Dokken Back in

Originally released back in 2006 as Time To Take A Stand, Moonstone Project's re-named, re-packaged, and re-released Hidden In Time comes complete with three extra tracks. The re-packaging is excellent with superbly gothic artwork but it is the list of guest artists that really catches the eye. Hidden In Time is a classy, blues-tinged hard rock album that will delight fans of timeless, classic rock music.

Sure, they may have been the kings of heavy metal Cheez Whiz, but unlike many image-conscious '80s rockers, Dokken wrote genuinely appealing songs. Frontman Don Dokken's voice carried better than most belters, and George Lynch was a ferociously gifted guitarist who could tug at the heartstrings as easily as he could burn down the bedroom…

Sure, they may have been the kings of heavy metal Cheez Whiz, but unlike many image-conscious '80s rockers, Dokken wrote genuinely appealing songs. Frontman Don Dokken's voice carried better than most belters, and George Lynch was a ferociously gifted guitarist who could tug at the heartstrings as easily as he could burn down the bedroom. Under Lock and Key, which wasn't as combustive as Dokken's first two albums Breaking the Chains and Tooth and Nail, seemed like an effort by the band to attract a larger following. It worked. Candy metal softballs like "It's Not Love," "Unchain the Night," and "In My Dreams" were heavy enough to keep the guys rockin', but sensitive enough to attract the chicks. And isn't that what '80s metal was all about? ~ Jon Wiederhorn

After regaining a large amount of credibility with their fans with the release of “Erase The Slate”, an album the reestablished the band’s riff driven metal credentials and spelled the end of any future experimentation in the murky world of grunge mediocrity, Dokken came to a crossroads of sort and had to decide whether they would continue revisiting their past of try something different. Having dropped the flamboyant 80s guitarist Reb Beach, they ended up picking up former Europe guitarist John Norum, an axe slinger whose metal credentials are a bit firmer than Reb’s, his appearance on “The Final Countdown” not withstanding. But unlike the expected result of more 80s inspired metal, what ends up coming about is a dark and somewhat doom rock oriented exploration of Don Dokken’s deeper side.

It is packed with the best top notch guitarists, Malmsteen, Kotzen, Lynch, Gillis, Zappa ,Beach and more. What makes this a great buy is if you like guitarists, they are all here. Great vocalists, percussion; and production was done with great care to preserve OZZY's song integrity.