VOODOO CIRCLE - review added 16th February 2011
Album Review: Broken Heart Syndrome (2011)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and a bit o' the blues
Voodoo Circle - David Readman on vocals, Alex Beyrodt on guitar, Mat Sinner on bass, Jimmy Kresic on keyboards, and Markus Kullmann on drums - released their debut self-titled album in December 2008. It wasn't 'alf bad, and featured a few great tracks including 'Heaven Can Wait' and the massive 'Wings Of Sorrow'.
"Broken Heart Syndrome" treads a similar path to the first, basically taking the musical styles from the various iterations of Whitesnake, giving them a different vocal style and a modern production. The result is a mixture of gentle blues, hard rock and near-heavy metal with a pumping thumping rhythm section.
David Readman sounds like David Readman always sounds, which means very good. He lacks the character of some of the very best singers - for instance David Coverdale - but that really is clutching at straws. Vocalists don't get much better than this guy. The musicianship backs him up with aplomb. Alex Beyrodt is a fine guitarist who can mix fancy solos with the best of them.
The album opens with the speedy and kind-of catchy 'No Solution Blues'. 'King Of Your Dreams' is slower and has a great chorus. 'Devil´s Daughter' is one of the bluesy tracks, and I have to say I rather like it. The quick-trotting 'This Could Be Paradise' is a splendid effort that hints at older Yngwie Malmsteen work. The title track is heavy, groovy and memorable. 'When Destiny Calls' is okay, but the chorus isn't as big as it should be.
'Blind Man', the second of the bluesy tracks, is considerably softer than the first, and arguably even better. 'Heal My Pain' is a high energy song that manages to be contagious and indifferent all at once. 'The Heavens Are Burning' is another Yngwie-alike track, but it has no immediacy about it. I suspect with about a hundred listens it could be the best track on the album, but don't quote me on that. Cool keyboards by the way.
'Don´t Take My Heart' is another good-to-average track that does nothing wrong but nothing exceptional. 'I´m In Heaven' is a slower entry with a soft bluesy rock vibe. The chorus is one of the biggest on the album, and suggest where the guys should perhaps have gone with this release. Final track 'Wings Of The Fury' starts of with some nice Spanish guitar, then bolts forwards on a wave of Yngwie-like speed and melody. It's one of the album's stronger tracks.
In Summation:
The talent behind this release is incredible and there is nothing to dislike song wise, but it just doesn't get hold of me. Even though there are a couple of decent tracks, nothing gets close to the best tracks from last time round. Shame.
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall (Not An Average Of The Above):
Check out... The best tracks from the last album by way of comparison.
Track List:
01. No Solution Blues
02. King Of Your Dreams
03. Devil´s Daughter
04. This Could Be Paradise
05. Broken Heart Syndrome
06. When Destiny Calls
07. Blind Man
08. Heal My Pain
09. The Heavens Are Burning
10. Don´t Take My Heart
11. I´m In Heaven
12. Wings Of The Fury
Label: AFM Records
Artist's website(s): Voodoo Circle | MySpace
