London, UK – The rock world is buzzing with the revelation that good and evil can continue to work together in the form of former Judas Priest vocal legend and heavy metal frontman Al Atkins and Christian guitarist and music artist Paul May. Together these extreme opposites have come together once again to create a powerful new CD called Valley Of Shadows, now available on Gonzo Multimedia. Here once again, the men from the “Black Country” have produced an album of outstanding quality straight from the “Home of Metal”! This excellent collection of songs sees Atkins deliver some stand out vocal performances and May shred the axe like the old guitar masters.

‘Valley Of Shadows’ offers 10 “killer” tracks that burst with melody and metal mayhem. You’ll take a journey through what seems to be an “evolution” of rock. With all the elements of “classic” hard rock and metal, yet retaining an underlying progressive core, ‘Valley Of Shadows’ will not disappoint fans of the genre who decide to take the ride!

Says Al Atkins: “We have kept the same format for ‘Valley Of Shadows’ since it worked really well for our debut album ‘Serpent’s Kiss’, so we thought why change a winning formula.” Paul May adds: “I think the new album definitely leans more towards that ‘classic rock’ feel, with some modern twists thrown in for good measure, retaining its metal edge.”

Al Atkins: Noted for forming UK’s Judas Priest and fronting them for four years and laying down the foundations which would see them eventually selling 40 million albums worldwide. He also wrote songs for them which went gold like “Dreamer Deceiver”, “Never Satisfied”, “Winter”, “Caviar and Meths” and Priest’s all time classic “Victim of Changes”. Al’s unique powerful vocal style sites influences by noted rock singers Roger Daltrey, Paul Rodgers and longtime friend Robert Plant. Al has done countless radio and TV interviews worldwide and recently featured in the BBC TV ‘British Heritage’. He has even written a book on his musical life about growing up in Birmingham, UK alongside Robert Plant and Black Sabbath called ‘Dawn of the Metal Gods’. Al has released 6 solo albums to date, and teamed up with brilliant Christian writer/guitarist Paul May to record their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Serpent’s Kiss’.

Paul May: Some people learn to play guitar, Paul was born (again) to play guitar! Paul has become respected for his passionate, soulful guitar work and noted for his explosive and exciting solos. As a world-class professional guitarist and songwriter, Paul has played and recorded sessions across the globe, touring and playing throughout the UK, Europe, USA and the Eastern block. Paul appears on around 50 albums to date, featured in both the secular and Christian arenas. Paul is also a record producer and has covered the entire spectrum of musical tastes in production.

Now with the release of the new Atkins May Project CD, the dichotomous duo are ready once again to bring their special brand of rock and metal to the masses. Although the CD has no definite concept there are certain underlying themes that run throughout the songs. “The album is mainly about facing trials of life and the ‘demons’ you encounter on the way,” Paul explains. “It’s about standing up and being counted when you understand who you are. The title ‘Valley Of Shadows’ relates to many things…that dark night of the soul that finds us all…”

In closing Al has this to impart to the band’s fans, “We would like to say a big thanks to all our fans and friends that we have amassed over the long years and would just like to say..’KEEP IT METAL.’”

Atkins May Project – ‘Valley Of Shadows’ is available through Gonzo MultiMedia and can be purchased at: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15515

For more information: www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk

www.AlAtkins.com

www.PaulMayMusic.com www.PaulMayMusic.co.uk

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(Source: Glass Onyon PR)

LONG LIVE AL ATKINS & PAUL MAY.

Stone.

ATKINS / MAY PROJECT – Original Judas Priest vocalist Al Atkins and Christian guitarist Paul May joined Metal forces to form Atkins / May Project. A formidable Metal duo they are! Being a former founding member of Judas Priest and firmly staying in the Metal loop over the years, (5 solo albums & autobiography), Al Atkins has proven he has cemented his rightful place in Heavy Metal history; while convincingly staying true to Metal. Serpents Kiss is as true as it gets here, my Metal brethren.

Al Atkins sings with sandpapered tones; these tones resonate a Metal toughness and blue-collar legitimacy to this man’s career. Al doesn’t sing over-the-top on Serpents Kiss, instead, he allows the music to be the driving force; while his tones set the table for a Traditional Metal ride. Al’s vocals are the muscle behind this album’s Metal.

Paul May is the finesse behind this album’s Metal. He is the main credited songwriter for Serpents Kiss, while being co-writer for Dream Maker, Signz and Judge. As both a songwriter and guitarist, Paul May is a five-star talent, to my ears. I liken Paul’s guitar tones to fall somewhere between these two legendary axe men: Phil Campbell of Motörhead and Ted Nugent. Don’t get me wrong, this guitarist plays with an exemplary feel and is as original as they come. Paul has a fabulous resume as a guitarist and he excels with delectable riffs, leads and solos; his melodies and rhythms are flat-out contagious.

(Photo Courtesy of Paul May)

Serpents Kiss has drawn me in and there’s not a boring moment to be heard. From start to finish, this album should satisfy any Traditional or Contemporary Metal hunger you may have. With a Metal atmosphere that is, for the most part, irresistibly retrospective, the consistency of quality never subsides on these ten songs.

Paul May does a grand job at combining the Metal feel of yesterday, with what Metal feels like today. One cover song is on Serpents Kiss: Cold Gin. This KISS/Ace Frehley classic is given its rightful respect by both Al and Paul. This cover of Cold Gin is heavier than the original and quite frankly is a Metal wallop.

My favorite song from Serpents Kiss? Honestly, that’s a tough question. This album is that good. The album opener The Shallowing sets the Metal tone from the onset; one that warned me Serpents Kiss had the potential to soar; and soar this album does! Betta Than Twisted is fortified with psyche-out Metal grooves; certainly a song that I cannot get enough of. The closing track, Theatre Of Fools, is an epic listen and one that thunder stamps an exclamation point on a grand Metal album.

If my Metal opinion was to ever count, I would strongly suggest to Al Atkins and Paul May to keep this Atkins / May Project moving forward! Songs such as these on Serpents Kiss are what Metal is all about: loud, proud, muscular and memorable. I’m very impressed. Atkins / May Project nailed it with a Metal war hammer, with Serpents Kiss.

* Atkins / May Project – Serpents Kiss was released back on November 15th, 2011, via gonzo Multimedia.

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SERPENTS KISS – Track Listing:

The Shallowing

Traitors Hand

Dream Maker

Can You Hear Me

Signz

Fight

Judge

Betta Than Twisted

Cold Gin

Theatre Of Fools

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* For more info on Al Atkins & Paul May, click on links below!

ATKINS / MAY PROJECT

http://www.alatkins.com

LONG LIVE AL ATKINS.

LONG LIVE PAUL MAY.

Stone.

In a move that has left many industry insiders scratching their heads, the remaining members of the band Judas Priest have left the band and joined a Judas Priest cover band called Nightcrawler.  The band, whose members have agreed to step aside and instead handle Judas Priest’s touring responsibilities, have been a staple of the greater Villa Rica, Georgia metal scene for the past fifteen years.  Rob Halford and the boys plan on taking over Nightcrawlers’ regular Sunday night gig at Joe Don’s House of Beer as well as occasionally traveling to Macon and Atlanta for gigs.

This began as another satire article, but I’m afraid it will not make it.  Instead, I believe the philosophical dimensions of this story are far more interesting.  Who is Judas Priest?  A collection of specific musicians who play a certain number of songs they have written in the past.  Maybe.  Think of Priest like your body.  If your body doesn’t have all of its limbs it is still your body.  If Al Atkins or Rob Halford or KK Downing leave the band, they are still technically Judas Priest, as we have seen.  While many fans would argue that the band changed greatly when Ripper Owens was the singer, you can’t really argue they weren’t Judas Priest.  After all, they put out two albums under the name Judas Priest.  You can go look on my mantle; they are filed under “J”.

Under what circumstances is Judas Priest not Judas Priest or, even more interestingly, under what circumstances would you no longer be you?  Lets say all the members of Judas Priest left and another group of musicians came in and played the same songs, would that still be Priest?  The band Yes has transitioned through new scores of new members at every instrument and they still are known as Yes (although their was some legal wrangling to determine whether that was true).  Similarly, if all of your limbs were removed, then all of your organs except for the brain, you’d still be you, right?  In fact, no one would have a kidney removed and say “I’m no longer me anymore”. You might not even need stop at the brain.  Take away the parts that control motor function and coordination and you are still you.  Really, what you are is that small section of the brain that contains memories and the idea of who you are.  You may argue that there is a soul, but until you show me one with a tag on it saying “Exhibit A”, I cannot enter it as evidence.

Back to our Judas Priest problem.  If Judas Priest left, but became a Judas Priest cover band, I’d have a difficult time figuring out who the real Priest is, but I’d probably eventually settle on the idea that the band playing that the members of Judas Priest joined was the real Priest.  After all, the audience might identify with the name Priest, but most people derive the identity of the band from their memories of what the band was and meant.  The meaning is not solely attached to the name, but the collection of memories that follow the band and some of the identifying, tangible characteristics.  However, if all the members left and started a mariachi band, that would not be Judas Priest.  They need to be playing the same songs, doing the same stage show, etc. in order to still qualify as the real Priest.  Some form of the identity must be the same.  Here’s where it gets tricky.  If Judas Priest’s members didn’t leave the band and kept the name, but chose to all of a sudden play mariachi songs and change their stage show, they would still be Priest, just not if they left and did the same thing.  Just like if you changed careers or got remarried or became a professional baseball player, you’d still be considered you.  So, the name Judas Priest does have value in terms of an identity marker for fans, but it is not the only characteristic that makes up identity and, as we will see, it is not always necessary.

If your brain were pulled out and put into another body, let’s say Lemmy’s body, I believe the person who had Lemmy’s body would be you.  Therefore, while people would call you Lemmy, you would still be you, just in Lemmy’s body.  As noted philosopher Shelley Kagan once said when presented with a similar problem “follow the brain”.  However, here’s where identity gets messy, most people would find it difficult to believe you if you were walking around in Lemmy’s body claiming to be you unless they knew about this brain transplant.  They’d believe you were Lemmy, even if you knew things Lemmy couldn’t possibly know about you.  So, it is safe to claim that what you perceive to be you is far different than what others perceive to be you.  Your internal identity does not match the identity the world has for you.  Let’s say that for years, all the members of the band were gone and replaced with lookalikes.  Unless you had some knowledge of this, you’d assume you were watching Judas Priest when you saw them in concert.  In our example, however, the audience was made aware of the shift, so the identity of the band would stay with Halford and the guys.  Had they not been and had the cover band from Villa Rica been convincing lookalikes, people would have been none the wiser.

The point is, we think we know what a band is, based on our memories and recollections, but really we only know our created image of the band.  The difference between the internal perceptions of the band and the external ideas are miles apart.  Our image of the band has some similarities to the views of others and a few similarities to how the band views itself, but for the most part there is no common relationship except for a few markers here and there.

This is also the great problem of personal identity.  How are we meant to function in a world where we see ourselves as one thing, but the world sees us as something else?  Sure, there are some meeting points, but overall we have no clue how they see us.  We are left to play a perpetual guessing game where we will never find the answer.

Who is Judas Priest?  I’m not really sure.  I know I have my version, you have yours and they have theirs.  The places where we meet are certainly Judas Priest, but the places where we don’t are also Judas Priest.   We know enough to know and agree that the band that left Judas Priest in our story is Judas Priest, but we lack enough evidence to understand what Judas Priest is in its totality.  We filter Judas Priest through our own minds and have an image completely exclusive to us.  Judas Priest is our Judas Priest, a Judas Priest of the mind.  We are forever stuck trying to reconcile that image with the image of those around us and failing miserably at the task.  Such is the lot of humans when searching for truth.  Stuck looking at one tiny, infinitesimal section of the map while trying desperately to figure out where everything is.

SOUNDTRACK

Al Atkins wrote “Victim of Changes,” one of Judas Priest’s greatest songs.  And then he left Priest to get a real job.  In 1998, he released the album Victim of Changes which contained a number of early JP songs, primarily ones from Rocka Rolla, but also this title track.

This version is quite faithful to the JP version (which is interesting because the early notes say that “Victim of Changes” was a melding of two songs).  It’s fascinating, in hindsight to wonder if this is how the song really sounded (there are a few differences in it) or he is now covering the JP version.  But the big difference of course if Atkins’ voice.  In the middle, slower section he sounds quite a bit like Rob Halford.  But he just cannot hit any of the notes that Halford brought to the song.  And there’s really just no way to compete with that (even with multitracked and over-processed vocals).

It’s really hard to compare this (and other songs from that album) to the original.  I mean, he wrote them, after all.  But man, the Priest version is just so much better.  Atkins has a strong, gruff voice.  It works well for the style of the songs, but it just isn’t anywhere near as compelling as Halford’s.  The other problem is the music–the guitars are full of cheesy pyrotechnics that overshadow the songs (I like guitar pyrotechnics if that’s what the song is supposed to be about, but not when it’s meant to ”embellish” a song).  It sounds like he is trying way too hard here.  Atkins has his own solo career and his own band, he really needs to get past the JP thing, especially since he left of his own accord.

This is the version of “Victim of Changes” from Victim of Changes:

But for heaven’s sake, don’t listen to the more recently recorded version of “Victim of Changes” (yes a second recording–he’s got to let it go) from his 2007 release Demon Deceiver (available on Spotify!)–his voice is lower and gruffer (almost cookie monstery) and guitar solos are just covering all of the song.

Yipes.

[READ: September 12, 2011] The Viper’s Nest

When I finished the fantastic Book Six of the 39 Clues, I put it down and immediately picked up Book Seven.  It opens with a dramatic rescue from an exploding volcano.  When the ash settles, Dan and Amy find themselves on Irina Spasky’s boat.  And in this boat they find Irina’s bag, which contains all kinds of spy stuff (like IDs for every one involved in the 39 Clues search and fake fingerprints and whatnot).

They also find a letter with what looks like lyrics.  I have to credit Peter Lerangis with the wonderful work on this clue.  The clue is a line from a song: “I’m with you and you’re with me and so we are all together.”  Nellie (who is still under suspicion, but seems to have been given a free pass) says that she never guessed Irina would be so cool as to listen to the best song ever by Velvet Cesspool (on the album Amputation for Beginners).  It’s track three, “The Tracks of My Spit” and it goes: ”I’m with you and you’re with me and so we are all together….  We are marching to Peoria!”  The kids are all set to go to the exotic locale of Peoria, Illinois when, through a series of events, they realize that the song Irina was referring to was a traditional folk song called “Marching to Pretoria.”  And that they are actually headed for South Africa.  [Incidentally, I just learned that the opening line of "I am the Walrus," "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together" is actually a reference to this folk song].  Check out this video of “Marching to Pretoria” by a guy who has not doubt gotten a lot of hits because of this book.

Anyhow, this book spends most of its time in South Africa.  And Dan, the non-reader of the family, finally finds a book worth reading.  It’s all about Shaka the warrior of the Zulu nation.  Dan reads a lot of information about the man and his military techniques.  Which is a good thing because the kids find themselves in the center of a Tomas family stronghold (the Holt family are the members, so you know their speciality is tough fighting).  The details are quite fascinating.  In the end, they are able to find a clue and to create some wonderful battle scenes in the process. 

As they flee from the Tomas site, they are (once again) set upon by Isabel Kabras.  It’s clear that at this point the story has settled on her to be the main villain in the story.  And, fair enough, there is more than enough evidence against her at this point.  Although I’m a little tired of her, I must admit that she is an awesome villain: no remorse, no fear of hurting anyone–including her own family.  And, quite frankly she’s more than a little crazy.

But because of her doings, Dan and Amy wind up in Grace’s house in Madagascar.  And it is here that they find out exactly which branch of the family they are!

I admit that I have not been following the branch/family line distinctions at all, really.  They weren’t really relevant so far in the series and each book seemed to focus on one branch predominately, anyway.  Fortunately for we slackers, the books have been summarizing the branch specialities a bit more in the last few books (and it seems like even more so in Book Eight).  The authors have also done an excellent job of matching famous historical people with the branches that they would most belong to (because of course, every famous person was really a Cahill).  It is a very clever concept.  And yes, I have already started book 8.  I’m totally hooked!

When someone thinks of Judas Priest, they probably think of the Metal God, Rob Halford. But the early years of Judas Priest were more hippy-dippy than heavy metal. And, of course, without any Halford.

The photo is from the 1972-73 years. It’s line-up: well, you can probably recognize bassist Ian Hill and guitarist K.K. Downing on the left. But the others are drummer (complete with afro) Chris “Congo” Campbell and vocalist Al Atkins.

I wonder what “Congo” is doing now, and if he still sporting that fantastic afro.

And, poor Al Atkins looks like he would rather be somewhere else, like the pub for a pint… and judging by his departure soon after this “photo session” that sort of thing was probably on his mind.

Related links: powerlinead.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/vocalist-al-atkins-to-take-credit-for-the-founding-of-judas-priest/

Yes, we know. Well, maybe some don’t. It’s the dirty little secret. Al Atkins was the original singer of Judas Priest. Finally, Al, now 61, will be coming out with a tell-all book, Dawn of the Rock Gods, that tells the beginnings of the legendary Metal band, in his words:

“Music was changing so fast at that time that in 1969 I formed Judas Priest, shortly after Black Sabbath hit the scene.”

Al brought KK Downing and Ian Hill into the band. He also wrote amazing songs like “Winter,” “Never Satisfied” and the JP staple “Victim of Changes.”A+ songs in any category. Al left Judas Priest in 1973. Then came Rob Halford. The rest is history.

I will definitely be buying this book. We should give credit where credit is due. However, sorry Al, I’m quite thankful for Rob Halford.