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Artist: Dokken

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Dokken Homepage

CD Title: Hell To Pay

 

Category: Hard Rock

Year: 2004

Label: Sanctuary Records Group

Catalog Number: 06076-86358-2

Personnel

Don Dokken Lead Vocals
Mick Brown Drums, Background Vocals
Barry Sparks Bass, Background Vocals
Jon Levin Guitars

Tracks

1.	The Last Goodbye
2.	Don't Bring Me Down
3.	Escape
4.	Haunted
5.	Prozac Nation
6.	Care For You
7.	Better Off Before
8.	Still I'm Sad
9.	I Surrender
10.	Letter To Home
11.	Can You See
12.	Care For You Unplugged

If you see any errors or omissions in the CD information shown above, either in the musician credits or song listings (cover song credits, live tracks, etc.), please post them in the corrections section of the Heavy Harmonies forum/message board.

The music discographies on this site are works in progress. If you notice that a particular Dokken CD release or compilation is missing from the list above, please submit that CD using the CD submission page. The ultimate goal is to make the discographies here at Heavy Harmonies as complete as possible. Even if it is an obscure greatest-hits or live compilation CD, we want to add it to the site. Please only submit official CD releases; no bootlegs or cassette-only or LP-only releases.

EPs and CD-singles from Dokken are also welcome to be added, as long as they are at least 4 songs in length.

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Existing comments about this CD

Heavy Harmonies Volunteer
From: Whiplash1972	Date: July 12, 2004 at 1:49
While it's not quite 'Tooth & Nail',or 'Back For the Attack',this is one helluva good CD from Don and the boys,& easily one of the year's best releases.From ass-kicking rockers like 'Don't Bring Me Down','Haunted',& 'Better Off Before',to the mid-tempo tunes 'Escape','Prozac Nation',and 'I Surrender' down to the ballad 'Care For You',this CD offers up a little something for everyone!Also, guitar afficianados will want to grab this one to hear Jon Levin play;the man is awesome! GRAB THIS ONE!

From: meradona	Date: July 12, 2004 at 9:08
Un poco flojo el disco, pero bueno vuelta al sonido de los 80, se nota la falta de Lynch aunque el Levin cumple bastante bien, antes de comprarlo, escuchalo y decide 6/10

From: Blue Tequila

Date: July 13, 2004 at 14:15

Welcome back Don and Co.! Very good album from start to finish. I think Jon's playing is great, his own unique style w/ a little mix of Lynch and Wylde added for good measure. 'Don't Bring Me Down' 'Escape' and 'Care For You' are probably my favorite tracks. What's cool is that the band went out and tried to create an album that harkens back to the Dokken we knew and loved, and after listening to it I would have to say they came pretty damn close to succeeding.

From: Metal T

Date: July 13, 2004 at 15:59

A very well crafted,well executed,solid album .Levin does a nice job trying to recreate George's sound.Especially the guitar parts in 'Can You See'--That song has a very 'Old Dokken' vibe .As well as 'Don't Bring Me Down'.Overall, 'Hell' could've been alot heavier,but like the above touched on,just don't expect 'Attack' or 'Tooth And Nail'---Those 2 records are classics and it would be a very tall order to top either of them . ----

From: Blaine	Date: August 3, 2004 at 2:36
WOW, Don's voice has changed. I have three of Dokken's CDs: 'Back For The Attack', 'Very Best of Dokken' and 'Up From The Ashes'. On this one, I like 'The Last Goodbye', 'Don't Bring Me Down', 'Prozac Nation', and 'Better Off Before'.

From: Uusiolli	Date: August 3, 2004 at 6:08
Oh my god. Bought this one and, I AM DISAPPOINTED. Don wasn't my favourite singer ever, and now he's by far worse than ever. Too many ballads and what's the point of adding acoustic versio of nearly acousctic song. Don, get back selling cars like you used to. 1/10

From: AOR freaky	Date: August 3, 2004 at 6:14
1/10 ? ! That's a joke, I hope Uusiolli !!! O.K., the days of Back For The Attack and Tooth And Nail are over, but this isn't that bad, and a good move in the right direction.

From: Uusiolli	Date: August 3, 2004 at 7:55
No joke. I gave it a shot, but... I just hope that Mick Brown would find a decent band. Don's voice has a power of a snail, just wondering if he can still hear his own singing without amplifiers.

From: jack	Date: August 13, 2004 at 5:25
Haven't bought it yet but is it as good as scorpion's unbreakable?

From: jeff	Date: August 15, 2004 at 21:16
great cd. thats all i have to say

From: jeff	Date: August 15, 2004 at 21:17
its better than the scorpions new one . although , i do like that aswell

From: jeff	Date: August 15, 2004 at 21:21
i have every dokken cd. i liek or love them all except shadow life . really sucks.

From: Christine	Date: August 16, 2004 at 1:16
I hate to say it, but I was really disappointed - I was expecting so much more. I can't stand how Don keeps singing in that lower register... I just heard 'Kiss Of Death' a few minutes ago and the difference is unbelievable! The only song that even came close to getting my attention was 'Don't Bring Me Down.' What a shame...

From: Geoff

Date: August 16, 2004 at 1:54

I'm still out on this one. While we all know this is not vintage Dokken I dare say it is not bad at all. I would probably still have to rate 'Erase the slate' a little higher, just because it does have those three gems on it. No massive stand out tracks on this one, just solid hard rock from start to finish. They're just too slow and not interesting enough for me these days. The ballad is nice and there are moments, I just miss the driving riffs as opposed to the slow ones.

From: Jason	Date: September 20, 2004 at 19:04
This is a great cd. There could be a few less ballads on here but there are a few heavy tunes that take you back to the Dokken roots of the 80s. As for Don Dokken's voice getting weaker, considering his age he still has it! He's in his early 50s and still hits high notes on occasion...Goodtimes Don!!!!!!

From: PEPO	Date: September 21, 2004 at 5:55
ESTE CD ES ABURRIDO Y TIENE UN PAR D TEMAS Q SE AGUANTAN,LA VOZ D DON ESTA D CULO,PERO EN DIRECTO MOLA OIR THE HUNTER Y MUCHOS BUENOS TEMAS,AUNQ ESTOS VIVEN DEJJJJJCARADAMENTE DEL PASAO.3/10

From: Border Rat

Date: September 28, 2004 at 16:00

After reading quite a few mediocre reviews on this album I had been in no rush to get it.I must say that this is one that I should have bought right away.Am I impressed? You bet I am with the songs and the SUPERB guitar playing throughout this album.I surrender is my favourite with its tale from the grave lyrics.Dark I know but it is super.Don't bring me down,prozac nation,care for you,can you see,better off before,haunted and escape are other favourites.One of the best albums of the year.

From: AJ	Date: October 13, 2004 at 13:22
Wasn't interested in picking this one up..but I finally did. Don's voice isn't what it used to be but still a great cd. I recommend it for Dokken fans.

From: jercar171	Date: October 30, 2004 at 23:59
this cd kicks ass from start to finish way better than last cd an they sound better than ever live just saw them a month ago an don sounds better than ever an so does the whole band

From: onemorecast	Date: November 8, 2004 at 23:31
this one needed to rock a little more, not bad though. Prozac Nation is a real catchy tune. I like the new guitar players sound I just wish he had the chance to let loose a little more. I liked the last c.d. better.

From: Steve

Date: November 13, 2004 at 11:37

Many of you people are such loser music fans ... this is a KICK ASS CD! You're all stuck in the '80s. U want Don and company to record "Tooth and Nail" again. Or "Back For the Attack". You want him to make the same record he's already made. The reason these bands like Dokken (though the recent Def Lep was in fact marginal) are still flickering but can't get any real momentum is because of their fans, who are stuck in the past and even when the bands offer 1/2 half an album's worth of 'signature'

From: Steve

Date: November 13, 2004 at 11:38

material, the band gets ripped by it's own fans. Then the kids who listen to nu-metal who think these bands were never any good look at posts like yours and go "See? They're over." In melody, emotional lyrics, and a singer with a clear, still talented voice, this is better than ANYTHING on the radio right now. John Levin's guitar playing is just awesome. A band like U2's fans will praise a great album, that may not repeat "The Joshua Tree". Hence they are still successful.

From: Rene	Date: November 13, 2004 at 12:23
I agree with you Steve, its still better than anything on the radio today. You are right about that but still, not a good album for DOKKEN fans. I loved ERASE THE SLATE but this one is not realy good but still better then any nu metal or alternative shit on the radio today. THATS WHY I NEVER HAVE THE RADIO ON. I prefere to listen to my cdīs and lpīs.

From: Geoff

Date: November 14, 2004 at 6:07

Wow Steve, I can't believe there are still people out there continuously making these awful 'you guys are still stuck in the 80's' comments. It sickens me like disease to my asshole. I know there are about 3 or 4 guys out there maybe a little possessive of all things 80's, but mate, the majority out there, like me, have thousands of albums past the 80's and love them all. I have always loved Dokken, but the simple fact of the matter is that their best albums were the ones recorded in the 80's.

From: Geoff

Date: November 14, 2004 at 6:10

I think this new album is a good solid hard rock album, as I said above, but it is not a scratch on what they did in the past. And I don't want to hear them re-do that. TNT never did the same thing twice and sound better today than they ever sounded- many bands progress brilliantly without sticking with their 80's sound. I don't want Dokken's 80's sound back, I want the quality I associate with Dokken's songwriting back. I want killer hard rock songs, not slow-riff driven tracks heard these days

From: dokken6008	Date: November 22, 2004 at 15:25
Best album of 2004 period. I am totally blown away by this release. 'Hell To Pay' contains some of the best Dokken tunes I have ever heard. And again, this is 2004--!! I am so very grateful to Don and the boys for recording this cd. Unbelievable.

From: Propane	Date: November 30, 2004 at 11:17
Not bad! Don's song writing is progressing, but perhaps the Beattle-esque stuff can stop. I have always hated the Beattles, so as I continue to steer clear of Beattles, I want to continue to buy Dokken.

From: dokken6008	Date: December 2, 2004 at 2:02
The only real sort of "Beatles" number on this disc being "Letter To Home".

Heavy Harmonies Volunteer
From: Blue Charvel	Date: December 9, 2004 at 13:17
Levin is a smokin' player, no argument there. Nice solid album, consistently rocks throughout with a nice big production. I don't really find myself missing Don's high register vocals which to me always sounded a bit strained and weak anyway. I see myself listening to this quite a bit going forward.

From: Metalhead66	Date: December 22, 2004 at 12:50
This really yanked my ear hard..It is very good.It grows on you like a sticky mold.Jon levin plays the axe well,Very Well!He's got the George vibe goin'(though he's NOT Mr. Lynch)he subs very nice.The Vocals are good also......Change can be Refreshing!!

From: AHUEA	Date: January 14, 2005 at 10:37
What the hell is this!!!! It's the most boring crapp I've heard in my life, Don's voice sucks, this shouldn't be dokken, it should be Don Dokken, please get Jeff and George Back for the Attack!!!!

From: Metal T	Date: January 14, 2005 at 13:29
..."Don's voice sucks" ?????? Welcome to your opinion,but Don sounded great on this record .Wake the h*ll up . ----

From: AHUEA	Date: January 18, 2005 at 13:16
his voice is too low, can't sing like he used to

From: Lynchomaniac

Date: January 31, 2005 at 20:45

Terrific "comeback" to the Dokkensound we all know and love, and while I must admit I'm not too impressed with Jon's Lynch ripoff solos (without succeeding)I'm equally much impressed with the riffs he's come up with! Don's vocals isn't as high and powerfull as they used to be, but the songs, production, overal performance - and not forgetting most importantly the riffs makes this album among Dokken's Top 5 recordings!

From: onemorecast

Date: February 19, 2005 at 0:20

Again, this is okay. It doesn't floor me like back for the attack did the first time I heard it. I continue to support all of the bands I liked in the 80's. I thought that Ratt's comeback album from a few years ago was their best since Out of the Cellar. When dokken does an album that rocks really hard again and has great songs, I will give it all the praise it is due. Hell to Pay is just Okay. Prozac Nation was my favorite song. I thought the last CD was better.

From: mid-life-crisis	Date: February 20, 2005 at 23:15
Great CD......you will not be disappointed. In my top 5 for 2004. Stop crying about what you want his voice or tunes to be. THIS cd is great. after 25 years we all change. enjoy the past but move on and enjoy the fact Dokken is still going... I like all dokken but this cd is one of the better ones. Covers all the Dokken feels and still sounds new. Great sound also. wow...

From: Mr AOR	Date: February 27, 2005 at 0:02
This is pretty weak. I'm just glad that I bought it used. Nine bucks blown! Very unimpressive. The vocals are not strong, the harmonies are mediocre, and the guitars are just above average. Songwriting is very weak.

From: fretboardfrenzy

Date: March 2, 2005 at 22:59

very good album from satrt to finish! don is singing great again for his age... i guess, he is at early 50's and still great singing. i like the all tunes on this album, specialy ''prozac nation''. very very nice song imo. jon d. levin is awesome! i loved his furious axe work at ''doro - force majeur'' album. i 1st heard mr. levin at 1989 with doro's band. he is killer six stringer! he should do instrumental solo album. 8,5/10

From: Ratt72	Date: March 20, 2005 at 15:47
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...wake me when it's finish....i'm desapointed...zzzzz

From: charvel man	Date: April 17, 2005 at 0:47
Well the back for the attack days are gone for sure and that's a shame, but this cd is a step in the right direction. Escape and prozac nation are the two best ones here. The guitar player is not Mr. Scary but he is good enough to make you not mind that he isn't.All in all it's OK 50-50 in my book. Just try and listen to it before you buy it or download a few tracks from limewire. out.

From: John	Date: April 18, 2005 at 10:41
Charvel you nailed it on the head. I remember wanting to throw this out of my moving vehicle the first time I heard it I was so p!ssed. Upon further listening it hit me that Don writes great songs in any genre and it does rock. The classic example of a CD that's a 'grower'. Give it time to sink in. You won't be sorry. Solid 8.5/10.

From: HardRocker	Date: November 11, 2005 at 10:45
A very boring hard rock album... But what's the point on that?Yes it rocks but it is boring... no memorable songs and a kind of flat production... Don has released much better albums in the past. 1999's album is by far much better than this boring rock album.

From: pereira	Date: December 28, 2005 at 0:07
i only heard one song from this album,the second track DONT BRING ME DOWN, i thought it was pretty cool! comparing this album to DYSFUNCTIONAL, the i guess this one is FAR better than the dissapointment that was dysfunctional! if everyone says this albums boring then what do you call the 90īs dokken albums???? i liked this one much better! LONG LIVE DOKKEN!!!

From: TomStavely	Date: April 12, 2006 at 10:47
READ THIS ONE!!!! anybody out there who doesnt own this DONT BUY IT i suspect thats Dokkens friends and family who are saying its good but for real dokken fans the truth is its a sack of shit Dokken need to either take 5yrs off and really learn how to make a record again or quit cuz this is fucking boring and frankly shit

From: Metal T	Date: April 12, 2006 at 18:43
One of our great american hard rock/metal bands.While nothing compares to the original line up,Don still forges ahead with his band,still makes quality music,and still has bucket loads of f**ing talent.To all the Dokken haters-you'd be better served to quit drinking the Metal Sludge Kool-Aid and Wake the F**k up .....

From: jmikep	Date: June 30, 2006 at 9:43
I appreciated the effort, but I couldn't bring myself to like this album. "Haunted" and "Prozac Nation" stand out. The rest was just "eh". I was really hoping for something more akin to Erase the Slate, which I thought was a phenomenal album.

From: rick kerch vzla	Date: December 22, 2006 at 11:52
Nice come back by an almost "cult" band.Good song and composition skills in here and they quite "revived"their glorious era.7/10.

From: wzcj02	Date: March 6, 2007 at 10:08
Not their best but a pretty good effort. I enjoyed the second half of the album much more than the first half. 7/10

From: Dead Planet	Date: March 8, 2007 at 17:03
Well I had high hopes for this one but IMO it is uninspired and tired crap. It lasted about 2 spins in my cd player.....

From: Rambo Rockerman	Date: January 20, 2008 at 10:46
I gave this CD to a School friend when it come out to hear,but can't remember the tracks.The guys hasn't returned it after those years. I'll have to track him down,to get it back or get a new one.

From: metalmaniac777

Date: January 3, 2010 at 12:06

Well, it rocks better (and harder) than "Long Way Home," so that's a step in the right direction, but it's still a hell of a long way from their glory days. By this point, it seems readily apparent that Don & company are unable--or unwilling, for whatever reason--to recapture the sound/style that garnered them accolades and listeners in the first place. It's a solid enough effort, perfectly serviceable, but there's nothing particularly special about it, and I wouldn't pay you a pauper's penny for it.

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