REVIEW : Voodoo Circle -- Raised On Rock (AFM Records, 2018)

Voodoo Circle since their creation they achieved to build a strong reputation around their name. With already four albums on their sleeves, Voodoo Circle come back to music business to offer another strong piece of solid melodic hard rock stuff. This time expect the extraordinary Alex Beyrodt and his colleagues Mat Sinner (bass), Francesco Jovino (drums), Voodoo Circle welcomes on board a new member.

The new member of Voodoo Circle's family is the singer Herbie Langhans (Avantasia). Beyrodt and Langhans met in 2015 at the Wacken Open Air, when they belted out the Wacken anthem together from the gigantic Black Stage. Beyrodt: “The amazing thing about this story is that Herbie and I had never met before but talked to each other in person for the very first time after we’d rocked only minutes earlier the 100,000 people in front of the stage and around four million viewers in front of their TV sets.”

I love all the band's albums and I was expecting this one patiently. Voodoo Circle is a band that combines perfectly the late 80's hard rock sound with a strong bluesy vibe in it and refers to bands such as Whitesnake, Rainbow and Deep Purple (to name a few). Beyrodt is without any doubt one of the 'hottest' names in today's guitar world. His amazing guitar playing brings in mind Jimmy Page, John Sykes and Ritchie Blackmore.

The new album is entitled "Raised On Rock" and is mixed and mastered by the 'mighty' Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, U.D.O.). The opening tune of "Running Away From Love" is simply breathtaking; a fast-paced, Whitesnake on steroids track that takes no prisoners with a huge chorus line that grabs you and leaves you hungry for more! The hard-bluesy"Higher Love" is excellent while in "You Promised Me Heaven" the band delivers a really solid and classic hard rock gem. I just love this one! At this point, I have to say that Langhans sounds the best choice for Voodoo Circle's lead shouter. His vocals are soulful, emotional and passionate and the band sounds tight as hell.

"Just Take My Heart" is absolute killer! A straight forward hard rock anthem that includes a killer melody, a fantastic chorus line, superb guitar licks and a rhythm that sticks into your mind at once. The power ballad of "Where Is The World We Love" is another highlight out of the new album and with "Ultimate Sin" the band is on fire! The DIO/RAINBOW-esque tracks "Unknown Stranger" and "Dreamchaser" are pure gold!!!!

The bottom line is that Voodoo Circle are back in business with a killer record all the way. I loved every single moment of "Raised On Rock". Melodies, excellent guitar work, a superb musicianship, choruses to die for and overall a tight as hell sound are the ingredients of this brilliant album!! Buy or die!!!! 

Rating : 9,5/10