http://www.dangerdog.com/2014-music-reviews/atkins-may-project-empire-of-destruction.php#.VEuvDfnF_wk
Atkins May Project: Empire of Destruction
Melodic Heavy Metal
4.0/5.0
Guitarist
Paul May and vocalist Al Atkins have a working relationship that spans
better than 20 years, beginning largely with the latter's solo albums.
Lately, the guitarist and Judas Priest founder have been collaborating
as the Atkins May Project, an extension of their musical relationship.
They return with their third album,Empire of Destruction.
Atkins May Project: both of them.
Fundamentally,
Atkins May deliver traditional melodic heavy metal, with a strong rock
groove at times and May's vibrant and fiery guitar work at the center.
Atkins basically sounds the same with his grizzly leather voice, just
older. Thankfully, he has enough sense, at his age, not over extend
himself and stay in his range. He's not my favorite vocalist but, as I
said with the previous album, I can't imagine anyone else doing these
songs. It also seems that May composes the songs to fit his voice,
excepting his roaring leads, keeping everything else steady and almost
low key. You catch this with the two longest numbers Here Comes The Rain
and Whisper to the Wind, where Atkins could easily be singing these
songs from overstuffed recliner, while the more youthful May goes about
his massive solos.
But
AMP can be jammin, taking their metal and revving up the tempo. The
Midas Touch and World At War rush along at a quick pace like classic
power metal. Similar in speed, but with a more hard rock angle is their
cover of Thin Lizzy's Are You Ready. Conversely, The Darkness Within,
even with it's rock groove, is somewhat of slower churning number. All
this is rather typical and expected of May's song composition. He keeps
things varied and different. It's hard to say how long this relationship
will last, specifically how much more Atkins has left as he approaches
seventy. But if a third time is a charm, then the Atkins May Project
deliver another fine helping of guitar-driven classic heavy metal.
BTW: My addition of Empire of Destruction came with a bonus DVD of music videos and an interview with May and Atkins.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO:
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO:
 | Empire of Destruction CD/DVD - £9.99 |
 | Valley of Shadows/The Serpents Kiss 2CD - £9.99 |
 | Valley of Shadows CD - £9.99 |
 | The Serpents Kiss CD - £9.99 |
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