Alex Beyrodt's Voodoo Circle

Voodoo Circle

Written by: TL on 17/12/2008 13:37:30

Okay, seriously, didn't I just review this exact same record last week? German classic rock guitarist, name's Axel or Alex or something, departed from the band that made him famous back in the 80's, returns with a pack of hired guns to shred and solo his way into the hearts of heavy heads once again. Yep, that sure as shit sounds similar to the story of Axel Rudi Pell, who I reviewed last week. There is a difference however, because while Axel Rudi Pell have been going on for 17 releases, "Alex Beyrodt's Voodoo Circle" (yes, his name is part of the bandname like that) have only recently gotten together to release their debut album "Voodoo Circle".

Considering that this is a debut, there's immediately an upside and a downside that show themselves. The upside being that there's no trace of beginners difficulties on "Voodoo Circle" as Alex and his band rock as solidly as the veterans they probably all are. The downside is that while this is a debut album of 2008, the feel of it still belongs with one from 1984. Much like it was the case with Axel Rudi Pell, the musical universe in which Alex Beyrodt travels seem to have ignored the winds of change for the past two decades, and as such, "Voodoo Circle" is an entirely predictable batch of classic heavy metal, or as I call it these days, "power rock", in the veins of Yngwie Malmsteen, Scorpions and the likes. As you might have read from the specific inclusion of Alex's name in the bandname, the songs seem to be more or less formulaic 80's metal, built for the sole purpose of letting the guitarist show off shamelessly with a solo after the second chorus of each song.

I've been trying to take interest in this record a couple of times now, but the fact is that I just can't. I don't mind guitar solos, oldschool heavy metal or paying tribute to the 80's the slightest, but things on this record are just far too predictable and flat out boring for me. If you're dying to listen to more music from this past era, then the Voodoo Circle won't disappoint, because it does nothing to deviate from the formula of then, which is why, if your interest lies with contemporary music or just with bands that show some hint of originality in their style, this is gonna bore you as much as it does me.

4

Download: Spewing Lies
For The Fans Of: Yngwie Malmsteen, Axel Rudi Pell
Listen: myspace.com/voodoocircleband

Release Date 05.12.2008
AFM Records

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