Angel Air
http://www.angelair.co.uk/
Rating: B+
Al Atkins was the original
metal belter in Judas Priest from 1969 until 1973. Unable to
predict how the future would unfold Atkins left the band and in
a matter of just a few years Priest went on to establish
themselves as one of the premier metal bands of all time, go
figure. After wandering in the wilderness of obscurity for a
good portion of the past twenty plus years Atkins now finds
himself poised to make that final push towards proving he
belongs in the big leagues.
The timing of Angel Air’s
re-release of Demon Deceiver, his fifth solo record
originally issued in 2007, couldn’t be better as it coincides
with his recently issued biography Dawn Of The Metal Gods. The
book not only provides readers some fantastic insight into the
early days of Priest and what made them tick, but it also
reveals the trials and tribulations that Al has gone through to
get to this point both personally and professionally. To suggest
it’s been a long hard slog would be a giant understatement.
Like a phoenix Atkins has rose out of the ashes more times than
he’d like to remember, but the music on Demon Deceiver
finds him turning in what can arguably be called the strongest
performances of his career to date. Armed with a killer lineup
that includes his Holy Rage band mates, guitarist Chris Johnson
and drummer Mick (The Anvil) Hales behind him, there is a real
take no prisoners attitude here as Al’s snarling, whiskey soaked
vocals dominate tracks like “Blood, Demons and Whiskey”, “Money
Talks” and “God Help Me”. As if to turn the page on Priest once
and for all Al returns to two integral compositions he composed
for the band back in the day, “Victim of Changes” and “Dreamer
Deceiver”, and promptly hits both of them clean out of the
ballpark. While he has recorded more than one version of
“Changes” over the years, this molten performance should be
considered the definitive one. The reissue adds two bonus
tracks which gives the listener a preview of his new band Holy
Rage. If “Give Them Hell” and “A Void To Avoid” are any
indication of what they have in store for their upcoming debut
album, then I’d have to say the future is looking very bright
indeed. The music on Demon Deceiver is flat out the heaviest
sounding material he has ever recorded.
If you’ve never had the
opportunity to hear Al’s music then this excellent re-issue of
Demon Deceiver is a great place to start. While you’re at
it pick up his book Dawn Of The Metal Gods at the same time,
you’ll be glad you did.
-Ryan
Sparks
