"Back for the Attack" is arguably Dokken's finest hour. Never again would they reach such stagerring heights. George Lynch put on a guitar show for the ages, he uses every trick in his arsenal on this album.

The melodies are incredible. Don Dokken was an extremely skilled vocalist. Starting song "Kiss of death" contains some steady riffing. The guitar and chorus of "Prisoner" blend perfectly. The lyrics of "Night by night" describe a dialog with a girl - "Baby, can't you see we live it night by night, it's just you and me". "Standing in the shadows" features a creative distorted lick that only intensifies once the Drums and Bass kick in. "Heaven Sent" is a great atmospheric track. As far as guitar instrumentals go "Mr. Scary" should be in the quality department with "Eruption". Materful shredding from Guitar guru George Lynch.

"So many tears" is engaging with strong lyrics "There's only so many tears you can cry/There's only so many ways you can say good-bye". The opening chords of "Burning like a flame" are engaging. The chorus goes "Our love that's burning, burning like a flame/Don't you know that it's Our love that's never gonna change/Every time I touch you, it just makes me go insane/Our love that's burning like a flame". The guitar solo is nice too.

If you only own one album from Dokken, "Back for the Attack" should be it.


DEFINTELY THEIR FINEST HOUR   August 25, 2005
Frankie Tankersley (atlanta,ga)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

THIS RECORD FROM THE GUYS FROM L.A. IS OBVIOUSLY THEIR FINEST HOUR...WELL ITS OVER AN HOUR. FROM THE VERY FIRST TRACK "KISS OF DEATH" WHICH IS USUALLY THE SONG THEY STARTED A LOT OF THEIR SHOWS OFF WITH TO THE LAST..13TH TRACK, "DREAM WARRIORS" HOW IRONIC 13 WITH THAT SONG COMING OFF A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART 3 "DREAM WARRIORS" MOVIE..TEEHEE...O.K IF THEIR EVER WAS AN ALBUM THAT YOU GOT YOUR MONEYS WORTH..QUALITY AND QUANTITY THIS IS 1 OF EM. O.K. SINCE I AM A BIG DOKKEN FAN AND A MUSICIAN MY FAVORATE SONG IS.."PRISONER"...FOLLOWED BY "KISS OF DEATH" AND "NIGHT BY NIGHT" FOLLOWED BY "CRY OF THE GYPSY" AND THEN "SO MANY TEARS" I MIGHT ADD THAT ALL THESE SONGS THAT IVE LISTED ARE VERY STRONG SO MANY TEARS" IS MY 5TH FAVORATE AND ITS STRONGER THAN POISONS MOST KICK ASS TUNE FROM THEIR OPEN UP AND SAY AHH WHICH WAS A GOOD RECORD. BUT THEIR BEST RECORD IS THEIR LIVE RECORD "BEAST FROM THE EAST" IT TRULY CAPTURES THE CHEMISTRY AND ENERGY THESE GUYS CAN UNLEASH FROM THEIR FINGERTIPS AND DONS VOCAL CHORDS...BUT "BACK FOR THE ATTACK" ...WELL LETS JUST SAY IM STILL REELING FROM THIS ATTACK.


Dokken - 'Back For The Attack' (Elektra)   July 30, 2005
Mike Reed (USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Review no.63.'Back...' was Dokken's fourth release and probably their best ever,in my humble opinion anyway.Saw them on this very tour as opener for Aerosmith.Talk about a concert to remember.I personally believe that this was the album that really did it for Dokken.I can recall that for the first year this lp came out,I mean it seemed like everyone that I knew/knew of had a copy of 'Back For The Attack'.Rather it was a true metal-head,some alternative fan or just another consumer that dug music(like myself)with plenty of life and passion injected into it's making."Burning Like A Flame" and "Kiss Of Death" are the disc's best two tracks.Other gems include "Standing In The Shadows",their power ballad "Heaven Sent","Stop Fighting Love" and "Dream Warriors"(love the video where the guys are battling the morbid Freddie Krueger).Simply,a great hard rock '80's title to own and cherish.Recommended.


Another classic album by Dokken   February 8, 2006
Stargazer (New York)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Dokken's 4th and final studio album of the 80's and it's a classic album. Don's voice never sounded better and George playzs some of his best solos ever. The rythym section is excellent too on this album. The songwriting is very strong as always

1.Kiss of Death- 10/10 A great opener and a classic song that has remained in the set list nearly 20 years later. Don's vocals are great and the rythym section is excellent as always. George Lynch throws in an amazing solo too. The chorus is excellent and Don's screams are great.

2.Prisoner- 10/10 Another classic track. The openign harmony guitar line sounds great. The quiet part works great with the song. The chorus is great too. George's rythym guitar sounds excellent too. George's solo is great and starts with a very fast line while Don is still singing. The solo mixes emotion and speed very well.

3.Night by Night- 9/10 Another good catchy song. George's riff is excellent and Don's vocals are very strong. The chorus is great like most Dokken songs. Another great solo by George who shreds away and throws in some great vibrato too. The shouted part after the solo sounds great too. George's second solo is as good as his first.

4.Standing in the Shadows- 10/10 A great song. the guitar intro which the loud drums sounds great. The riff is great and the chorus is too. Don's scream at the start of the solo works great as George doubles the scream with a pinch harmonic. the solo is great too. The part after the solo is great and George's second solo is excellent too.

5.Heaven Sent- 10/10 the soft intro to this song is excellent. Don's vocals are excellent. The backing vocals are great too. the chorus is great and the bridge is excellent. George's solo is excellent and one of his best solos ever. Once again George mixes emotion and speed very well. George's second solo is great too. One of my favorites on the album.

6.Mr. Scary- 10/10 A great heavy instrumental. The riff is excellent and the durm work is great. The leads are amazing as George's leads always are. One of the best instrumentals I've heard.

7.So Many Tears- 10/10 A great melodic song. Don's vocals are great and the riff is excellent. Another great chorus too. This has one of George's best solos ever too. Another classic song.

8.Burning Like a Flame- 6/10 One of the weaker songs Dokken did in the 80's. Don's vocals are good and so is George's guitar work but this is a filler. It doesn't compare to the other songs.

9.Lost Behind the Wall- 10/10 A cool intro and the part with just bass and drums sounds great. Don's vocals and George's rythym playing are great. The chorus is great too. The solo is great and once again Goegre mixes speed with emotion. One of Lynch's best solso ever and one of Dokken's best songs ever.

10.Stop Fighting Love- 10/10 The soft into is great and Lynch's riff sounds great. One of the best songs on this album too. The chorus is great too. A very melodic song and one of my favorite Dokken songs ever. A great soulful solo Lynch who doesn't play fast on this solo but plays with a lot of emotion. Another classic.

11.Cry of the Gypsy- 10/10 A great song with a great intro solo. More great melodic vocals from Don Dokken. A great chorus too. Another excellent guitar solo too.

12.Sleepless Night- 9/10 A slow Lynch Mob type song. The chorus is good and the riff is good too. Another amazing solo by Lynch. Not as good as the other songs but still good.

13.Dream Warriors- 10/10 One of the best songs ever written.! The soft into is great and the riff is awesome. This was written for the Movie Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warrior. Don's lyrics are excellent and his vocals are incredible. He hits very high notes and hits them with power. The chorus is great too. the rythym section is great on this song too. This is probably Don's best vocal performance ever along with Paris Is Burning and Seven Thunders. An amazing solo by Lynch, one of George's best solos ever and that's saying something! The harmony part of the solo is great too. Pilson's backing vocals are great on this song too. Don's screams at the end are amazing too. This song alone puts Don up there with the best singers ever. A classic with an awesome video too.

Maybe Dokken's best album! I can't choose between all the 80's albums. They're all great. The best songs on here are Kiss Of Death, Prisoner, Standing In The Shadows, Heaven Sent, So Many Tears, Lost behind The Wall, Stop Fighting Love and Dream Warriors. There is only 1 filler and that is amazing considering the album has 13 songs! They should have put tbhe song "Back For The Attack" on here too. but this album is amazing and I have no complaints about it. Any fans of 80's metal, melodic music, virtuoso guitar work or great vocals needs this album.

Don Dokken- Vocals
George Lynch- Guitar
Mick Brown- Drums, vocals
Jeff Pilson- Bass, Vocals


The best Dokken album!!!   July 20, 2006
80s rocker14
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Unlike many people this is my favorite Dokken album. Theres not much to say about this album except that it is totally awesome!!! I personally like it so much that if it was $100 or more I would totally buy it, it's above and beyond worth it! If your an 80's headbanger or a fan of any of Dokkens early material then GET THIS ALBUM, you WONT be sorry.