Band:	Dokken
Album:	Breaking The Chains
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	1981
Guest review by:	DayFly

1982 Release
01. Breakin' The Chains
02. Seven Thunders
03. I Can't See You
04. In The Middle
05. We're Illegal
06. Paris
07. Stick To Your Guns
08. Young Girls
09. Felony
10. Nightrider

1983 Release
11. Breaking The Chains
12. In The Middle
13. Felony
14. I Can't See You
15. Live To Rock (Rock To Live)
16. Nightrider
17. Seven Thunders
18. Young Girls
19. Stick To Your Guns
20. Paris Is Burning [live]

For one of the more notable L.A. metal bands, Dokken's beginnings were rather humble compared to other debuts of the era. It's not the lack of direction or identity as much as the fact that the band members would simply get better at writing memorable songs and perhaps that Jeff Pilson (who contributed to the majority of the band's songs thereafter) was not yet around. Musically, Dokken's style was rooted in the more recent moments of Judas Priest and Scorpions as well as the original Sunstrip band Van Halen which makes them a bit heavier than the average first-wave glam band. However, Don Dokken's mellow, soaring vocals, the band's penchant for vocal harmonies and, depending on the perspective, either brooding and bland or dark and sophisticated love-related lyrics never gave the band that important reputation for being dangerous bad boys like Mötley Crüe or pure fun like Poison.

The most immediate impression Breaking The Chains leaves is the raw production that would somehow feel more at home in the Soundhouse than in a Strip club. Generally, the hook-driven songs are not too well off on such a rough foundation but there are nevertheless a couple of gems to be found. In particular the energetic opening title track, deservedly still a staple at live shows, sports one of these riffs that immediately tell you you're about to enjoy the next three minutes. The live recorded (not that there are notable differences in the production) "Paris Is Burning" ends the album on a similar fast and successful note. None of the other songs are equally good, but "Felony" and "Young Guns" come close. Both are more laid back, vocal-wise more confident mid-paced rockers that in retrospect are revealing future classics like "It's Not Love". But overall Breaking The Chains leaves a lot to be desired. It's not a bad record by any means but it is a bit perplexing all the same that all it would take was a bit refinement of this very album.