Dokken – Return To The East Live 2016 (Review)
So Dokken finally reunited the original lineup for a brief tour of Japan and they recorded the event for history. But, here’s what everyone really wants to know….How’s Don voice sound? So, here’s my two cents worth….Don Dokken has battled vocal issues in the past, and a lot of critics and fans have stated that his voice is shot. But, first let’s go back in time for just a moment. Dokken released their first album in 1983 with Breaking The Chains. That’s 35 years ago for those bad at math. I doubt very few, if any singers of that time period still sound like they did then. But here’s what Don has done that’s really smart, since he is no longer able to hit all of the high notes, he has changed the way he sings. Not drastically, but the songs have a slightly different arrangement to accommodate his current vocal abilities. What I get from it, is that it makes this live release special and different from the live versions that I already have from “The Beast From The East album. The band, including George Lynch also change up their licks too. It comes across as kind of refreshing to hear them update the songs with some new twists. So for the most part, Dokken still sounds like Dokken. The new studio song “It’s Another Day” is really quite good. Obviously, I’d love to see the band reunite for at least one last studio album and go out with a bang, rather than the on again and off again relationship the members have had over the years. George Lynch is one of the best living rock guitarists anywhere in the world and he shreds on this live album. Jeff Pilson helps to anchor the vocals and hit some the notes that Don no longer can. And “Wild” Mick Brown is still…well, wild! Jeff Pilson is the only member of the band that’s under 60 years old, and just barely at 59. The guys still have that special something, that made Dokken the great band that it is. This a great album for die hard Dokken fans and a nice addition to anyone’s collection that loves 80’s hard rock and metal. The hits are all here on Return To The East Live 2016, albeit with some musical and lyrical arrangement differences. So, despite what I hear from some, Dokken clearly seems to be “Back For The Attack”.
Artist: Dokken
Album: Return to The East Live 2016
Genre: Hard Rock / Melodic Metal
Label: Frontiers Music Srl.
Release Date: April 20, 2018
Track Listing:
CD
01.It’s Another Day (New Studio Track)
02.Kiss Of Death
03.The Hunter
04.Unchain The Night
05.When Heaven Comes Down
06.Breakin’ The Chains
07.Into The Fire
08.Dream Warriors
09.Tooth And Nail
10.Alone Again (Intro)
11.Alone Again
12.It’s Not Love
13.In My Dreams
14.Heaven Sent (Acoustic Studio Bonus Track)
15.Will The Sun Rise (Acoustic Studio Bonus Track)
DVD
01.Tooth And Nail
02.Unchain The Night
03.When Heaven Comes Down
04.Breakin’ The Chains
05.Into The Fire
06.Alone Again
07.It’s Not Love
08.Paris Is Burning
09.Kiss Of Death
10.The Hunter
11.Dream Warriors
12.In My Dreams
13.Behind the Scenes
Band Members:
Don Dokken – Vocals
George Lynch – Guitars
Jeff Pilson – Bass
Mick Brown – Drums
