Dennis Atlas joined Toto in 2024 having made a name for himself as an up-and-coming multi-instrumentalist, debuting in a collaborative album release with Michael Whelan, as Initiator (2019’s Ice Garden), followed by a solo album in 2021, My Magical Wonderland, for which he wrote, sung and played all instruments. He met Steve Lukather via an introduction from Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, of Guns ‘n’ Roses and Asia fame, who he met whilst playing in a covers band, eventually leading to the call to replace Steve Maggiora as second keyboardist / vocalist.
This second solo album, Principle, includes contributions from old and new friends in the US rock community and the songs don’t stray far from Dennis Atlas’s musical roots in stadium rock. There is plenty of AOR bombast on display but also some more subtle and intriguing stylistic variations. Dennis is clearly at the early stages of his career, his songwriting has some maturing to do, but he is blessed with immense talent and a precociousness that will surely provide him with a long career.
Keyboards and vocals are his key strengths and he doesn’t hold back on either on this album. Funnily enough, his vocal style has similarities with Ashley Holt, of Rick Wakeman’s English Rock Ensemble fame, circa Out There, which gave me some added interest as I got to grips with the audaciousness of the classic keyboard-driven US hard rock sound that I have to admit is not normally my cup of tea.
Opening up with a short but powerful overture featuring an original keyboard riff and hard-hitting drums, courtesy of Marco Minneman, is a fun way to kick off the album and grab the listener’s attention. Unfortunately, for me, this is followed by a couple of generic, high octane, rock standards that show off Dennis’s flair for this sort of thing, but don’t provide any particular originality. Violent Power is all about “monumental moments” and the lyrics of Scare Me, harking back to his boyhood living next to a Californian amusement park, refer to the hero conquering his/her fears on a fairground rollercoaster. The vibe on this track is unmistakeably ‘kid’s cartoon soundtrack’, unfortunately not my style these days, and which I also have to say, pretty much matches the vibe of the album cover. At this point I was rather thinking, what is the point?
But you don’t get hand-picked for a mega-band like Toto without having talent in spades and next up, Games, is a pivot in style that draws on 80’s electro beat pop. Although that may not be the surprise that you were hoping for, it actually works really well and scores a bullseye in striking the balance between retro and modern sounds. Instincts is another pop-orientated song that relies more heavily on interesting phrasing and tempo changes, and provides a showcase for some virtuoso keyboard work. Track 6, Different World, is just Dennis accompanying himself on piano. The lyrics express an appealing and slightly ambiguous concept that holds our attention, the overall effect is dramatic and exquisitely delivered, and the deft touches on the piano and the short solo bridge are superbly arranged. I am certainly not the target audience Dennis had in mind for this album, so it’s maybe not a surprise that this unusual track is the highlight for me.
Relative Fiction is another 80’s electro pop throwback complete with robotic vocals and a host of other effects, and Candy on Mars continues with an excess of dubious effects. Sounding like a couple of minutes of disconnected improvisation, Dennis seems to be hunting for elusive sounds like a bull in a candy shop. Being young and full of ideas is great, but hopefully, in time, Dennis will hit on his own sweet spot and present a more cohesive collection of songs.
When the Monster Attacks does what it says on the tin. The ideas and the arrangements are really quite good, but the song-writing doesn’t live up to the promise and the production doesn’t make the most of an opportunity to crank up the drama. It turns out to be more of a fairground house of horrors ride than a homage to Hammer Horror.
Closing the album there are a couple of more sophisticated longer form songs that go some way to redeeming the set. Save it for Tomorrow mixes in a bit of swing beat and switches tone and tempo imaginatively. There are Japanese fusion elements going on, Warren Ham’s saxophone, some Hammond organ, and it rolls along merrily. We can be the Future is the longest track and the extra space is used to great effect. The driven, dynamic verses are interspersed with well-constructed instrumental bridges that provide continuity as well as contrast. All very fast and furious and arena-friendly, but engaging enough for any rock connoisseur to enjoy.
I’d be very surprised if Dennis Atlas doesn’t have a successful career on the US rock circuit. Only time will tell if he sustains a solo career but Principle is unlikely to be his breakthrough release. This record has its moments, but, for me, it is a collection of ideas rather than a suite of songs. He has time on his side, that’s for sure, he has earned his place amongst some superb musicians and he’s in a great place to gain experience in his craft.
TRACK LISTING
01. Surprises From Within (1:18)
02. Violent Power (4:09)
03. Scare Me (3:45)
04. Games (4:13)
05. Instincts (4:34)
06. Different World (4:58)
07. Relative Fiction (3:30)
08. Candy On Mars (2:39)
09. When the Monster Attacks (5:24)
10. Save It For Tomorrow (5:26)
11. We Can Be The Future (7:49)
Total Time – 47:45
MUSICIANS
Dennis Atlas – Vocals, Drums, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
~ With:
Marco Minnemann – Drums (1 & 2)
Steve Bonino – Bass, Guitar (1,7 & 11)
Steve Lukather – Guitar (3 & 8)
Joseph Williams – Additional Vocals (Joe’s Lows) (4)
Shannon Forrest – Drums (4)
Bumblefoot – Guitar (4)
David Paich – Additional Keyboards (4)
S. Forrest – Drums (5,7,8,9 & 10)
Trev Lukather – Guitar (5)
D. Paich – Additional Keyboards (5 & 11)
Warren Ham – Saxophone, Shaker (10)
Greg Phillinganes – Additional Keyboards (10)
Roger Atlas – Additional Guitar (11)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: MRI
Country of Origin: US
Date of Release: 15th May 2026
LINKS
Dennis Atlas – Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
