There aren’t many metalheads who haven’t heard of Dokken. Whether it’s due to their huge popularity during the eighties, the constant if occasionally amusing public sniping between frontman Don Dokken and former lead guitarist George Lynch or, most likely because of “Dream Warriors,” the theme song from 1987 horror sequel A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3, Dokken’s name still stands above many.

Obviously, age takes its toll and while he might not possess the same fiercely impressive pipes from his younger days, Dokken has adapted well. Restrained and disciplined, his more mature vocal style keeps things on an even keel (no pun intended) with a strong mid-range for Heaven Comes Down (Silver Lining Music), the band’s twelfth studio album and their first in eleven years.
Opener “Fugitive” is a fairly laid back rocker with some top notch fretboard skills from regular guitarist Jon Levin while “Gypsy” boasts a faster and more insistent classic eighties riff, a strong chorus and some nice rolling bass lines from four-stringer Chris McCarvill.

https://youtu.be/XZ0CocSSpzw?si=cRH_0mksukNAo14G
The dirty licks of “Is It Me Or You?”, the upbeat “Over the Mountain” and power ballads “I Remember” and “I’ll Never Give Up” hit all the right bluesy buttons while the moody crawl of “Saving Grace” comes from the same territory as Scorpion’s “China White” while boasting a classic Dokken chorus.
More eighties callbacks come in the shape of “Lost In You” and the pure vintage vibe of “Just Like A Rose,”recently acquired drummer BJ Zampa getting to strut his stuff on more uptempo cuts like these and the dry, desert landscapes of closer “Santa Fe”; not a Jon Bon Jovi cover but certainly similar in style to his 1990 Blaze of Glory solo record.

Although not an album for the vocal histrionics of old, Heaven Comes Down not only alludes to the band’s classic 1984 track but does its level best to sound like something from their finest era, too.
It might be a more measured approach these days but the hooks are still there and there’s a positivity apparent throughout the record, even during its quieter and more introspective moments.

Buy the album here:
https://lnk.to/DokkenHeavenComesDown

7 / 10

GARY ALCOCK