Ronnie Atkins – One Shot

Release Date 12.03.2021 Label: Frontiers Records

Pretty Maids Front man Ronnie Atkins is wandering on solo paths. After the Danish Hard Rock singer was diagnosed with incurable cancer in 2020, he decided to fully live his life and to make the best out of his remaining time. I really think he shows that it’s not worth to bust ones head into the sand, no matter in which situation you are in, but instead burn for your dreams and fight for them.

Music-wise the songs sound like hymns, especially the choruses are built in a similar way. They are softer than the Pretty Maids material, but with the typical Ronnie Atkins vocal sound. Just not as raspy and strained as we are used to, and that’s nice for a change, because you can hear him sing in a more relaxed manner. The vocals had been recorded before the songs were completely done, because of Atkins health situation, which surely is not an easy way to make recordings. “Frequency of Love”, “Before the Rise of an Empire” and “Picture Yourself”  are the songs I really like the best on the album, besides “When Dreams are not enough”. The lyrics are very personal, sometimes pretty melancholic because of his current situation. I think he managed to create a great album together with his musicians, which are: Chris Laney, Allan Sørensen, Morten Sandager, Pontus Egberg, Anders Ringman, Pontus Norgren, Kee Marcello, Olliver Hartmann, John Berg, Linnea Vikström Egg and Bjørn Strid. This album will preserves the legacy and achievement of Ronnie Atkins.

Now its still time to enjoy life and we all should do that. “One Shot” will remain for all ages and I think that is something we all want in the end, leave something behind that makes other people happy. And that is what “One Shot” does.