2008 sees 'Dokken' back with their new release 'Lightning Strikes Again', an album that seems to have taken an age to hit the shelves, in fact it's four years since the rather respectable 'Hell to Pay'. The line-up is thankfully the same this time around and quote “is a welcome return to the classic sound”, personally I thought the traditional sound had been rediscovered on the previous release, but if it helps 'Don' flog a few more copies so be it. Joking apart this is the most tradition sounding 'Dokken' album since 'Dysfunctional' which sees 'Jon Levin' taking on the spirit of 'George Lynch' and turning in some sublime performances. It's not all good news though as 'Don's' vocal range has further diminished, granted he's still got a decent set of pipes but this is far from the best I have heard him, despite this it's hard to disagree that this is their finest release in a long time.

A rocker is chosen to open and while it doesn't quite go for the throat like some of the 80's 'Dokken' material, 'Standing on the Outside' is a strong opener in the classic mould, very melodic and with a good chorus, but the star of the show for me is 'Jon Levin', great hooks, solos and licks- all in the true 'Dokken' style. The tempo is maintained with the not too dissimilar 'Give Me a Reason', which again sees 'Jon' on superb form, whilst 'Don' himself also turns in a very respectable vocal performance. The pace falls a little for 'Heart to Stone' which certainly recalls their early 80's style, in fact at times you would swear it was 'George Lynch' on guitar, lyrically it's all been done before, but that said rarely as good as this. At this juncture the album takes a slight departure with the modern sounding 'Disease', personally I'm not totally sure this should have made it onto the album, but ultimately it's a decent cut, with some interesting effects on 'Don's' vocals. The pace falls for the first ballad 'How I Miss Your Smile' a fairly generic but inoffensive piece, while the less typical Power Ballad 'Oasis', benefits from some sublime 'Levin' fret work. The momentum is picked up with the energetic 'Point of No Return' a good hearty 'Dokken' old school rocker, nothing complicated but still effective. The 'Scorpion's' sounding ballad 'I Remember' ensues in solid if slightly predictable fashion, while 'Judgement Day' picks the pace up and features some passionately sung lyrics, while 'Levin' again steals the show with an inspired performance. Next up is 'It Means' a song which balances a melodic chorus with darker heavier verses, whilst Eastern undertones give it another facet and all told is pretty decent stuff. The longest track of the album 'Release Me' follows in balladsy fashion but ultimately could have benefited from a few minutes shaving off it's running time, as it feels drawn-out and sadly tedious by the end. 'Lightning Strikes Again' closes with the rocker 'This Fire' and it's a good one at that, very much in the classic mould being braced by a fine pulsating rhythm compliments of 'Barry Sparks' and 'Mick Brown', while 'Jon Levin' gets in more splendid hooks, pulls and a superb solo.

The special edition version I own comes complete with a “Europe Bonus Track”, it's titled 'Sunset Superstar' and is a good brisk rocker, pretty simplistic, especially the chorus but credit given it comes off unexpectedly well, with 'Jon Levin' unsurprisingly on top form.

Ok this isn't up to the heights of 'Tooth and Nail' or 'Under Lock and Key', but it is a very respectable release and I urge any old school 'Dokken' fans to give it a try!