Dennis Atlas -Principle - Progressive Voyages Review
Dennis Atlas is a name many not be familiar with, Well he is a 29 year old Californian musician who can play Keyboards Bass and Guitars, In addition he is also a singer as this this album clearly shows.
Since 2024 Dennis has been one of the keynoard players and backing vocalists for Toto, a gig he was recommended for by Bumblefoot no less! As Dennis and Ron has worked together previously, apparently Toto's Steve Lukather was looking for provided by fellow Toto bandmate Shannon Forrestsomeone to replace The departing Steve Maggiora and Ron recommended Dennis to the band, An audition was held in Dennis impressed that much he was swiftly offered the role .
This new album, after an earlier album called Initiator (2019 ) and My Magical Wonderland from 2021.
Dennis has long been a fan of progressive music and cites folks like Keith Emerson, Tony Banks and Rick Wakeman as being major influences on his playing and style.
At a mere 29 years old he has potentially a long and lucrative career ahead of him.
So let's delve into the album itself which consists of 11 tracks lasing roughly 48 minutes in duration, The album in entitled Principle and has a suitably Cartoonish cover (Dennis great up close to a funfair apparently) indeed one of the tracks recounts his fears of rollercoasters as a child.
The album commences with Surprises From Within which is very synthesiser laden and features Marco Minneman as does the following track Violent Power which is where Dennis gets to how his stadium attitude and dreams with a fist pumping rocker, OK it may be slightly too styled but boy does it show what Dennis can do and why he has potentially a long Career ahead of him.
Next track is Scare Me about the roller coaster that was his nemesis in his youth, the song is dramatic and bettered by a fine solo from his Boss Steve Lukeather, certainly a short but sweet song.
Games is next, This begins with an al out dance track keyboard sequence, with a very solid backbeat provided by fellow Toto band mate Shannon Forrest, this also has zdavid Paich and Joseph Williams also Toto Alumni appearing here, the guitar solo is a brief one from Ron Bumblefoot Thal.
InInstincts follows and again Forrest and Paich appear, the guitar solo comes from Steve Lueathers son Trev the next track Relative zfiction has a distinct 80's sound to it all very electronic keyboard sounds and textures,
Candy On Mars follow, A verybass heavy instrumental with synths popping everywhere and a funky rhtym guitar track throughout, it is a short but great track very enjoyable and musically satisfying.
I should also mention the track Different World which is merely Dennis and Piano, I really like this song although it has a weird sound lurking like a click track or something equally gently percussive in nature, zthe song is all the better for its sparseness I really do like this track a lot it think it shows the hope that Dennis's music can offer.
The final three songs of thecalbum are where Dennis get to let his prog Tendencies show upfr9nt these being When The Monster Attacks, Save It For tomorrow and We Can Be The Future, of these i like Save It For Tomorrow best as it has several Toto Alumnimonboard, namely Warren Ham, Shannon Forrest and Greg Philgaines on Saxophone, Drums and Additional keyboards respectively.
This is a good album overall although next time maybe drop the stadium rock and raise the prog level a lot more, enjoyable nonetheless well worth a listen
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