Dokken - Back for the Attack (Remastered) 
Rock Candy Records
www.rockcandyrecords.com
www.dokkencentral.com

Rating: B

If you’re a fan of ‘80’s hair metal then this is one disc you’re going to want to pick up, as it just doesn’t get any more ‘80s than a classic reissue of the band Dokken!

Back for the Attack was originally released in November of 1987 on Elektra Records and quickly shot up the charts, peaking at #13 on the US Billboard album charts. Little did anyone outside of the band’s inner circle realize this would be their last album for many years to feature both vocalist Don Dokken and guitarist George Lynch.  They tried to patch things up with 1995’s appropriately titled Dysfunctional, but the bad blood remained and within a few years Lynch was gone for good.

It’s truly unfortunate that the inner band tension tore apart such a great band.  While Don Dokken and "Wild" Mick Brown still carry on with a version of the band Dokken, as well as other solo projects, the other ex-members of the classic Dokken lineup have went on with continued success in the music industry.  Jeff Pilson plays bass with Foreigner and is a highly sought after producer, while George Lynch is involved in numerous musical endeavors including Souls of We, KXM, Sweet and Lynch, and the melodic kick-ass band Lynch Mob.

Back for the Attack may have been recorded during a time of turmoil, but the album truly shows how great the group Dokken really was.  The classic Dokken sound is evident on Back for the Attack, the difference between this and other albums are the improvement in the songs, showing how -despite the inner band drama- the band had grown as musicians.

Lyrically and vocally, this is some of Don Dokken’s best work! Just listen to him hit the high notes on the opening track “Kiss of Death” for proof.  Lynch delivers the goods as well on that tune as he rips into an amazing guitar solo.  Another great track and one of my favorites is "Heaven Sent," which was also released as a single in 1987.

Other great tunes include "Mr. Scary," which is an almost five minute instrumental that quickly became a fan favorite and George’s nick-name, as Lynch and Pilson prove what skilled musicians they really are.  “Dream Warriors," which was originally released earlier in the year as the theme song for the horror flick A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors," shows a darker side of the band starting out with Lynch’s eerie guitar tone and Don’s chilling vocals.”  There are the not-so-heavy tracks that lack in power but are still really great songs, like "Sleepless Nights" and "Burnin’ Like a Flame." One can’t forget the title track "Back for the Attack," which was taken from an earlier Dokken session for the Under Lock and Key album. That tune was first released as the B-side to "Dream Warriors" and is now included as a bonus track on this remastered disc. It’s hard, heavy and a really good song.

Despite all the chaos while recording Back for the Attack, the album may just be Dokken’s overall best and strongest album to date. Overall, I would say, this is a great disc to take you back to 1987 and bang your head to...

Rock Candy Records continues to impress with their dedication to excellence on all of their new releases, this one being no exception.  

Track Listing:
1 KISS OF DEATH
2 PRISONER
3 NIGHT BY NIGHT
4 STANDING IN THE SHADOWS
5 HEAVEN SENT
6 MR. SCARY
7 SO MANY TEARS
8 BURNING LIKE A FLAME
9 LOST BEHIND A WALL
10 STOP FIGHTING LOVE
11 CRY OF THE QYPSY
12 SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
13 DREAM WARRIORS

BONUS TRACK
14 BACK FOR THE ATTACK

By James Rozell