular band is good, he shines brightest on "Feeder," which features Cheap Trick's Robin Zander on vocals, and "Big Mouth," where Maria Brink makes a bold, sneering guest appearance. Welcome back, Jake E., it's been too long.

RED DRAGON CARTEL

"Red Dragon Cartel"

GRADE B

BOTTOM LINE Building a new guitar hero showcase.