T & N - Slave to the Empire

T & N is the remnants of a failed attempt of a Dokken reunion.  Once the wheels fell off the wagon, once again, former Dokken members George Lynch and Jeff Pilson decided to do the T & N project.  Formerly known as Tooth and Nail, the boys had to change their name or get sued, due to copyright infringement.  For their debut release, Slave to the Empire, Lynch and Pilson penned 7 new tunes and re-recorded 5 classics.  The classics are interesting, because there are some new interpretations thrown in as well as a guest vocalist, well at least on 4 of the tunes.  As a bonus, "Wild" Mick Brown does the drumming on the re-recorded classics.  The original tunes have that blusier more modern sound, with an edge.   It is very simialr to the Lynch/Pilson material, released a few years back.

The re-recorded classics were a nice inclusion to this release.  The highlights for me, were Dug Pinnick (Kings X) on Tooth and Nail and Robert Mason (Warrant/Lynch Mob/Big Cock) on It's Not Love.  These re-recordings were top notch and rival the originals.  The other two were nice, but didn't hit me like these two did.  They also re-recorded Into the Fire featuring Pilson on vocals, but again not as appealing as the other two re-records.  The original material is strong, and Pilson does a really nice job vocally.  The standout tunes from the new material were Sweet Unknown and the title track.  The tunes are a little darker and blusier than their classic material, but it works.  All in all a solid release that will appease the Dokken fans wishing for the re-union, that will probably never happen.

Bottom Line: Lynch and Pilson once again delivering the goods, showing that the chemistry is still there.  It is ashame Don would not agree to join the the two, because this might have worked even more.  Heavy melodic tunes that keep that Dokken fire still burning.

Standout Tracks: Sweet Unknown, Tooth and Nail, Slave to Empire, It's Not Love

-Ragman wonders if Don could have even sung the new material.