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Dokken
Hell To Pay
Sanctuary Records – July 13, 2004
By Melanie “Sass” Falina
For anyone who was a part of the 80’s metal craze IN
the 80’s, Dokken is one of those bands that you loved
and watched on M-TV’s Headbanger’s Ball –
and it’s a comforting thought to know they’re still
around today.
Hell To Pay, Dokken’s latest release, offers up some
great new tunes reminiscent of the band’s glory days,
but, sadly, also a few duds as well. Unfortunately, Hell To
Pay will become one of those CDs where I have my favorite cuts
memorized by their number on the disc and I only listen to those
rather than playing the entire album straight through.
Listening to Don Dokken sing is still enjoyable; few singers
have been able to belt out songs like Dokken. However, his voice
no longer seems to have quite the vocal power it once did. Listening
to Hell To Pay, there’s not doubt it’s still distinctly
Don Dokken but sans the power-ballad chutzpah that made Dokken
famous.
Noteworthy songs include:
“The Last Goodbye” – A mellower Dokken with
almost a slight eastern-world sound to it.
“Don’t Bring Me Down” – This song has
a more classic Dokken sound, yet harder and faster and with
that ballsy “Lynch-ish” guitar sound now being played
by Dokken guitarist Jon Levin.
“Care For You” – A sweet ballad with gentle
lyrics which offers proof that Dokken has progressed as songwriters.
This is not a modern day ‘power ballad’ by any means;
simply a solid love song.
An unplugged version of “Care For You” is also
on the disc, and just as beautiful and aurally pleasing as the
‘plugged in’ recording.
And, “Better Off Before” – Heavy, modern
song but with classic Dokken melodies.
Unfortunately, the rest of Hell To Pay does very little for
me. But don’t give up on Dokken just yet, this album might
be hit or miss – but the highlights on this album are
indeed damn good songs.
http://www.dokken.net/
http://www.dondokken.com/
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