Voodoo Circle – Hail To The King

Voodoo Circle
Hail To The King
Label: AFM Records
Out: November 15^th, 2024
Playing time: 01:07:44

The German Hard Rock and Heavy Metal band Voodoo Circle was founded in 2008 by guitarist Alex Beyrodt. Despite the many line-up changes, the band has released six studio albums to date, most recently ‘Locked & Loaded’ in 2021, with which the band reached number 24 in the German album charts. The band has also been on the road live. I was able to see Voodoo Circle in 2016 at the Rock Café in St. Pauli (Hamburg). Now the seventh album ‘Hail To The King’ is finished.

‘Lay Down Your Lovin’ provides an atmospheric introduction to the album. Alongside Alex Beyrodt’s guitar, the vocals of exceptional singer David Readman naturally take centre stage. In ‘Let It Rock’, Voodoo Circle realise exactly the concept of the title. Guitars and drums drive the singer. ‘On The Edge’ is a great Metal anthem, characterised by heavy riffs and beautiful hook lines. Heavy but rhythmic riffs can also be heard on ‘Sweet Little Sister’. A real mid-tempo cracker. Later, mastermind Alex Beyrodt plays a strong guitar solo. Another mid-tempo anthem follows with ‘Castles Made Of Glas’. Record noise and an organ (who?) introduce ‘Stand Your Ground’. But soon hard riffs and the expressive voice of David Readman dominate again. And choral singing. The organ continues to accompany the vocals. One of the highlights of the album. ‘Black Country’ also opens with keyboards. Later, riffs begin that are somewhat reminiscent of Manowar. Another highlight. ‘Billy’s Song’ is a lively Rock song. A Hammond wobbles. It is accompanied by a guitar melody that makes your head bob. ‘Strangers In The Night’ glides off into high-speed realms. ‘All For One’ is introduced by synths and keyboards. Later, however, the anthem is again dominated by the guitars. The song is rounded off by another guitar solo. Weird guitar sounds initially contrast with ethereal-sounding female vocals on ‘The Sound Of The Eagles’. But here, too, the musicians around Alex Beyrodt deliver tight Heavy Metal. The title track ‘Hail To The King’ brings the album to an anthemic close. But first there is a short introductory drum solo.

On ‘Hail To The King’ we hear Voodoo Circle in top form. Achim Köhler was responsible for the brilliant sound. The album contains many reminiscences of great bands such as White Snake, Deep Purple, Rainbow and Led Zeppelin. This is quite deliberate. Voodoo Circle successfully follow in the oversized footsteps of these cult bands. An all-round successful album.

Voodoo Circle – Let It rock: https://youtu.be/Vnc69HVwfiM?si=-PnQni4Rc2WZu_VP

Lineup:

Alex Beyrodt – Guitars
David Readman – Vocals
Alex Jansen – Bass
Markus Kullmann – Drums

Track list:

• Lay Down Your Lovin’
• Let It Rock
• On The Edge
• Sweet Little Siste
• Castles Made Of Glas
• Stand Your Ground
• Black Country
• Billy’s Song
• Strangers In The Night
• All For One
• The Sound Of The Eagles
• Hail To The King