Disco de Dokken: “Back for the Attack”

I am a long time, huge Dokken fan, and have purchased everything either Don or George has thrown out there. For me, this Dokken release was the pinnacle album released by the Don/George/Jeff/Mick combination. The songs are strong, regardless of what other reviewers say, and they withstand the test of time by any rock standard. George Lynch's sound is nasty and dirty on this release; he is all over the fretboard during rhythm, riff and solo work. I have never been a big fan of his polished shredding work...seems like every accomplished player can do that. Here it sounds as though he is wringing every possible note out of his axe that is appropriate for each song. The songs do not need to be reviewed individually as in its entirely, the album is a maximum effort in quantity and quality. Lynch's instrumental "Mr. Scary" probably warrants the purchase of this album all by itself........

If you're into hard rock/metal, this album is for you. Note, for those of you who like the screaming of Metalica, Megadeth, Korn etc., this album is is more hair-spray melody singing than screaming. Nonetheless, it's good and hard and melodic when needed.

George Lynch, just happens to be my favorite guitarists of the 80's (maybe ever). His style is very unique and he can be spotted froma mile away. I like that he plays with melody at times (not just all speed and shredding; which he's good at too).

His sound on this album, in my opinion, has yet to be duplicated - ever. Perhaps, one of the best rythym-guitar distortion sounds of all time. I recall reading notes on this record from Guitar Magazine back in the late 80's, and George was using mainly old equipment (Marshall stack and head from the 60's, and 70's - at least somewhere around here). George, for some reason, got away from this sound, and on following albums with Lynch Mob etc., he used more effects than ever, and it muddled up things a bit.

The sound on Back for the Attack is one of a kind. When you hear it, you'll say the same thing I do each time I hear it. Ok, Don Dokken has one of the great underrated voices of the metal era, and he's at full bore on this album. Lots of great vocals here. Heaven Scent is a really cool bluesy tunes, with a heavy chorus.. Just plain nasty awesome. The first song on this album is an adrenaline rush for me.. So, edgy, ballsy, and raw. This is a metal top ten album of the 80's.

Enjoy!

THE BAND: Don Dokken (vocals), George Lynch (guitars), Jeff Pilson (bass), Mick Brown (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1987) 13 tracks clocking in at approximately 63 minutes. Included with the disc is a 3-page blue foldout containing song titles/credits, individual band member photos, and thank you's. Recorded at Total Access Studios (Redondo Beach, CA), One On One Studios and Music Grinder Studios (both in Hollywood, CA). Label - Elektra Records.

COMMENTS: My all-time favorite Dokken album is "Under Lock & Key" (1985), but this "Back For The Attack" is a close 2nd. For me, this was the album that never ended (my favorite bands from the 70's and 80's were notorious for putting out 30+ minute albums - Van Halen, Aerosmith and Kiss to name three). This was Dokken's lengthy masterpiece... 13 songs of blissful soul, melody and attitude. Several songs are worthy of mention - "Dream Warriors" (featured in "A Nightmare On Elm Street - 3"), "Burning Like A Flame", the slow and hulking "Heaven Sent", and George Lynch's trademark instrumental - the guitar assault of "Mr. Scary". All four of these songs made it to their "Very Best Of Dokken" (1999) disc. Honorable mentions include "Prisoner", "So Many Tears", and one of my all-time favorite songs in their entire catalog "Standing In The Shadows". Dokken's 2-disc "Definitive Rock Collection" (2006) features all 7 of the songs mentioned here (6 studio and 1 live version). "Back For The Attack" has absolutely no filler, and not one song that truly qualifies as a power ballad. I don't know how else to say it - I love this album. *Footnote - the single "Dream Warriors" was released and the B-side was a left over track from the "Under Lock & Key" studio sessions called "Back For The Attack"... but surprisingly this song is not featured on the album bearing the same name. As good as this album is/was, I still find it bitter sweet. "Back For The Attack" would be the last Dokken album of the 80's, and the start of band members coming and going (specifically Lynch and Pilson). It would also be 8 long years before their next studio release, "Dysfunctional" (1995). "Back For The Attack" is truly one of the better albums of the 80's genre - the combination of Dokken's soothing vocals with Lynch's blistering guitar was for the most part unmatched (5 stars).

THIS RECORD FROM THE GUYS FROM L.A. IS OBVIOUSLY THEIR FINEST HOUR...WELL ITS OVER AN HOUR. FROM THE VERY FIRST TRACK "KISS OF DEATH" WHICH IS USUALLY THE SONG THEY STARTED A LOT OF THEIR SHOWS OFF WITH TO THE LAST..13TH TRACK, "DREAM WARRIORS" HOW IRONIC 13 WITH THAT SONG COMING OFF A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART 3 "DREAM WARRIORS" MOVIE..TEEHEE...O.K IF THEIR EVER WAS AN ALBUM THAT YOU GOT YOUR MONEYS WORTH..QUALITY AND QUANTITY THIS IS 1 OF EM. O.K. SINCE I AM A BIG DOKKEN FAN AND A MUSICIAN MY FAVORATE SONG IS.."PRISONER"...FOLLOWED BY "KISS OF DEATH" AND "NIGHT BY NIGHT" FOLLOWED BY "CRY OF THE GYPSY" AND THEN "SO MANY TEARS" I MIGHT ADD THAT ALL THESE SONGS THAT IVE LISTED ARE VERY STRONG SO MANY TEARS" IS MY 5TH FAVORATE AND ITS STRONGER THAN POISONS MOST KICK ASS TUNE FROM THEIR OPEN UP AND SAY AHH WHICH WAS A GOOD RECORD. BUT THEIR BEST RECORD IS THEIR LIVE RECORD "BEAST FROM THE EAST" IT TRULY CAPTURES THE CHEMISTRY AND ENERGY THESE GUYS CAN UNLEASH FROM THEIR FINGERTIPS AND DONS VOCAL CHORDS...BUT "BACK FOR THE ATTACK" ...WELL LETS JUST SAY IM STILL REELING FROM THIS ATTACK.

This is still the Best DOKKEN CD ! I have the bands other albums, but BACK FOR THE ATTACK has it all that I love about this band . Top Notch Melodic Hard Rock , Great Songs , Great Vocals, Great Guitar Work by George Lynch !!! My Favorite Songs on the CD are : KISS OF DEATH -- NIGHT BY NIGHT -- PRISONER -- SO MANY TEARS -- LOST BEHIND THE WALL and others ! A must own CD & if you like this DOKKEN CD, I suggest you seek out cds by these Bands here on AMAZON !! --- TNT -- EUROPE -- RATT -- KILLER DWARFS -- KEEL -- ICON -- BADLANDS -- MAGNITUDE NINE -- LYNCH MOB -- DREAM THEATER -- YNGWIE MALMSTEEN -- RAINBOW