Elektra - 1987
9/10
Despite being one of the most liked albums in Dokken's arsenal by the greater metal fanbase, I find it funny that their fourth full-length is also one of the most difficult to pen down to a greater narrative. On one hand, Back For The Attack could be seen as a return to form for the fans that weren't overly keen on the glammier leanings that coated Under Lock And Key. Yet, its less-focused approach seems to result in a lot of solid tracks that don't hold up to the quality of the previous two records, feeling instead like a lot of throwaways that (just) got lucky. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it runs more than an hour in length?
Thankfully, there are several explosive standouts that not only reignite the heaviness that coated Tooth And Nail, but reflect its superior songwriting. Opener "Kiss Of Death" is one of my favorite songs Don and co. ever wrote, as the riffwork borders speed metal that matches clear but powerful vocal wails, being such an immaculate way to kick off the energy. On the entire other side of the album, we of course have the spooky season classic "Dream Warriors," not only a fantastic ode to the Nightmare On Elm Street film of the same title, but an incredible number on its own. The softer licks create such a cool atmosphere that almost feels somber, before letting in a hopeful chorus that exudes the same strength as the album's opener. And I can't not mention the centerpiece instrumental "Mr. Scary," George Lynch's greatest humblebrag in terms of showcasing his technical abilities that still feel extremely catchy.
Actually, that may be the best way to sum up the rest of the album; it's catchy as hell! Very few other songs standout in technical construction and booming memorability the way the aforementioned ones do, but I also struggle to find a single song on Back For The Attack that straight up sucks or is too obvious of a filler. "So Many Tears" and "Standing In The Shadows" opt for the more emotion-laced direction, the former caking on their signature gang chorus, while "Burning Like A Flame" and "Stop Fighting Love" amp up the feel-good grooves. I also really want to shout out "Night By Night," as it falls somewhere in between, likely a more obvious filler that still manages to be one of my favorites. None of these songs are anything overly notable, but every time I hear them, I'm glad they're on.
Frankly, I chalk a lot of this album's existence up to the sheer fact that the CD was in its early stages. Because Dokken could record an hour's worth of music, they simply did, and the results just happened to be a whole lot of fun. It does unfortunately hold it a step back from their previous two records, as some songs surely could have been cut out, and others given a little more focus. But as a whole, I consider this to be a very happy accident that I find myself coming back to just as regularly as the other classics.
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