Those hoping for a Dokken record without ‘Don’ will be disappointed. There I’ve said it, this album does not sound like vintage Dokken. It does feature three members of the classic Dokken line-up though and in Robert Mason, one of the best Hard Rock vocalists around at the moment. All of course are prolific, all have been involved in making some great music over the years, on paper this project sounds like a sure thing. Those hoping for some vintage Lynch Mob too will be disappointed. There I said that too. This also isn’t, to be honest, too 80’s sounding either and whilst there is the occasional sonic daub of Lynch Mob, Dokken and Warrant it’s not enough really to have you pointing any fingers.
This is a modern Rock record and as such for me at least isn’t in my sweet spot, it’s beautifully played of course,wonderfully produced but sonically it does sound like a lot of modern Rock these days and the predominantly mid-tempo material isn’t as immediate as you might imagine from these guys.
To start with though you’re not exactly plunged into the deep water or out of the comfort zone: ‘Leap of Faith’ does have elements that are familiar – it’s kind of a mid-tempo Dokkenesque stab with feeling and bluesier vocals, but there’s just something missing. And as you dig deeper one thing you find from repeated listens is that there’s nothing really not to like here, but also there’s nothing really that you feel you can love either. Sure there are great elements to the record – Mason’s vocals are on-pout throughout the rhythm section is slick as you could imagine, backing vocals are flawless and Lynch is on-fire is a little experimental at times. But like I said it does feel like there is something missing. That killer hook, that stupidly outrageous solo, that vocal that sends shivers down your spine – none of them are quite there.
The modern feel permeates tracks like ‘Hold Me Down’ and like the opener it’s competent but not sizzling, and despite a slash of slide its underwhelms a little. ‘Ain’t No Game’ slows things further and has a classic rock feel bout it and again it’s nice song but same story, the hook is moderate and there’s just no real sizzle.
‘Bulletproof’ is where things finally start to taste a little finer – almost as if we’ve had a decent starter and really it’s just been a cunning lead up to the glorious main course. There’s a wonderful smokey Bluesy flavour and whilst we’re still treading though mid-tempo material there’s just more going on here. Ride It’ that follows has a spiky Dokken-like energy and finally picks up the pace with Mason pulling out all the stops and Lynch wailing beautifully. I so wish we’d started with this pair.
The rest of the album rubs your nose in that lack of connection at the beginning and keeps on delivering. ‘Burn the Truth’ is a gem of a painted desert landscape, atmospheric, languid, bluesy with an echo of Lynch Mob’s bluesier tracks. One to close the eyes and hold on tight to.
There’s a slight lull with the workman-like ‘Hard Road’ which is nice enough, and the slow build of ‘Alive Today’ which fizzes and smolders without either really catching alight. Keep at them though, as both songs seem to offer more with each play.
On an album that offers a nice mix of styles and more diversity than you might imagine ‘Line of Division’ rides a rather fine groove, whilst ‘Sleeping Voices’ is the one true ballad here and a great one at that, it’s a song which really allows Mason to loosen the reigns and ride out the nice Metallic edge. That leaves just ‘Life is Love is Music’ a real Hard Rocking gem, the most traditional sounding track here, robust and bluesy with a great groove and the one really ‘nail on the head’ chorus. Yes we may have heard it all before but done well its the type of song that still moves you. For me its also the best here. Some may find it a lite cliched. I don’t mind a good cliche.
This one gets better the more you let it in.
Tracklisting: 01. Leap of Faith | 02. Hold Me Down | 03. No Game | 04. Bulletproof | 05. Ride It | 06. Burn the Truth | 07. Hard Road | 08. Alive Today | 09. Line of Division | 10. Sleeping Voices | 11. Life Is Love Is Music
Band: Robert Mason – vocals |George Lynch – guitar | Jeff Pilson – bass | ‘Wild’ Mick Brown – drums
Band Website: Facebook
