Under Lock And Key Review

Release Date: 1985
Label: Elektra
Genres: Pop-Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Hair Metal
Number Of Tracks: 10
Though purists often cite Tooth and Nail as their favorite, Dokken's third album Under Lock And Key remains the best introduction to the band's sound.

Sound:	10
Lyrics:	8
Impression:	10
Overall rating:	9.5
Reviewer rating:	9.3
Users rating:	9.7
Votes:	12

overall: 9.3

Reviewed by: JackWhite1988, on september 14, 2006

Sound: Dokken had achieved moderate success with their second album "Tooth & Nail" which featured a few radio hits in the early '80s. This was the bands third trial and it was a charm. Under Lock & Key ultimately became the bands highest selling album and a piece of classic metal. The album is 21 years old and still a listenable album. Don Dokken's anthemic choruses matched with guitar virtuoso George Lynch's chainsaw guitar sound. // 10

Lyrics and Singing: Lyrically, nothing deep here but just great upbeat rock tracks and a couple ballads. Super-hit singles "In My Dreams" and "It's Not Love" are fun songs that feature above average guitar work. This is a metal record, there's no denying this. Don Dokken's vocals compliment the band and the songs they sing. His range isn't very high pitched but this is what set Dokken apart from other bands at the time. // 8

Impression: The subjects on this album are more cheerful which is often times frowned upon by today's metal listening youth who apparently have forgotten that if it weren't for guys like Dokken metal's torch wouldn't have been passed. An interesting thing that many people don't know is that Dokken has been considered an influence by bands such as Children of Bodom, Hammerfall and Stratovarius. Put your personal issues with make-up wearing '80s bands aside and do what your supposed to do as a musician and listen to the actual record to judge the album rather than looking at the cover. "Unchain The Night" is a fan favorite. "The Hunter" is an emotional rocker. "In My Dreams" has an awesome guitar solo. "It's Not Love" is a chainsaw guitar song. "Lightning Strikes Again" is probably the best composed song on the album. It's a classic metal masterpiece. // 10

Comments

[Rhoads2000]

Yes Dokken is the Best and Hopefully the youth of today and tommorow will discover there greatness!

[Motley666]

This is one of those best of the best 80's Hair Metal bands! Start a revolution and bring it back!

[01chardw]

no, due to the fact that hair metal sucks ass

[Dudeman321]

01chardw wrote:

no, due to the fact that hair metal sucks ass

you a ****ing faggot hair metal is best

[gorczynskir1]

this album rocks yes its hair metal but still the music is very enjoyable and besides lynch's guitar work is awsome very unique and unorthodox player

[pwninator123]

Don't hate on genres, hate on specific bands in the genres.

That being said, Dokken wins! George Lynch is beast!

[MaggaraMarine]

pwninator123 wrote:

Don't hate on genres, hate on specific bands in the genres.

Agree. People hate glam metal today because thrash bands back in the 80s hated them and they think it's cool to hate them. But I don't think thrash bands (like Metallica) hate glam bands any more and the thing they hated wasn't the music, it was how they dressed! There's no glam vs. thrash war, I like both (glam is more my thing, though, but bands like Metallica and Megadeth are good) and in the early 80s when glam and thrash were new they were musically very close to each other. Listen to early Mötley Crüe or some other early 80s glam, they are pure metal and some of the thrash songs that I have heard sound the same as some glam band's songs. The lyrics just are different: Glam talks about girls when thrash talks about war.

[HardMetalReview]

It's a good review just try going to detail more with each section especially the sound section of the review