Broken Bones

Broken Bones is a fulfilling work on which Dokken powerfully pulled together around hard, powerful guitar riffs, shaded, beautiful melody and a somewhat dark, heavy sound. While firmly keeping the band’s sure songcraft continuing from the 1980s, here the powerful feel of the riffs and the songs’ sure tension are foregrounded rather than gorgeous decoration. A more hard-edged record. From the opener “Empire” and the dramatic title track “Broken Bones” to the moving “Best of Me,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Blind” and “Waterfall” convey the work’s fullness. Jon Levin’s outstanding guitar and Don Dokken’s singing intertwine powerfully. A record on which, in passages where vocals and guitar vividly cross, Dokken’s own melodic appeal firmly and powerfully appears. It truly suits when you want to hear classic hard rock with a slightly harder, more mature expression. An engaging record showing the sure ability of Dokken in its mature period — a record where the band’s steady appeal shines.