"Shadows of Life" is a piece of melodic heavy rock that captures the Dokken sound in the mid-90s, bridging their classic melodic heavy metal with the darker, heavier production trends of the era. The track is characterized by a heavy, mid-tempo groove driven by Jeff Pilson's bass and Mick Brown's solid drumming, avoiding the furious speed of their 80s work. George Lynch's guitar work features dense, textured riffs and a signature, blues-infused, yet modern, shredding solo, though the overall mix gives the song a thicker, less airy feel than earlier Dokken songs. Don Dokken’s vocals are strong, moving from a moody, lower-register verse to a more open and emotionally resonant chorus that retains the band’s melodic core. The song stands as a powerful, non-love-related track that helped re-establish the band's credibility with a more contemporary, powerful sound while still being instantly recognizable as Dokken.