Beast from the East (Live)

Recorded at a tour stop in Japan in April 1988, Beast from the East confirms Dokken’s reputation as one of the most reputable acts of the much-maligned hair metal movement. The band specialized in mid-tempo rock songs, full of tension and glory — perfect material for this eager Japanese crowd, who can be heard cheering and singing along throughout. In “Kiss of Death,” “Unchain the Night,” and “Dream Warriors” George Lynch’s guitar surges from the stage like a radioactive tidal wave, as Don Dokken’s vocals sail overheard like some magnificent wind. If it sounds like fantasy, it’s because it is, at least in part. Beast from the East has the thrust of a great comic book, or an awe-inspiring adventure movie. Maybe that’s why they were so beloved by the Japanese. If Beast from the East can be experienced as a kind of fantastic adventure — a musical counterpart to Dragonslayer or Labyrinth — then the spectacular Lynch instrumental “Mr. Scary” is undoubtedly a trip to the wizard’s lair.