Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
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Band
Dokken
Title
Broken Bones
Type
LP/EP
Company
Frontiers
YOR
2012
Style
Hard Rock
12/28/2012 - Review by: Eric Compton

Dokken
Broken Bones

Company: Frontiers
Release: 2012
Genre: Hard Rock
Reviewer: EC

  • Don Dokken sounding just superb here



  • All of this jive talk about Dokken with or without George Lynch has been really taxing over the years. Lots of talk here that George's axe would make the scene on this newest and supposedly final Dokken studio effort. Needless to say George and Don have had a tumultuous relationship for decades and whatever deal that was in discussion has flown the coop long ago. Its fine by me as latter day Dokken in my opinion has been fantastic courtesy of Jon Levin on the strings. I've thoroughly enjoyed the last two Dokken albums and find the band more in tune with mature songwriting, a Beatles-esque sort of vibe that permeates through this album as well as the two predecessors. The band have definitely held steady over the years with new material, 2004 gave us the solid "Hell To Pay" and 2008 brought forth "Lighting Strikes Again". Now in 2012, four years from the last studio album, the band has released their swan song called "Broken Bones". Whether or not this truly is the last Dokken album remains to be seen. In the meantime this album is sure to please longtime fans, Don Dokken sounding just superb here, again proving by far he is one of my favorites singers ever (and probably my favorite depending on what day it is).

    "Broken Bones" has its share of flashy success, throwing bones on the strong opener "Empire". Levin just levels the place on the lead solo midways through and Don mentions that this opener was a true heavy metal song about oppression and the end result (a burning empire). The first handful of songs on this album are some of the best on record and may rival the band's phenomenal 2008 record. Just listen to those slower bass slaps on the title track and Don's soothing vocals through the melodic chorus. Who can forget those awesome 80s harmonics with Don and Jeff Pilson? I really thing the same can be said here with Don, Levin and even bassist Sean McNabb combining on perfect melodies. "Best Of Me" burns it up with that classic hook-line-and-sinker riff, just blowing it up and still that "I Know You Don't Love Me No More" chorus just nails it in front of Levin's soaring melody. Man I just love songs like "Blind" here with that massive hook that reminds me of something like "Just Got Lucky" from back in the day. Still this is 2012 Dokken and certainly Don's solo side creeps in now and again. Check out the Beatles vibe running "Victim Of The Crime" and unplugged "Today", both of which really are Don's solo soul coming out. The album ends with awesome cuts in "Fade Away" and "Tonight", the last one closing the deal in much the same pace as the album's opener.



    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      4.5 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: DOKKEN
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Back For The Attack
    1987
    Elektra
    Anthony Burke2/28/2003
    -
    Broken Bones
    2012
    Frontiers
    Eric Compton12/28/2012
    4.5
    Greatest Hits 2
    2010
    Cleopatra
    Chris Kincaid6/14/2010
    3
    Hell To Pay
    2004
    Sanctuary Records
    Vinaya Saksena8/17/2004
    -
    Return to the East Live 2016
    2018
    Frontiers
    Eric Compton5/24/2018
    3.5

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: DOKKEN
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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