{"id":22865,"date":"2012-10-14T06:43:23","date_gmt":"2012-10-14T11:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=22865"},"modified":"2013-02-05T16:33:42","modified_gmt":"2013-02-05T21:33:42","slug":"dokken-broken-bones-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2012\/dokken-broken-bones-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Dokken | Broken Bones<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Alex Barbieri<\/span>
\n– Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"DokkenDon Dokken has said publicly that Dokken\u2019s latest album, Broken Bones<\/em>, will be their last. If the new album is Dokken\u2019s swan song, then the band is finishing a 30-plus year career (Don Dokken founded the band in 1978) at a creative apex and musical high-water mark. <\/p>\n

Broken Bones<\/em> is Dokken\u2019s 11th studio album. It was recorded over 13 months at both Don Dokken\u2019s and guitarist Jon Levin\u2019s identical home studios in California. The new album delivers the signature Dokken sound that fans know and love, but pushes the creative comfort zone a bit more than 2008\u2019s Lightning Strikes Again<\/em>. <\/p>\n

Where Lightning Strikes Again<\/em> seemed like a deliberate effort to re-capture the classic Dokken sound, Broken Bones finds Dokken and Levin expanding. Dokken, who successfully recovered from throat surgery last year, generally sings lower and more melodically than on earlier releases, but his \u201cwhisky and cigarettes\u201d voice has matured well and is appealing as always. The harmonies are exceptional throughout, courtesy of former Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist, Mark Boals. Read Boals’ recent Hardrock Haven interview<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Jon Levin \u2014who impressed the hard rock world by nailing former guitarist George Lynch\u2019s sound and style in the studio and live\u2014 still captures Lynch\u2019s familiar sound, but adds more of his personal flair. Levin is a phenomenal lead and rhythm guitarist, and deserves to be acknowledged as more than just a Lynch clone. <\/p>\n

Highlights on Broken Bones<\/em>: Opening track \u201cEmpire,\u201d a \u201cKiss of Death\u201d-style barnstormer, but with better lyrics and a cool breakdown; title track \u201cBroken Bones,\u201d a mid-tempo rocker that would have been all over MTV back in the day, and the gentle, vulnerable modern acoustic ballad, \u201cToday.\u201d (Guys, take a romance tip: Play this one for your lady and watch her melt.)<\/p>\n

Bassist Sean McNabb and original drummer, \u201cWild\u201d Mick Brown \u2014who was recently replaced by Y&T\/Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso\u2014 are a flawless rhythm section, laying it down and letting Dokken\u2019s voice and Levin\u2019s guitar take center stage. <\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one complaint about Broken Bones<\/em>, it is the lame cover art. The clich\u00e9 skull and crossbones looks like a student designed it for a battle of the bands. No, a band this pro and accomplished deserved a more creative, conceptual cover. But that\u2019s a minor complaint, considering the quality of songs and musicianship on Broken Bones<\/em>. <\/p>\n

Speaking of quality, a salute to Serafino Perugino, head of Italy\u2019s Frontiers Records, for his ongoing dedication to releasing consistently high-quality melodic hard rock albums from some of the world\u2019s best bands. <\/p>\n

To Don Dokken and company, congratulations on another excellent release\u2014we wish you a bon voyage to future projects. If Broken Bones<\/em> is indeed Dokken\u2019s \u201cLast Goodbye,\u201d it will be hard to just \u201cWalk Away,\u201d but Broken Bones is a respectable swan song to a storied 33-year career. <\/p>\n

Genre: Hard Rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nDon Dokken – Vocals
\nJon Levin – Guitar
\nSean McNabb – Bass
\n\u201cWild\u201d Mick Brown \/ Jimmy DeGrasso – Drums<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\n01. Empire
\n02. Broken Bones
\n03. Best of Me
\n04. Blind
\n05. Waterfall
\n06. Victim of the Crime
\n07. Burning Tears
\n08. Today
\n09. For the Last Time
\n10. Fade Away
\n11. Tonight<\/p>\n

Label: Frontiers Records<\/p>\n

Online: http:\/\/www.dokkencentral.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Read a recent Hardrock Haven interview with Dokken guitarist, Jon Levin<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 7.5\/10<\/p>\n