Artist: Dokken Album: Breaking the Chains

Year: 1983
Duration: 0:0-1

Breaking the Chains of Dokken: A critical review of their album

Dokken, a band hailing from California in the 1980s, has been a symbol of the melodic rock genre, with their iconic vocals and hair metal sound. Breaking the Chains, released in 1983, marked the band's debut LP album, showcasing their raw energy and their ambition to shift the entire rock genre. In this blog, we'll delve into the album, the band's history, and the key highlights of the record that still inspire the listeners over 30 years since its release.

Dokken is a band that emerged in the early days of 1980s heavy metal, with its lineup consisting of Don Dokken (vocals), George Lynch (guitar), Jeff Pilson (bass), and Mick Brown (drums). They started out as a house band for a Los Angeles club before being signed to a major label. The band's sound is a unique blend of heavy metal and melodic rock, with their soaring harmonies, memorable guitar riffs, and thunderous drums. Their debut album, Breaking the Chains, is an excellent example of their songwriting talent and their potential to redefine rock music.

Musically, Breaking the Chains is a well-balanced album that successfully captures the sound of early 80s metal. The record's greatest strengths lie in its memorable guitar solos and catchy hooks like In the Middle, Live to Rock, and Nightrider. The album's title track, Breaking the Chains, stands out as the most powerful song, with its upbeat tempo, driving guitar chords, and lyrical depth. The songs' powerful lyrics display the band's thematic range, as they range from personal struggles to societal and political problems.

Breaking the Chains is also memorable for its unique sound. The mixture of hard, heavy metal sound with glam rock and classic rock influences makes it a pioneer record of the glam metal movement. The band's collective personality can be heard in the production, with Lynch's virtuosic guitar playing and Don Dokken's signature vocals that sound vividly within the album and all over the 80s metal music scene.

Despite its strengths, Breaking the Chains is not a perfect album. The production comes across as somewhat flat, the lyrics seem a bit repetitive at times, and some of the later tracks are not as strong as the album's earlier ones. However, the album's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, and it remains relevant to this day in the music industry.

In conclusion, Breaking the Chains is a definite must-have for fans of 80s heavy metal. It's a testament to the band's songwriting talent and their impact on music history. The record has stood the test of time, and it solidifies Dokken's place in the pantheon of 80s rock. The album is an insight into the evolution and intersection of two music genres, particularly hard rock and glam rock, as they contribute to the development of glam metal. While critics may harbor mixed reactions to the band and their album, they have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on rock and roll. So if you're into rock music, Breaking the Chains should be in your music library.