Rhino Records is now finally releasing the 1986 "home video" from Dokken, a fun hour to spend with the classic line-up, that features all their videos from the glory years, and backstage footage from their tours of Europe and the US from 1986. While Dokken were very popular during the same time period as other bands like Motley Crue, Poison, Ratt, etc., these guys always had a heavier sound and came across as more musical than many of their "hair metal" peers. On this video, which for the most part is fairly grainy, almost like a home movie (which might be a turn-off for some), you get to see the personal side of the members-Mick Brown, the wild and crazy drummer; George Lynch-the aloof yet virtuoso guitar player; Jeff Pillson-the professional and intelligent bass player; and Don Dokken-the reserved and private frontman. All their major videos are here thanks to Rhino's adding their late 80's works like "Walk Away", Heaven Sent", "Dream Warriors", and "Burning Like a Flame", and while typical of the cheeseball videos churned out by hard rock and metal bands of the time, they are fun to watch nontheless, especially "Breaking the Chains" and "In My Dreams". Some of the backstage stuff here is priceless, especially Lynch and Pillson goofing around in a hotel room with recording equipment, doing a spoof on an inflatible guitar commercial.
There is a bonus interview with Don Dokken and Mick Brown, the only two original members still in the band, taped from late 2006, as they look back at 1986 and the making of the video, as well as the current state of the band and the music industry. It's a pretty candid and fun interview, as the two are sipping drinks and obviously catching a buzz while doing so, with Brown especially an animated interview who loves to tell stories about their past good times and wild antics. Despite the somewhat shoddy quality of the video as a whole (even the interview is shot with way too much light), Unchain the Night is a very fun watch and will allow you to go back in time 21 years and experience what made 80's metal so much fun, with one of its most underrated bands.
Song Listing
1) Into the Fire
2) Just Got Lucky
3) Breaking the Chains
4) Alone Again
5) The Hunter
6) In My Dreams
7) It's Not Love
8) Walk Away-bonus
9) Dream Warriors-bonus
10) Heaven Sent-bonus
11) Burning Like a Flame-bonus
12) Interview with Don Dokken & Mick Brown, December 2006
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