Pelata This album has had all the anticipatory promo one would expect from a classic band. Yes, Dokken is a classic band. The band’s first 4 albums are legend amongst fans of ‘80s Metal. Call them a “Hair Band” all you want, but Dokken had something few of its peers at the time did…musicality. To lump Dokken in the same camp as Motley Crue or Twisted Sister is a crime because, although pop history will tell it different, this band was much more. No visual gimmicks, no shallow party anthems, just pure Melodic Metal from start to finish.

Fast forward to 2008, and Dokken (reduced to 2 original members) is releasing Lightning Strikes Again. Not only is the title a throwback to the song of the same name from the band’s 1985 album Under Lock And Key, it is meant to put people in that frame of mind. You know, the whole “Dokken is back!” propaganda thing. Having released many solid albums since reforming in 1995, this is the first album that has truly captured some of the spirit and sound of those original four albums. Don sounds solid, but it’s apparent early on that the wailing voice of the early days is showing its age. But, hey, you try singing in a touring Rock band for 25+ years and see if you don’t develop a few cracks in the old armor. The man still retains his signature style in 2008, albeit a bit more reined in.

“Standing On The Outside” comes out of the gate as a classic sounding Dokken tune, complete with a riff similar to “It’s Not Love” or “Mirror, Mirror” and guitarist John Levin’s own personal tribute to (or blatant attempt to copy) George Lynch. This is not a slight against Levin, who is truly a monster player. When I say “copy”, I say it in the sense that this style was 100% intentional. It’s supposed to sound like old Dokken, and it does. Others with leanings toward that classic style would be “Oasis”, “Give Me A Reason”, “Heart To Stone” and “Point Of No Return”. There are hints of what this incarnation of the band can do when left to its own devices as well. “Disease” is a very strong track with a more modern take on Melodic Hard Rock…the same with “It Means”. The rest of the record is much like the last few Dokken records…solid, melodic rock songs played by a strong band. So, while Lynch’s ghost haunts some of this record, the band still stands well on its own.

Fans who have been demanding an album that sounds like the early days will be fairly satisfied here. It’s not a 100% re-telling of the glory years, nor should it be. It’s a balanced rendition of the band drawing from all of its history (well, except for the dismal Shadowlife…thankfully, they ignored that one). Dokken fans, and Melodic Rock fans in general, should be pleased.

Stephen "Under Lock And Key" puts Dokken at their top of their game. This third release displayed a more mature approach, a brilliant bridging composition between classic heavy metal, 80s hard rock, and some commercial feel, and a superior skill of the members. This is clearly the album that made me worship the band, aside from many strong tracks spread all over the record, I'm always in awe with Don's mighty voice layered with Lynch's monstrous shred. Both of them, actually all of them, sounded extremely ambitious to deliver the best they got, and they succeed.

From the opening, "Unchain The Night", this is pure heavy metal and watch Don's thunderous pipe convincingly crawling from the big verse to the catchy chorus. "Lightnin' Strikes Again" and "Til The Livin' End" are also bringing out the pounding drums, sky-cracking guitars, and some hellish solos, which are simply stunning. Three radio hits inside are also worth listening, "The Hunter" is okay, "In My Dreams" has some nice chorus and deadly solos, but "It's Not Love" that really caught my attention. The punchy rhythm and tense chorus are magnificent, no wonder Lynch declared that this is one of his most fave track. "Slippin' Away" is a sweet and tender ballad, an underrated piece that's shadowed by their previous hit, "Alone Again", which I think is inferior compared to this one.

If you haven't heard them before and would like to try the band, this album is a perfect pick for starter. They got everything huge inside and after giving another spin for the hundredth time, this album is as fresh and great as ever and sits nicely in my top 10 albums of all time.

ydewata DOKKEN’s Long Way Home was released in 2002. This studio record features debut from bassist Barry Sparks who replaced the mighty 4-stringer Jeff Pilson, also featured the only studio performance from guitarist John Norum (now returned to EUROPE).

The album kicks off with a dark and down-tuned “Sunless Days”, marking a great performance from John Norum. This one is surely would be your instant favorite. “We live in sunless days/no horizon through the storm..”. A perfect album opener! They successfully brought the modern-rock sound in the song. I was beginning to be happy to be able to listen to the band in a “heavy metal” mode.

However, it strucked me to the floor when the second track came ini, “Little Girl”. They were to early to put a mid-tempo track and somewhat-grungy like this. You may want to skip this as well. This one is very much reminding you of the Shadowlife album. I am beginning to really think if this album is worth listening when I am listening to the following tracks such as the cheesy-poppy “Everybody Needs (To Be With Someone)” or the grunge-wannabe “You”. Even the ballad “Goodbye My Friend” doesn’t really help me to resurfacing my mood.

Fortunately, there are a couple more rocking tracks delivered through “Magic Road”, “Heart Full of Soul”, and “Under The Gun”. Especially in “Heart Full of Souls”, this 2-minutes plus song is a funky interesting track. Not my favorite but it surely kills. If you were disappointed with the previous ballad I mentioned, you might be as well pleased with “There Was A Time” and “I’ve Found”.

Overall, I am slightly less-satisfied with this record. John Norum hasn’t got the feeling and hasn’t been able to put his signature in DOKKEN’s musical structure. I would only suggest this record to a completist, not to a real hard rocker who wants a kickin’ ass hard rocking record. There are several memorable tracks, but more are less memorable.

Stephen The release of "Back For The Attack" was preceded by the single "Dream Warriors" which was written for the movie "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3". Dokken remixed the single and put it together with the rest twelve tracks and launched the album in the late November, 1987. This is the last studio album they made before breaking up and Don went on to release his solo album, George formed Lynch Mob, and Jeff eventually played with MSG.

Most of the materials here is softer than their previous albums with the exception of "Kiss of Death" and "Mr.Scary", two songs that's insanely heavy and carried an ultimate Lynch shred. "Heaven Sent", with a gloomy intro and good bridge but lack of powerful chorus, is one of their single that's actually is inferior compared to the other midtempo goodies such as "Night By Night", "So Many Tears", or "Stop Fighting Love". The other soundtrack single, "Dream Warriors", however is utterly beautiful, comprised of haunting intro, exploding rhythm, emotional vocal and superb chorus. Out of 60-minutes of songs they exhibited here, several numbers failed to match the strength of the standouts such as "Lost Behind The Wall", "Burning Like A Flame", or "Sleepless Night".

As it holds the record for being a Dokken's highest charting release, "Back For The Attack" is accessible and could be a good entrance point for new listeners as well as an admirable record for long-time fans with Don's prime vocal condition and George's unmerciful solos as the album's highlight. Though I don't consider this their masterpiece and my all time favorite, this is an essential album among Dokken's catalog.

NJCat_11 This album turns on the action and never stops! It will rip you to shreds.

I cannot say enough about the great George Lynch. From the very first track of this album, Lynch lights it up with his genius guitar playing, and along side Don Dokken's powerful vocals, he has concocted a recipe for greatness. In fact, this album is the standard for which all sequential Dokken albums are to be judged, and they have set the bar very high. Content-wise, this album is very similar to their debut, with the exception that the production values of the music have greatly improved.

My favorite tracks here are the title track, "Just Got Lucky", and "When Heaven Comes Down." Every song is great though.