Review: US Review
Atkins May Project – Anthology
Gonzo Multimedia
Rating: B
Al Atkins has made a career of being the founding member and original vocalist for British Metal icons Judas Priest. Al did more than warm up the spot for Rob Halford, though, as he helped write some classic early Priest including "Never Satisfied" and "Victim of Changes." While he is no Metal God, Atkins is still into the music wholeheartedly, as he has proved over the past few years with his band the Atkins May Project. The band has released three albums on Gonzo Multimedia and now, for the first time, the best of all of them are found on one collection, titled Anthology.
Al snarls it out with the best of them while his counterpoint, Christian guitar player Paul May, if truth be told, steals the show. May is a talented player, and it is with his six-stringed instrument that he adds the layers of light and darkness onto the music. In the world today, guitar godz are a dime-a-dozen, but when they add the impact of feeling into their music, and not just wank around displaying their technical prowess, that’s what takes it to another level. May takes it to another level.

The best of the bunch are the songs "Serpents Kiss," " Valley of Shadows" and the powerful "Empire of Destruction." The bonus track at the end of the album is pretty cool, though. Atkins and May twist the Phil Collins classic "In the Air Tonight" and make it an ethereal Metal eerie mess. Phil outdoes Al in the vocal department (sorry Al) but May, once again, adds the flair to the tune making it work, just get to the end of this song and you'll see what I mean! It's not heavy and in your face, rather it is dark, foreboding and tricky. Pretty cool stuff, Paul! Al's got a good thing in Mr. May!
This is not a band that is necessarily doing anything original, yet, as this compilation proves, their efforts are based in honestly and come across genuine... which in this day and age is rare!
Paul May sums up Anthology by stating, “It was quite a task to choose which songs would make it onto this compilation as there's such a diversity in the styles of tracks, but I hope this reflects the wider view of the rock and metal we love doing.”
Atkins chimes in, “The reviews from the first three albums were great and said it all, so it was difficult to select the songs for the album, but I think you'll agree that we made the right choices, and Anthology, for me, ticks all the right boxes!”
Tracks:
Here Comes The Rain
Bitter Waters
A World At War
Dream Maker
Whisper To The Wind
Harder They Fall
The Shallowing
Enslaved To Love
Theatre Of Fools
Valley Of Shadows
In the Air Tonight (unreleased bonus track)
For more information:
By Jeb Wright
Review: Belgian Review
ATKINS MAY PROJECT - Anthology
/ Published on 02-05-2015 /

I confess I do not know what to make of this
"Anthology" . Let us be clear. I'm quite a fan of the
Atkins May Project and I feel enormous respect for the contribution of
Al Atkins to the history of Heavy Metal (NDR : remember, this young fellow of 67 years was the first singer of
Judas Priest ) . However, I do not see what I could write more than what has already been said in the chronicles of the albums
" Valley Of Shadows " (2012) and
" Empire Of Destruction " that we have previously published. Especially the last two came out there a few months. As its name implies,
"Anthology" is a 'best of' , a compilation of songs off the three albums released between 2011 and 2014 by the duo of Al Atkins and English guitarist Paul May. Most titles presented here are already present on the two aforementioned albums.
Only"Dream Maker" (a ballad over twelve minutes) and "Theatre Of Fools" (a title Heavy Rock rather excellent, it must be admitted) are extracted from the album "Serpents Kiss" (2011) that had not been subject to criticism ears Music In Belgium. The interest is rather limited. And it is not the pitiful recovery of
"In The Air Tonight" by
Phil Collins which is presented bonus that will change that. Things might have been different if, for example, Al Atkins had the good idea to offer us his own version of
"Victims Of Changes" , this classic Priest he had composed in the early seventies. But this 'beast' assembly too recent titles (NDR : just four years for the oldest) seems completely unnecessary.
"Anthology" might be of interest to collectors of anything related directly or indirectly to the story Judas Priest, and like all titles that are presented are of excellent invoice (NDR : if one appreciates the classic Heavy Rock and unadorned), compilation could also serve as an introduction to Atkins May Project for those who have not yet had the opportunity to taste it. Others may prefer to invest their money in a more consistent output. The album (78 ') :
- Here Comes The Rain (9'04)
- Enslaved To Love (7'44)
- The shallowing (5'37)
- Bitter Waters (3'47)
- World At War (12'36)
- Dream Maker (4'31)
- Valley Of Shadows (5'13)
- Harder They Fall (5'59)
- Theatre Of Fools (8'37)
- Whisper To The Wind (8'24)
- In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins cover) (4'49)
The group :
- Al Atkins : Vocals
- Paul May : Guitars
Review: US Review
GONZO MULTIMEDIA
ATKINS MAY PROJECT/Anthology: Really, it’s pretty impressive that the original vocalist for Judas Priest can still sound pissed off after all these years. Elvis Costello might have to step up for some angry young man as a senior citizen lessons. Taking a tour through Brit metal over the years, including a cover of Phil Collins (Priest + Collins =‘s ???), you can hear this rattling the walls at a retro club in your suburb probably soon. Proof there’s a lot of memory lanes out there for a lot of different kind of walks.
295
Review: US Review
Atkins May Project: Anthology

If you've read the many positive reviews for the Atkins May Project but still not been quite convinced to take the plunge into the duo's trio of releases, Serpent's Kiss, Valley Of Shadows or Empire Of Destruction, then Anthology makes a for a good starting point. Al Atkins, as we probably all know by now, was there in the beginnings of Judas Priest and had a hand in some of the band's early, classic material, while Paul May is a guitarist of some renown; a position which bears out across all of the AMP output. As you'd expect, we're in the realms of traditional metal here, the likes of Saxon, Tygers of Pan Tang, or, in places, Judas Priest touched upon and yet across the three albums this pair have produced, they have also brought an element or two of their own to the table; a faint whiff of melancholy lurking under the powerful riffs and Atkins rasping spoken/sung vocals offering an unusual angle. The ability to resist simply slamming the foot to the floor on much of their output also offers up something a little different and while it's hard to suggest that there's much here that veers near pioneer status, it is also quite easy to tell AMP from the many sound-a-likes doing the rounds.
Frustratingly the track list on the back cover of the promo I received had a different running order than the CD itself. Although that certainly doesn't stop the blues infused stomp of "Bitter Waters" making a strong impression, or "Dream Maker" being incisive enough to burrow deep into the conscience through May's stinging guitar work as Atkins spits the lyrics out with real venom. Factor in the upbeat power-punch of "Harder They Fall" and atmospheric build into the all out metal assault of "The Shallowing" and all of this act's updated NWOBHM values meet with serious approval. Those looking for a "pure" vocalist may in truth struggle with Atkins attitude over acrobatics approach, however in May, the ex-Priester really has a foil worthy of any metalhead's attention.
For those who already have the three albums these tracks come from, it's up to you whether a metalised – and pretty decent, if unspectacular – cover of the Phil Collins standard "In The Air Tonight" (complete with the chukka-chukka-chukka-chukuk-kuk-kuk drum break) and a bonus DVD of videos and interviews (which duplicates much of the fare found on the extra disc that came with Empire Of Destruction) offers enough value to reinvest in a collection of songs you already own. However for anyone who has a collection bulging with NWOBHM stars of past and present, but who hasn't yet sampled Atkins May Project, Anthology really should be pretty high on your must hear scale.
Track Listing
1. Here Comes The Rain
2. Bitter Waters
3. A World At War
4. Dream Maker
5. Whisper To The Wind
6. Harder They Fall
7. The Shallowing
8. Enslaved To Love
9. Theatre Of Fools
10. Valley Of Shadows
11. In the Air Tonight (unreleased bonus track)
Added: June 12th 2015
Review: Canadian Review
ATKINS/MAY PROJECT - ANTHOLOGY
It was good to receive this double-disc package of music featuring the early singer for Judas Priest, Al Atkins. He had originally left Judas Priest in 1973. Not having heard his output, an anthology of his albums was a welcome chance to hear the music and conduct a review.
If an Anthology is either handpicked to comprise of representative songs or the favourites of a band then the Atkins/May Project is indeed a hard rock band, albeit focused on slower and melodious songs. It is not as if Atkins/May has a plethora of releases in its history, but such is the title for the double-disc at hand.
Firstly, Atkins' voice is gritty a la a gruff Udo Dirkschneider or more accurately Faithful Breath's Heinz Mikus. However, since no one remembers the latter man one should say Atkins sounds like the Teutonic metal singers of the '80s. Whatever the case, the albums lives off the slower and grandiose songs that are often punctuated by heavy or faster tracks as interludes. The songs are book ended by instrumental so first track proper Here Comes The Rain is one of those quieter songs. Bitter Wars cruises along and comes with a solo, which is reminiscent of Priest's Touch Of Evil. May is an accomplished guitarist all around. He solos often, and in a melodious and accessible manner. He is advertised as being Christian. The Shallowing is where the album gets upbeat and heavier. The backing bass is full on. Atkins cruises on. The soloing continues. The next song is all guitars and is reminiscent of the '80s.
The guitars are more modern and fuzzy. It is more aggressive here. The drums are pounding now and the question you have been waiting for an answer to is that, yes, it is a little Judas Priestish. Indeed, Atkins is recording an album worth of Priest songs himself. Atkins loves to enunciate his words and to do so in long songs. Amidst the positives and the not-so is one negative, which is the very artificial sounding toms. The drum machine was not cooperating in a musical manner it seems. Nonetheless, along comes track ten and the thundering bass and the speed so it is mostly good again. Sadly, a cover version of Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight takes up some space here. The Anthology features a DVD disc featuring several videos and an interview with the two men conducted by a Jonathan Downes. - Ali "The Metallian"
Review: Portugese review translated
Sunday, July 5, 2015
INFO: Gonzo Multimedia lança antologia de Atkins May Project
Over the past four years the world metal was shaken by how good and evil can indeed work together with the project that joins the original lead singer of Judas Priest, the legendary Al Atkins with Christian extraordinary guitarist Paul May . This union resulted three excellent albums released by Gonzo Multimedia . Three albums where the melody and the crazy metal go hand in hand in creating a solid piece of heavy metal pure, building on its roots though perfectly updated. This new work, Anthology( 5.4 / 6 ), represents the best that the draft Atkins May Project made in these three albums: the Serpents Kiss(2011) are present themes The shallowing , Dream Makerand Theatre Of Fools , Valley Of Shadows (2012) is represented with Bitter Waters , Enslaved To Love , Harder They Fall and Valley Of Shadows ; finally, ofEmpire Of Destruction (2014) were chosen themes The World At War , Here Comes The Rain andWhisper To The Wind . The alignment is complete with a version of In The Air Tonight (original Phil Collins ) and a short intro and another . As a bonus DVD comes with 7 videos and interviews with project mentors - Al Atkins and Paul May.
Tracklist:
1. The Deep
2. Here Comes The Rain
3. Bitter Waters
4. A World At War
5. Dream Maker
6. Whisper To The Wind
7. Harder They Fall
8. The Shallowing
9. Enslaved To Love
10. Theatre Of Fools
11. Valley Of Shadows
12. In the Air Tonight
13. The Deep (The Reprise)
Review: Canadian Review
ATKINS/MAY PROJECT - ANTHOLOGY
It was good to receive this double-disc package of music featuring the early singer for Judas Priest, Al Atkins. He had originally left Judas Priest in 1973. Not having heard his output, an anthology of his albums was a welcome chance to hear the music and conduct a review.
If an Anthology is either handpicked to comprise of representative songs or the favourites of a band then the Atkins/May Project is indeed a hard rock band, albeit focused on slower and melodious songs. It is not as if Atkins/May has a plethora of releases in its history, but such is the title for the double-disc at hand.
Firstly, Atkins' voice is gritty a la a gruff Udo Dirkschneider or more accurately Faithful Breath's Heinz Mikus. However, since no one remembers the latter man one should say Atkins sounds like the Teutonic metal singers of the '80s. Whatever the case, the albums lives off the slower and grandiose songs that are often punctuated by heavy or faster tracks as interludes. The songs are book ended by instrumental so first track proper Here Comes The Rain is one of those quieter songs. Bitter Wars cruises along and comes with a solo, which is reminiscent of Priest's Touch Of Evil. May is an accomplished guitarist all around. He solos often, and in a melodious and accessible manner. He is advertised as being Christian. The Shallowing is where the album gets upbeat and heavier. The backing bass is full on. Atkins cruises on. The soloing continues. The next song is all guitars and is reminiscent of the '80s.
The guitars are more modern and fuzzy. It is more aggressive here. The drums are pounding now and the question you have been waiting for an answer to is that, yes, it is a little Judas Priestish. Indeed, Atkins is recording an album worth of Priest songs himself. Atkins loves to enunciate his words and to do so in long songs. Amidst the positives and the not-so is one negative, which is the very artificial sounding toms. The drum machine was not cooperating in a musical manner it seems. Nonetheless, along comes track ten and the thundering bass and the speed so it is mostly good again. Sadly, a cover version of Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight takes up some space here. The Anthology features a DVD disc featuring several videos and an interview with the two men conducted by a Jonathan Downes. - Ali "The Metallian"