r/hairmetal

When I was a teenager (in the 2010s), I asked my mother if we could watch a Nightmare On Elm Street movie. Her pick was was the aptly titled "Dream Warriors", the third movie in the series. It was a great movie full of striking visuals, a moody atmosphere, and a whole lot of great one liners... But the real icing on the cake here was the soundtrack. Not only was the movie an atmospheric horror masterpiece, it was also pretty metal.

When I first heard Dokken's "Into The Fire" during the intro to the movie, I couldn't help but look it up later on Thus began my love affair with one of the coolest metal bands of the 80s... A band very good at making music about love affairs. I hadn't had much relationship experience at the time, so the lyrics sort of flew over my head.

What didn't fly over my head was George Lynch's absolutely searing guitar solos across all of their albums. I like lots of 80s metal and there are plenty of awesome guitarists to pick from that time, but there's something about Lynch's solos that really speak to me. Though I moved onto other genres later and didn't listen to as much Dokken for awhile, his skill always stuck with me and I'd find myself returning to songs like "Dream Warriors" just to hear him belt it out once again.

Flash forward almost a decade, and by chance I'll be having the opportunity to see both Don Dokken and George Lynch live at the same venue later this year. To hype myself up, I hit play on some of their music for the first time in awhile. The album I want to discuss however, is Under Lock & Key.

Now, I expected to enjoy the music. Musically, Dokken is one of the finest bands from that time. What I didn't expect, is how much the lyrics *hit different* now that I'm in my mid 20s. I've had a fair share of relationship experience at this point, some of which would be fitting for a Dokken song. And no set of Dokken songs tell a story about love gone dark quite like Under Lock & Key. For this review, I'm going to discuss how each song from the album spoke to me both lyrically and musically.

Unchain The Night is a great album opener. The acoustic, slow, dark intro is foreboding, hinting of the 80s awesomeness to soon follow. I can practically picture Don Dokken and George Lynch emerging from a dark neon-tinged fog to rock us, and boy did they ever. It kicks off with that classic 80s metal riff groove, and Don begins singing his tale of heartbreak. I'm not sure what it means to "Unchain The Night", but it sounds like his love will be gone if that happens. At the same time, the relationship he describes sounds quite toxic and non-reciprocal. As if to answer the emotion bursting from Don's vocal cords, George Lynch begins his epic elegy to this twisted relationship. His solo seems to express the intense emotions that Don's words just can't quite give justice.

This theme of Lynch's guitar wails enhancing the mood conjured by Don's lyrics continues in mid-tempo banger, "The Hunter". Don Dokken's lyrics paints the picture of a man helpless against his lustful desires, like heavy metal's answer to "Hungry Like The Wolf". I love how Lynch embellishes the end of Don's lines with these sexy guitar licks too. Lynch's solo has this longing, fatalistic tone, and much like Don"s desires the tension doesn't resolve. As a team, Lynch and Dokken paint bold emotional landscapes.

What "The Hunter" did for animalistic lust, "In My Dreams" does for longing. Don Dokken can't sleep, tosses and turns all night, and when he finally does get some shut-eye, he dreams of his lost love still by his side. This is a state that many people will enter at some point following a difficult breakup. Then, all the pent up emotion explodes in a cathartic guitar solo from George Lynch. This solo is both very fast/technical and emotionally intensely.

"It's Not Love" hit pretty close to home. Realizing his toxic relationship is not really love, our singer was forced to let her go and leave her so lonely. The dark, chromatic melodies from Lynch's guitar reinforces the dramatic circumstances of this departure in darkly emotive fashion.

"Lightnin' Strikes Again" keeps it fairly ambiguous, but I take that lightning to be bottled up emotions. When it bursts and you've been holding back too long it's like lightning striking suddenly. Sometimes, it can be the end of you. And like such an outburst, Lynch's piercing guitar tone strikes you in the ear like lighting (again). This is also one of the faster, more "heavy metal" tracks on the album.

"Will The Sun Rise" in my mind gives off the Soviet era fear of a nuclear winter, asking "will the sun rise when it's over, will there be a sky?", stressing that "nobody wins the game of chance". Wisely exclaiming, "Open your eyes, do you think that you're the best?". Food for thought about humility on an 80s rock album. Lynch kills it as always with another scorcher of a solo.

Judge me all you want, but as a teenager my favorite song on this album was "Slippin Away". The epitome of a power ballad it may be, but having been through a few difficult breakups, Don's powerful vocals do justice to the devastating feeling of losing what you thought was going to be a lasting love, and George Lynch's shrieking, wailing guitar solo where he absolutely spills his guts into those strings with the most heart-wrenching urgency still pierces my soul to this day. I don't know if it's still my top song on the album, but it still holds a special place in my heart.

"Jaded Heart" is up there on my list this time around. I can definitely relate to the theme, it's a specific kind of heartbreak where you meet somebody who you really fall for but they've been hurt so much before you met them that they're unreachable. It's happened to me a few times, and Don Dokken sells out with his delivery on this track; his voice absolutely soars. The drums, riffs, and once again the wonderful guitar solo from Mr Scary himself coming in with a tragic, heartbroken sincerity come together to make an excellent heavy metal song. Underrated track honestly.

Even more up-tempo is the flat out 80s style rocker "Don't Lie To Me" demonstrates that Don Dokken does not "love the way you lie" and demands with conviction and authority not to lie to him "like the way you used to do". We've all been lied to and lost some trust, so this is a very relatable track. And honestly if she still lies to him again after that powerful chorus and assertively scorching guitar solo from George Lynch, then she ain't the one.

The album's closer, "Till The Livin' End", accurately depicts with a fast paced metal rocker the frustration of a relationship that's simply not working out. He doesn't want to wait forever for somebody to change so he can have a good relationship with them. George Lynch gives it all for the last solo on the album in quasi-speed metal fashion. And while Don can't wait till the livin end, George Lynch sure can be considered a guitar legend till then after that blazing solo.

The overall thought I had throughout this entire album is how George Lynch and Don Dokken work together cohesively as a duo to bring these deeply relatable themes to life without simplifying or lightening their darkness in the process. Despite how heavy this album is and how elaborate the solos are, this is a very accessible album. There's something in it for everyone. I personally believe this is not only one of the best 80s metal albums, but best metal albums period and I strongly recommend anyone who doesn't dig Dokken to sit with this one just a bit more because it seriously kicks ass.

Anyhow, I hope you all enjoyed the review and until next time, I'll be rokken with Dokken. Dream on metalheads, look out! 🤘

In my opinion one of the most underrated and overlooked guitarists of the 80's. Andy Taylor could absolutely shred. I remember when Power Station and this album came out people were absolutely blown away. How could the guy from Duran freaking Duran play like this!

I heard a rumor from someone who toured with Poison as a roadie in 1999 who told me that during the down years of glam, and Poison (mid-late 90s), etc, that Bobby offered to buy out the other guys ownership in the band, which they all did (no one that had songwriting or publishing conceded that, only the IP that is Poison). It was said that Bobby had the foresight to believe the band could one day be profitable again, and the other guys were broke because they had lived extravagantly, whereas Bobby had not only lived frugally, he had invested wisely.

According to him, since that time, all the more recent tours came only after intense negotiations where each member got varying amounts of the tour proceeds, and not a true 25/25/25/25. Because Bobby had paid out to the other guys for their shares way back when, he took the lions share of any 'new' money. I always assumed this was a rumor but now I am not so sure.

Given that Bret is said to be the lone holdout in more frequent Poison touring, it makes you wonder. IF Bret still owned 25% of Poison, surely 25% of Poison live touring is worth significantly more than 100% of Bret Michaels touring, which is a club show. I cannot see Live Nation paying Poison less than $600K a show for 40-50 cities. Bret Michaels isn't getting more than $50K a night on his best night, yet Bret seems to have no issue avoiding Poison tours to do his own. So it makes you wonder. I've met Bret Michaels on a half dozen occasions at meet & greets, he is by far the nicest guy in the band and maybe the nicest guy in rock. If you've ever met Bobby, you know he is very unpleasant.

This was Bret's statement earlier today:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D1WGaZ7Nk/

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So I just bought a Slip Of The Tongue and absolutely love it. I’m 47 years old and just never got around to buying this back in the day but my question is how are the later albums? I know there’s one with Red Beach, and that Doug Aldrich was the guy for a while too… Which ones are worth picking up?

w/ Slash and Joe Satriani on guitar and backing vocals from Ozzy.

Another banger to start your day.