Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2024 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
October 2024
- Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
- DGM: Endless
- Daytona: Garder la Flamme
- Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
- Frost*: Life In The Wires
- Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
- Fans Of The Dark: Video
- Radioactive: Reset
- House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
- Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire
September 2024
- Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
- Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
- Eclipse: Megalomanium II
- SteelCity: Reverence
- Hydra: ReHydrated
- Heartwind: III
- Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
- Find Me: Nightbound
- The Nail: The Nail
- Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
- Stryper: When We Were Kings
- Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
- Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
- Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly
August 2024
- Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
- Paralydium: Universe Calls
- Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
- Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
- All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
- Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2
July 2024
- Ironflame: Kingdom Torn Asunder
- Spektra: Hypnotized
- (Michael) Palace: Reckless Heart
- Mr. Big: Ten
- Dark Mile: Dark Mile
June 2024
- Kaipa: Sommargryningsljus
- Sunbomb: Light Up The Sky
- Seven Spires: A Fortress Called Home
- Atlantic: Another World
- Xeneris: Eternal Rising
- New Horizon: Conquerors
- Issa: Another World
Atkins May Project: Valley of Shadows
Atkins May Project: Valley of Shadows
Heavy Metal
4.0/5.0
Website
Gonzo Multimedia
by Craig Hartranft, 12.12.2012
Valley of Shadows is the second album from vocalist Al Atkins and guitarist Paul May, but first experience with the Atkins May Project. With a first spin, I can definitely say that Atkins, the Judas Priest founder and former vocalist, is an acquired taste. His raspy, leather, vocals eventually grow on you, perhaps like an itchy rash, after a second spin.
Al Atkins & Paul May: from right to left.
The strength of Valley of Shadows is definitely Paul May's classic hard rock and heavy metal guitar work. The song composition and guitar solos carry Atkins across every single song. Yet, despite my initial reservations, upon listening to songs like No Ordinary Man, Bitter Waters, or Harder They Fall, I can't imagine Atkins not doing the vocals on any AMP song. And he sounds downright soulful, though grizzly, on the title cut, a song with strong allusions to the the 23rd Psalm.
Alternatively, and mostly, I dig the breadth and depth of the guitar driven, classic and melodic, hard rock and heavy metal compositions. May can be blistering as on Welcome to the Nightmare and bluesy as on Bitter Waters. He's certainly a confident and inspired composer and guitarist, showing great versatility and variation in every song. It's what makes Valley of Shadows quite good and easily recommended.
Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.
TweetIn Short
Valley of Shadows offers a platter full of classic and melodic heavy metal driven by Paul May's excellent guitar work and Al Atkins raspy, whiskey soaked, vocals.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]