Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2023 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
September 2023
- Rockett Love: Galactic Circus
- Kerrigan: Bloodmoon
- Taz: Shipwrecked, Vol 2
- Taz: Wake Up & Sweat, Vol 1
- Ronnie Romero: Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters
- The Flower Kings: Look At You Now
- Vega: Battlelines
- Blackbird Angels: Solsorte
- Primal Fear: Code Red
- Eclipse: Megalomanium
- Seventh Wonder: Mercy Falls (Reissue 2008/2023)
- Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape (Reissue 2010/2023)
August 2023
- Hurricane: Reconnected
- U.D.O.: Touchdown
- Streetlight: Ignition
- Sarayasign: The Lion's Road
- Neal Morse: The Dreamer - Joseph - Part One
- Rian: Wings
- Icon Of Sin: Legends
- Lancer: Tempest
- King Kobra: We Are Warriors
- Dark Sky: Signs Of The Time
- Hell In The Club: F.U.B.A.R.
- Kent Hilli: Nothing Left To Lose
July 2023
- Turkish Delight: Volume Two
- Winterstorm: Everfrost
- Scream Maker: Land Of Fire
- James Robledo: Broken Soul
- Houston: Relaunch III
- All For Metal: Legends
- Withering Scorn: Prophets Of Demise
- Bloodbound: Tales From The North
- Kikimora: For A Broken Dime
- Degreed: Public Address
June 2023
- Night Legion: Fight Or Fall
- Midnite City: In At The Deep End
- Pyramaze: Bloodlines
- Shakra: Invincible
- Vypera: Race Of Time
- Stardust: Kingdom Of Illusion
- Pride Of Lions: Dream Higher
- Joel Hoekstra's 13: Crash Of Life
- The Defiants: Drive
- Ray Alder: II
- Art Nation: Inception
- False Memories: Hybrid Ego System
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.
Tweet
In 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
Album of the Week
Formed in 1999 by singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson, Sweden's Eclipse is well into their third decade of making music. In the recent past, their recordings and reputation have ... [ Read More ]