Voodoo Circle – Locked & Loaded

Voodoo Circle
Locked & Loaded
AFM Records
January 8, 2021
52:20

It was probably the best line-up so far, with singer David Readman (Pink Cream 69), bassist Mat Sinner (Primal Fear, Sinner) and drummer Markus Kullman (Glenn Hughes among others). This quartet also recorded the second album “Broken Heart Syndrome” (2011). And Voodoo Circle mastermind Alex Beyrodt has managed to present the comeback of this line-up. Logically he is proud and delighted about it. The successor to the excellent “Raised To Rock” (2018) was again mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen. Alex said:

Jacob is a real sorcerer with magic hands

So, one more reason to listen to album number six “Locked & Loaded”.

At “Flesh & Bone” Voodoo Circle rock in classic Whitesnake style. Singer David Readman contributes to this. In return, the scales at “Wasting Time” lean more towards Led Zeppelin. But without simply cloning the sound of the British in Greta Van Fleet’s manner. You can hear oriental influences in “Magic Woman Chile”, a reminiscence of “Kashmir”? Certainly, but also a large measure of autonomy. With the title song “Locked & Loaded” followed a song that leaves the mixed feelings with me. On the one hand, you can hear a straight rock sound. This is then weaken by sounding to European pop keyboards. Even the crisp guitar solo can’t change that much. But already with “Devil With An Angel Smile” the listener is compensated again. Another bow to Led Zeppelin. And when there is a great rocker like “Straight For The Heart” on the album, nothing can go wrong. The guitar solo is also outstanding here. Later on, “Trouble In The Midnight” provides a similarly rhythmic bang of the head. Another highlight of the album is the power ballad “Eyes Full Of Tears”, completely in Whitesnake style. The calm and melodic “Devil’s Cross” also sounds like the British hard rockers around namesake David Coverdale. The Hammond organ wafts in the background during the bluesy “This Song Is For You”. And the master literally lets his guitar sing. Awesome! No, “Children Of The Revolution” is not a cover of the big T-Rex hit. The last song of the album is AOR, but with a few rough edges. And quite suitable for airplay, with a great guitar hook line.

Apart from the title track, Alex Beyrodt and his bandmates have released an above-average hard rock or metal album here. However, “Locked & Loaded” prevents an even better rating. A worthy follow-up to “Raised On Rock”. Let’s just hope that the current line-up has more inventory because the quartet Beyrodt / Readman / Sinner / Kullman is the best line-up ever of Voodoo Circle.

Voodoo Circle – Devil With An Angel Smile (Official Lyric Video): https://youtu.be/wr17zA1UOFQ

Lineup:

Alex Beyrodt – Guitar, Vocals
David Readman – Lead Vocals
Mat Sinner – Bass, Vocals
Markus Kullmann – Drums

Guests:

Corvin Bahn – Keyboards
Melissa Bonny – Choral singing

Track list:

• Flesh & Bone
• Wasting Time
• Magic Woman Chile
• Locked & Loaded
• Devil With An Angel Smile
• Straight For The Heart
• Eyes Full Of Tears
• Devil´s Cross
• Trouble In The Midnight
• This Song Is For You
• Children Of The Revolution