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It’s nearly impossible to discuss the new solo album from Danish rock legend Ronnie Atkins without bringing up his battle with cancer, so it’s perhaps best to mention it straight away. Ronnie was unfortunately diagnosed with stage 4 cancer over Easter 2020 and told it was incurable. After the initial shock, Ronnie came to a decision best-summed up in his own words; “ I realised there were two ways to approach the situation. I could sit down, accept the facts, and feel pity for myself or I could pull myself up, set some goals, pursue my dreams, and carry on living! And with fantastic back up from my family and true friends, I went for the latter!” With his band Pretty Maids unable to tour because of the pandemic, it meant that there was no time like the present to work on the song ideas that he had stored in his iPhone. With Pretty Maids bandmate Chris Laney acting as producer, files went back and forth and music was added, special guests such as Kee Marcello, Olliver Hartmann, and Bjørn Strid helped out. The end result is ‘One Shot’, the best example of the triumph of the human spirit you are as likely to witness for some time.
More of a melodic rock vibe than the straight-ahead hard rock of Pretty Maids, ‘One Shot’ is, understandably, a personal album all about living for the moment, as we indeed only get one shot. Opening track ‘Real’ is a delicious introduction to Atkins for anyone unfamiliar with him, and in some parallel universe, this one is on heavy rotation on every commercial radio station. With lyrics like “…from the first breath ‘til the last sigh, every day is a gift…” it’s raw and emotional stuff, but it’s also more inspirational than a million shitty ‘inspirational quote’ memes. The production from Chris Laney, and mixing from Jacob Hansen, is stellar, and the crucial, driving drum sound from Allan Sørensen is crystal clear. This is amplified a thousandfold on the faster-paced ‘Scorpio’, which might just cause the listener to break out the air drums on a track that purrs like a finely tuned Rolls Royce engine. The title track is a towering love song, but a love song without being a power ballad. Over a simple piano sound, Atkins offers up the opening line of “There is magic in this room tonight” on a heartfelt track with one of the most uplifting choruses, ever. An emotional call-to-arms about not wasting another day and simply asks “What if tomorrow is too late…”.
‘Subjugated’ is played out with a subtle military-style drum sound here and there, and the end result has a real swagger to it, as you would expect from a song about not being dominated or controlled, and being your own, free person. Topical lyrics considering how much civil liberties are at risk in many worldwide countries at the minute. ‘Picture Yourself’ tackles the state of the world through timely observations from Ronnie as he instructs the listener to “Picture yourself in a world of humanity…a world where you want to be…”. The vocal harmonies and sense of melody are incredible, as they are on the entirety of the album. On an album full of highlights, this is a real stand-out moment. As is the crunching, riff-tastic ‘I Prophesise’ and just when the rolls upon rolls of gradually ascending vocals are beginning to take-off, Ronnie drops in the line “I see it all, I see the writing on the wall, I look inside the crystal ball…I see angels descending” and, well, a kick to the feelies is delivered with a pair of size-ten steel toe-capped boots. Picking you up from your knees though is the insanely catchy ‘One By One’. With its sumptuous melodic guitars, pounding drums, and hooks by the bucketload; this is rather special indeed, and that lengthy note that Ronnie holds towards the end – insane.
An emotional listening experience for sure, but with these incredibly catchy songs (‘One By One’ will take some shifting from your psyche, it is that catchy) Ronnie Atkins has offered up a little light amongst the darkness, with songs that are so instantly memorable it will be like you have been singing along to them for years.
Available now on Frontiers Music
