I have to admit I was never a huge DOKKEN fan back in the day but I have learned to appreciate the band in recent years and so I looked forward to hearing the new album “Lightning Strikes Again”. From all reports, I read the band was getting back to their “vintage” sound for this release but then again it seems a lot of bands say the same with every new album they put out. So for that reason I wanted to hear the record for myself.

So how about the sound on “Lightning Strikes Again” you ask? Is it a return to the vintage DOKKEN sound like they said? Well, it is a solid album with some good songs, nice production and great guitar playing from Jon Levin but there is one detractor that I think is obvious to see… or should I say hear. The vocals of main-man Don DOKKEN seem to have lost step over time. They aren’t necessarily bad but they just sound a little on the raspy side to me.

The first track, “Standing On The Outside”, opens with a classic DOKKEN guitar riff that would almost make you think that “other” guitar player they once had was still around! Levin does his best George Lynch impression and the song is actually top notch all the way through. It has a great hook and chorus and is quite memorable. So it is a great start for the record!

Next up is “Give Me A Reason” and the song is again another strong track. It’s got a cool “DOKKEN-esque” riff and is pretty melodic. You really start to hear the raspy nature DOKKEN’s vocals have taken on in recent years on this track though.

The album does continue to provide some more strong songs like “Heart To Stone”, “Point Of No Return” (which has bit of a “Tooth & Nail” feel), “Judgment Day”, “It Means” (a very melodic tune) and “This Fire”. The two ballads on the record also shine. “How I Miss Your Smile” and “I Remember” are both strong tracks and maybe a little more suited for Don DOKKEN’s voice these days.

The record does have a few misses in the form of songs like “Disease,” which sounds like a leftover from the “Shadowlife” era and “Oasis” which just never seems to really take off.

Overall “Lightning Strikes Again” is a good record. I think if it lost a couple of the weaker and uninspired songs and the vocals of DOKKEN were a bit “crisper” then lightning could have certainly struck again! All in all, this record is just a pretty good release in the DOKKEN catalog. It isn’t their best work or their worst. It’s kind of middle of the road but with some bonus points added for the great guitar-work by Jon Levin.