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Erase The Slate - Claudia Ehrhardt - Long Way Home - Claudia Ehrhardt - Hell To Pay - Claudia Ehrhardt - Lightning Strikes Again - Claudia Ehrhardt - Broken Bones - Claudia Ehrhardt -
Broken Bones
(Frontiers Records - 2012)
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Don Dokken is presenting the 11th Dokken studio album, it's called Broken Bones. And it kicks off with Empire, track based on heavy riffs. But it also offers some nice lead guitar parts by Jon Levin, a catchy chorus and is topped by Don Dokken's unique voice. But these days Dokken is softer, more gentle on many tunes - like the title track Broken Bones. But Don Dokken released his first Dokken album in 1983, so after 3 decades he gets a bit softer, but still shows some edge or reminiscences to his own past with songs like Victim Of Crime. |
Lightning Strikes Again
(Frontiers - 2008)
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Well, Dokken has promised us than this will be the album to return to the old sound of the band. Just like in the last three albums, but let me tell you that this is the closest they have got to the old sound. Still, the last albums are really good, but unfortunately, people have not understood them. And that Dokken and we are a little bit older than at times of Tooth And Nail. Standing In The Outside is the opener for the last effort and it sounds a lot like It's Not Love, especially the guitars. Give Me A Reason is a slower song, but as I said before, Dokken sounds really good in their actual phase. Heart To Stone takes back the blues rock sound and Disease again slow it down to the latest sound of the band - and so it goes. Some songs remind me of the old Dokken and some are in the modern line of it. How I Miss Your Smile is the ballad of the album - the name said it all! Next came Oasis with a very great work by John Levin on the guitar. Point Of No Return - not related with the one from Kansas - is the heaviest song with a wonderful guitar solo. Just as the next one... The sad song I Remember with the acoustic guitar and again Mister Levin demonstrates why he has been the axeman of Dokken so many years. The blues returns in Judgment Day as in It Means and then the band put the brake again on Release Me to finish this album with a more rockin' power in This Fire. The question here is, if they were to return to the old sound... Where's the fast powerful track at the beginning and at the end? |
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The latest release from Don Dokken is called Hell To Pay. It starts with The Last Goodbye which is a mid-tempo tune with some oriental influences and at the same time it has a modern touch. A song which has the charm of the 80's stuff, but sounds modern, too. This time Mr. Dokken and his companions could built a bridge between their most successful songs from the 80's and nowadays sounds. With track no. 2 - Don't Bring Me Down - the quartet speeds up a little. Here guitarist Jon Levin has a chance to show his talent - screaming guitar riffs and a short solo part. The chorus will soon hook you up. A contrast builds the smooth voice of Don Dokken to the hard-edged guitar play of Jon Levin, Barry Sparks pounding bass and the fast drumming of Mick Brown. But there are slower tunes like the atmospheric Escape or Care For You which is more in the vein of singer / songwriter then of a heavy rock band. Btw, there is an unplugged version of this one as well. |
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What I can say after the first spin, this album can't keep the standard Mr. Dokken set years ago, but perhaps it just needs time to develop... I hope... For example Everybody Needs is a nice track, but I miss something, even if they use new sounds and other elements. Or is that my problem? That I'm too much into the old Dokken? The song You is more rock and closer to what is for me the Dokken sound. A highlight for me is the beautiful ballad Goodbye My Friend which is a very emotional tune which shows the mellow side. For the more rocking tunes, a highlight is Magic Road. An interesting one is There Was A Time, something mid-tempo for Dokken. At least I have to say that the album gets better and the best songs are in the second part of the CD. At the end Mr. Dokken got faster, have more screaming guitars, but still a lot of melody! That's what we all want to hear! A weak start, but gets better and after a few spins it might be able to compete with their classics a little better... |
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The debut Breaking The Chains of Dokken was released in 1983 and until the end of the 80's they released albums frequently. In 1995 they returned with One Live Night Unplugged (recorded December 13th 1994 in Redondo Beach, California, USA) and Dysfunctional. The studio release Dysfunctional and the 1997 release Shadowlife weren't what the fans expected, more experimental and the Shadowlife had grunge elements. Now in 1999 they come back with Erase The Slate which is more in the tradition on Don Dokken's past which the opening track Erase The Slate shows. The track was voted by the fans online as album title. On the guitar they have a new one, but not a nobody! Reb Beach plays the old tunes passionate and add some interesting elements to the new material. On Little Brown Pill bassist Jeff Pilson present his first bass solo! And I guess nobody expected that drummer Mick Brown will take over the lead vocals on Crazy Mary Goes Round! And he did a good job! I should also mention the Three Dog Night classic One which the four-piece covered which I really like. With Shattered they have a mid-tempo track were only the vocals could be a little more emotional.... And Who Believes is the ballad which every album should have. Or can you imagine a melodic metal or hard rock album without? |
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