Dokken - Unchain The Night (2007) DVD9

goodliife · July 9, 2011

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Hard / Glam Rock | DVD-9 |

DVD-9: NTSC 720x480 (4:3), 6777Kbps | AC-3, 6ch, 448Kbps / PCM, 2ch, 1536kbps -> 7.4 Gb

Scans Included | Rhino, R2 114940 |

“For the first time on DVD, this expanded edition of the platinum-certified Unchain The Night adds four unreleased videos to the original VHS release, along with new extended interviews with the band.

Dokken achieved global fame in 1983 as one of the most successful bands to emerge from Los Angeles’ era-defining metal scene. They had originally formed in Southern California in the late ’70s, and went on to have initial success in Germany, where they recorded their debut, Breaking The ChainsM, in 1981. Back in the U.S. after finishing the album, Don Dokken remembers “playing clubs in the L.A. music scene alongside groups such as Van Halen and Quiet Riot” while they shopped for a U.S. deal. Elektra signed them in ’82, and they went on to multi-platinum success.

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If you are a fan of 80's metal, then Dokken was probably near the top of your list. This is a great DVD of thier home video release Unchain The Night, a long time coming, and worth the wait. This contains the original 7 videos Into the fire, Just got luck, breaking the chains, alone again, the hunter, In My Dreams, and It's not Love sandwiched between goofy shots of the band behind the scenes. Bonus videos include Walk Away, Dream Warriors, Heaven Sent, and Burning Like A Flame, all surrounded by intro's from Don Dokken and Mick Brown. Also their is a 30 minute video of Don and Mick reminiscing about the Video, the past, and what the future holds for dokken. The quality of transfer is good, and well worth the investment for 80's fans. Sure, the style of big hair and spandex is dated, but the songs remain great.

Dokken Biography:

Formed: 1978, Los Angeles, CA

Genres: Rock

Representative Albums: "Beast from the East", "The Definitive Rock Collection", "Under Lock and Key"

Representative Songs: "Alone Again", "In My Dreams", "Breaking the Chains"

At a time when the charts were ruled by pop-metal acts, Dokken was a major attraction throughout the 1980s. With vocalist Don Dokken's captivating stage presence and guitarist George Lynch's high-energy style, the band combined rockers such as "Kiss of Death" and power ballads such as "Alone Again" in order to create a number of best-selling albums.

Dokken's roots date back to the late '70s, when Lynch, along with drummer Mick Brown, teamed up with Don Dokken to form the Boyz. In 1981, Don moved to Germany and was signed to Carerre Records. The band, now simply known as Dokken, recorded and released Breaking the Chains, their first studio album, in 1983. While the record failed to retain a decent chart position in the United States, the group was immensely popular in Europe.

After a tour in Germany, Dokken was signed to Elektra Records, and Jeff Pilson became their first official bassist. In 1984, the band released Tooth and Nail, which featured the hit songs "Into the Fire," "Just Got Lucky," and "Alone Again." With heavy MTV and radio airplay, Dokken found themselves topping the charts worldwide, and Tooth and Nail eventually sold over one-million copies in the U.S. alone. Following a tour with the Scorpions, the group recorded Under Lock and Key in 1985, which had a similar success due to the hits "In My Dreams" and "It's Not Love." In 1987, the band released Back for the Attack, which featured a track they had written as the subtitle for the third Nightmare on Elm Street film, "Dream Warriors." The coinciding music video, which included scenes of the band interacting with the movie's characters, was their most popular ever, and Back for the Attack became Dokken's third record to reach platinum status. The album's subsequent tour resulted in a live compilation, Beast From the East, which was released shortly before the band broke up in 1988 due to Don Dokken's and Lynch's creative differences.

After the disbanding of Dokken, Don pursued a solo career with Up from the Ashes, and Lynch formed the Lynch Mob, releasing an album in 1990; both releases failed to chart. In 1992, the band reunited, but it wasn't until 1995 when they signed with Columbia Records and released Dysfunctional, which was met with harsh reviews and poor sales. Tensions once again seemed to hover around the group as they recorded the live acoustic release, One Live Night, in 1996 under the CMC label. In 1997, the band released Shadowlife, which was met with a similar response to their past two recordings. In 1998, Lynch left a second time to reunite Lynch Mob, and was replaced with Winger guitarist Reb Beach for 1999's Erase the Slate. This was followed in 2000 by another concert record, Live from the Sun, which captured the Beach lineup at Anaheim's Sun Theater. Beach left the group and was replaced by John Norum, and the group recorded Long Way Home for release in the spring of 2002. In 2003, ex-Warlock guitarist Jonathan Levin and ex-Ted Nugent and Yngwie Malmsteen bassist Barry Sparks joined the group, resulting in the release of Hell to Pay the following year. The band returned to the studio in 2008 for Lightning Strikes Again.

~ Barry Weber

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