Review RONNIE ATKINS ‘Make it Count’

Danish rock and metal veteran Ronnie Atkins is a fighter. Since years, the iconic singer and frontman battles cancer and diagnosis aren’t positive once. Since time becomes very precious for the singer and probably also as a kind of distraction, Atkins follows his heart and puts a focus on music.

The singer found with Chris Laney an excellent partner in crime when it is about music and songs. This duo is on the exact same page when it is about songs, penned by the Danish vocalist.

Ronnie Atkins released with ‘One Shot’ a remarkable studio album in 2021, followed by an in-between EP called ‘4 More Shots’. Now it is ‘Make It Count’ that is on its way to the record stores, another excellent melodic rock album by Atkins.

‘Make It Count’ features twelve new songs, all melodic rock anthems the way Atkins wanted them to sound like. The frontman always has a focus on melodies, developed partly on piano and partly on guitar. These strong melodies are the foundation for the songs on ‘Make It Count’ and it is Chris Laney, producer and guitarist, who then comes on board to further develop the ideas together with Atkins. The duo did a superb job for ‘One Shot’ and their work on the new record reflects this trustful cooperation too.

According to Atkins, writing lyrics is far more difficult than having ideas for the songs. Being subconsciously confronted with health issues, Atkins tried to give the lyrics a positive twist without drowning in negativity. The result of this hard work are songs that are meaningful and always include at least some hope and positivism.

Musically the longplayer features a wide spectrum of sounds. There is the hard rocking ‘Blood Cries Out’ that reminds very much of the ‘Future World’-days of Pretty Maids. Thundering guitars and a heavy beat make the song to a highlight on the album. The sing follows ‘Let Love Lead the Way’. It’s a soulful half-ballad with a message that is even more important these days.

Furthermore, the is the elegantly rocking ‘The Tracks We Leave Behind’ and the touching opener ‘I’ve Hurt Myself (By Hurting You)’ with irresistible hooks. Regardless of if one listens to the calmer songs or the rocking anthems like the roaring ‘Rising Tide’, Atkins’ voice is what keeps it all together. In combination with a powerful sound and excellent production ‘Make It Count’ is a treat for fans of melodic hard rock. Ronnie Atkins shows again that he is one of the best singers in rock and metal. Stay strong.