VOODOO CIRCLE

This has been a great year for hard rock and traditional metal releases, particularly those of the European variety. Add VOODOO CIRCLE's "Broken Heart Syndrome" to that list. Featuring members of PINK CREAM 69, SILENT FORCE, and SINNER, Alex Beyrodt's (guitar god) German/British powerhouse lives up to its billing as "a must-have for fans of RAINBOW and WHITESNAKE." That's not unsubstantiated public relations hyperbole; it's the damn accurate truth.

It is in fact early '80s WHITESNAKE and Joe Lynn Turner-era (and a little RJD) RAINBOW that comes through the loudest on "Broken Heart Syndrome", not the least of which owes to Beyrodt's brilliant Ritchie Blackmore-style playing. Enough praise cannot be showered on the guy; his spine-tingling leads are matched only by the master himself. All guitar gushing aside, "Broken Heart Syndrome" is packed with penetrating tunes that while often most similar to the music of the aforementioned pair of heavyweights also include the heartfelt blues of Gary Moore and trad-metal trace amounts of Yngwie Malmsteen. The supreme jam of the bunch is unequivocally "No Solution Blues", a tune that rocks with so much power and soul that it's ridiculous. Following close behind is a soulful rocker called "Heal my Pain" that'll make you get off your ass and move!

As one makes his way through the album, the deftness of the mix of blues, heavy metal, and hard rock becomes glaringly apparent and it is the keyboards of Jimmy Kresic that are nearly as important to the appeal as Beyrodt's guitar playing. The RAINBOW/WHITESNAKE connection is felt in a big way on big-hooked numbers "King Of Your Dreams" and "This Could be Paradise" (don't laugh, but you'll hear a little STYX on the chorus),the swaggering title track, and the white hot Euro-metal of "The Heavens are Burning". The JLT-RAINBOW vibe is over the top on "I'm in Heaven", which has "Stone Cold" written all over it, cliché chorus notwithstanding.

When VOODOO CIRCLE pushes the blues basis to the fore the results are breathtaking. Starting out like an alternate version of JIMI HENDRIX's "Little Wing", "Blind Man" showcases a serious meeting of the minds between Beyrodt and Kresic. Reminding most of earliest WHITESNAKE, the mercury rises highest on the six-and-half-minute "Devil's Daughter", another that features the sizzling keys of Kresic and some of Beyrodt's most passionate playing.

Phew! Beads of sweat start forming on the brow just writing about it! Every song isn't a homerun, but you won't find one on here that doesn't at least result in the runner advancing. The world could stand a few more albums like "Broken Heart Syndrome". The playing is as serious as a heart attack and the songs built to last. Buy a copy and do you part to make sure VOODOO CIRCLE continues making music.