It’s been 11 years since Dokken released Broken Bones but the band is back with Heaven Comes Down and it’s one that you’ll remember.
Broken Bones didn’t have the amount of push behind it that you’d want from a new record but this time around, the game has changed, they’ve pushed the hell out of the album and for good reason and, being the first to feature drummer BJ Zampa and bassist Chris McCarvill, it’s a banger.
It’s also the first album not to feature longtime drummer Mick Brown as a member of the band but Zampa fills the role to perfection. Then throw in the new bass styles of Zampa and you’ve got a hell of a new lineup.
Heaven Comes Down could easily be looked at as a comeback album for Dokken, who seem to be one of the forgotten powerhouses of the 80’s metal movement. The record is loaded with catchy guitar riffs and hooks and is loaded with moments where longtime guitarist Jon Levin takes the opportunity to just show off and it’s a fun ride.
Songs like “Fugitive” and “Gypsy” opening the album is a two-punch knockout that you have to wake up from quickly because after “Is It Me or You?,” the band hits you with “Just Like a Rose,” which is easily one of the standout tracks and is a home run.
After “Saving Grace” comes the next standout track in “Over The Mountain.” This one’s chorus is similar to “Just Like a Rose” in that it’s so addicting it should be illegal. It’s a fist-pumping arena anthem that the band really needs to add to the live setlist.
The record closes in acoustic form with “Santa Fe,” which is just beautiful. It also shows that Don Dokken can still sing after all these years and showcases his vocals in a vulnerable way.
In the end, Heaven Comes Down is the Dokken album that Dokken needed to release right now. While Don Dokken may not be able to hit the high notes and ranges he did in his prime, he stays in the range that he knows he can hit comfortably and makes sure the listener gets a Dokken product they can take pride in. Then, throw in Levin’s amazing and underrated guitar work and this is a record that holds up in the legacy of Dokken.
Rating: 8/10
-Reggie Edwards