Customer Reviews

Back for the Attack

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I've heard stories from many people saying this was the first Compact Disc that they owned. "Back for the attack" sort of ushered in the era of 50-Minute plus albums. The cover is on my list of favorites, the classic logo over a detailed painting.

"Back for the Attack" is arguably Dokken's finest hour. Never again would they reach such stagerring heights. George Lynch put on a guitar show for the ages, he uses every trick in his arsenal on this album.

The melodies are incredible. Don Dokken was an extremely skilled vocalist. Starting song "Kiss of death" contains some steady riffing. The guitar and chorus of "Prisoner" blend perfectly. The lyrics of "Night by night" describe a dialog with a girl - "Baby, can't you see we live it night by night, it's just you and me". "Standing in the shadows" features a creative distorted lick that only intensifies once the Drums and Bass kick in. "Heaven Sent" is a great atmospheric track. As far as guitar instrumentals go "Mr. Scary" should be in the quality department with "Eruption". Materful shredding from Guitar guru George Lynch.

"So many tears" is engaging with strong lyrics "There's only so many tears you can cry/There's only so many ways you can say good-bye". The opening chords of "Burning like a flame" are engaging. The chorus goes "Our love that's burning, burning like a flame/Don't you know that it's Our love that's never gonna change/Every time I touch you, it just makes me go insane/Our love that's burning like a flame". The guitar solo is nice too.

If you only own one album from Dokken, "Back for the Attack" should be it.

Unlike many people this is my favorite Dokken album. Theres not much to say about this album except that it is totally awesome!!! I personally like it so much that if it was $100 or more I would totally buy it, it's above and beyond worth it! If your an 80's headbanger or a fan of any of Dokkens early material then GET THIS ALBUM, you WONT be sorry.

I am a long time, huge Dokken fan, and have purchased everything either Don or George has thrown out there. For me, this Dokken release was the pinnacle album released by the Don/George/Jeff/Mick combination. The songs are strong, regardless of what other reviewers say, and they withstand the test of time by any rock standard. George Lynch's sound is nasty and dirty on this release; he is all over the fretboard during rhythm, riff and solo work. I have never been a big fan of his polished shredding work...seems like every accomplished player can do that. Here it sounds as though he is wringing every possible note out of his axe that is appropriate for each song. The songs do not need to be reviewed individually as in its entirely, the album is a maximum effort in quantity and quality. Lynch's instrumental "Mr. Scary" probably warrants the purchase of this album all by itself........

I grew up listening to this record and I can tell you for sure it's Dokken's best! George really went into a new world with his playing on this one, and it's one you want to be in. The disc opens with the powerfull song about aids "kiss of death". I don't think any true metalhead could say they don't like this one. This is one of those records you are playing air guitar all the way through. Night by night, heaven sent, and lost behind the wall have just amazing solo's in them. And stop fighting love and cry of the gypsy have great emotion to them. and to top it all off you get the nightmare on elm street hit dream warriors, which got solo of the year honors. George lynch in my mind is a guitar hero's guitar god. He has it all the chops, the coolest guitars in the world, and I'm happy to say I've meet him twice, and I can tell you he's a great guy too. It's a no brainer. PICK THIS UP!!

THE BAND: Don Dokken (vocals), George Lynch (guitars), Jeff Pilson (bass), Mick Brown (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1987) 13 tracks clocking in at approximately 63 minutes. Included with the disc is a 3-page blue foldout containing song titles/credits, individual band member photos, and thank you's. Recorded at Total Access Studios (Redondo Beach, CA), One On One Studios and Music Grinder Studios (both in Hollywood, CA). Label - Elektra Records.

COMMENTS: My all-time favorite Dokken album is "Under Lock & Key" (1985), but this "Back For The Attack" is a close 2nd. For me, this was the album that never ended (my favorite bands from the 70's and 80's were notorious for putting out 30+ minute albums - Van Halen, Aerosmith and Kiss to name three). This was Dokken's lengthy masterpiece... 13 songs of blissful soul, melody and attitude. Several songs are worthy of mention - "Dream Warriors" (featured in "A Nightmare On Elm Street - 3"), "Burning Like A Flame", the slow and hulking "Heaven Sent", and George Lynch's trademark instrumental - the guitar assault of "Mr. Scary". All four of these songs made it to their "Very Best Of Dokken" (1999) disc. Honorable mentions include "Prisoner", "So Many Tears", and one of my all-time favorite songs in their entire catalog "Standing In The Shadows". Dokken's 2-disc "Definitive Rock Collection" (2006) features all 7 of the songs mentioned here (6 studio and 1 live version). "Back For The Attack" has absolutely no filler, and not one song that truly qualifies as a power ballad. I don't know how else to say it - I love this album. *Footnote - the single "Dream Warriors" was released and the B-side was a left over track from the "Under Lock & Key" studio sessions called "Back For The Attack"... but surprisingly this song is not featured on the album bearing the same name. As good as this album is/was, I still find it bitter sweet. "Back For The Attack" would be the last Dokken album of the 80's, and the start of band members coming and going (specifically Lynch and Pilson). It would also be 8 long years before their next studio release, "Dysfunctional" (1995). "Back For The Attack" is truly one of the better albums of the 80's genre - the combination of Dokken's soothing vocals with Lynch's blistering guitar was for the most part unmatched (5 stars).

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Dokken's best album. Period. It's perfect. The unfortunate thing is that every Dokken album that came out after this one ranged from mediocre to horrible. Yes, I have Erase the Slate and all the rest. What you have are a collection of albums that have one or two good songs on it and the rest is filler. Dokken lost their formula for making music that rocks despite the fact that he had giants such as Beach, Norum, and Sparks. I still listen to this album front to back. Remember when you could do that with Dokken albums and not want to fall asleep? This was their best. It should've been their last.

THIS RECORD FROM THE GUYS FROM L.A. IS OBVIOUSLY THEIR FINEST HOUR...WELL ITS OVER AN HOUR. FROM THE VERY FIRST TRACK "KISS OF DEATH" WHICH IS USUALLY THE SONG THEY STARTED A LOT OF THEIR SHOWS OFF WITH TO THE LAST..13TH TRACK, "DREAM WARRIORS" HOW IRONIC 13 WITH THAT SONG COMING OFF A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART 3 "DREAM WARRIORS" MOVIE..TEEHEE...O.K IF THEIR EVER WAS AN ALBUM THAT YOU GOT YOUR MONEYS WORTH..QUALITY AND QUANTITY THIS IS 1 OF EM. O.K. SINCE I AM A BIG DOKKEN FAN AND A MUSICIAN MY FAVORATE SONG IS.."PRISONER"...FOLLOWED BY "KISS OF DEATH" AND "NIGHT BY NIGHT" FOLLOWED BY "CRY OF THE GYPSY" AND THEN "SO MANY TEARS" I MIGHT ADD THAT ALL THESE SONGS THAT IVE LISTED ARE VERY STRONG SO MANY TEARS" IS MY 5TH FAVORATE AND ITS STRONGER THAN POISONS MOST KICK ASS TUNE FROM THEIR OPEN UP AND SAY AHH WHICH WAS A GOOD RECORD. BUT THEIR BEST RECORD IS THEIR LIVE RECORD "BEAST FROM THE EAST" IT TRULY CAPTURES THE CHEMISTRY AND ENERGY THESE GUYS CAN UNLEASH FROM THEIR FINGERTIPS AND DONS VOCAL CHORDS...BUT "BACK FOR THE ATTACK" ...WELL LETS JUST SAY IM STILL REELING FROM THIS ATTACK.

Review no.63.'Back...' was Dokken's fourth release and probably their best ever,in my humble opinion anyway.Saw them on this very tour as opener for Aerosmith.Talk about a concert to remember.I personally believe that this was the album that really did it for Dokken.I can recall that for the first year this lp came out,I mean it seemed like everyone that I knew/knew of had a copy of 'Back For The Attack'.Rather it was a true metal-head,some alternative fan or just another consumer that dug music(like myself)with plenty of life and passion injected into it's making."Burning Like A Flame" and "Kiss Of Death" are the disc's best two tracks.Other gems include "Standing In The Shadows",their power ballad "Heaven Sent","Stop Fighting Love" and "Dream Warriors"(love the video where the guys are battling the morbid Freddie Krueger).Simply,a great hard rock '80's title to own and cherish.Recommended.

I just have to comment on the 6th review down saying on "Tooth and Nail" Dokken copied Motley Crues "Shout at the Devil! That has got to be the most high on crack assumption ever! The person that wrote that review does not belong listening the great hard rock like Dokken,Crue ect... What a stupid statement! Oh well , Back For The Attack is a great cd!

Probably there are 2 songs I didn't like but overall a fun and catchy album. Catchy melodies is what makes this album great. I think the album is also a bit polished up compared to their previous releases and thats what makes this band good.

Check out the video for "Dream Warriors" and you'll see how awesome it is showing the band intereacting with the casts from Dream Warriors.

George Lynch is a fine guitar player, playing some of the finest guitar solos out there shredding like crazy.

The lyrics?? A lot of people would say the lyrics are this and that but who cares?? When comparing bands like this it doesn't matter because of their musical talent and the catchy
sing-a-long-songs