Artist: Voodoo Circle 
   Title: Voodoo Circle
   Label: AFM Records

Well the turkey has all gone the drink is almost finished and another year starts so let's get started with a few albums released over the festive period and why not start with an absolute stunner.  Voodoo Circle is the brainchild of guitar virtuoso Alex Beyrodt, who has I must say has put together a band that will send the pulses racing of every Melodic Rock fan around.

Beyrodt has sought out the outstanding vocal talent that is David Readman to lead this new band, I say band and not project as they have plans to tour early this year, and along with Mat Sinner on bass, Mel Gaynor on drums and Jimmy Kresic on keyboards, this line-up alone would excite even the most cynical of Melodic Rock fans.  Then add the additional guests of Doogie White, Rudy Sarzo and Richard Anderson, then what is about to be unveiled is no surprise.

This is quite an outstanding release to get the year started and sets bar high for all to follow. The album opens up in spectacular style with ‘Spewing Lies’ and from this point on, the pairing of Readman and Beyrodt is one made in Melodic Rock heaven, as the pair push all the right buttons and bounce of each other so well, this surely won't be the last we see of this pair together.

'Desperate Heart' is another outstanding slice of Melodic Hard Rock with Readman at his best.  Next it's 'Kingdom Of The Blind', with Beyrodt’s unmistakable riff building getting this one underway paving the way for a monster back beat from Sinner and Gaynor, with Readman’s powerful vocals towering over all.  This is without a doubt one of my favourite tracks off an album boasting eleven monsters.

The hard rocking just keeps on coming with the excellent ‘Man And Machine’, again with Readman showing us why he is one of the finest Hard Rock vocalists around at this moment and with Beyrodt in stirring form again, this track because yet another of my personal favourites.

There are a few gentle rockers along the way on this outstanding album, first up it's ‘Master Of Illusion’, a great guitar fill track with Beyrodt soaring melodies and Sinner and Gaynor pulsating rhythm section bringing up the rear assault, although again it's Readman that really shines bright on this one, as he brings that air of class that his clear vocals always do. 

Another slice of pure class on this magnificent album is ‘Dream Of Eden’.  This time we see Readman team up with Doogie White for this very Rainbow-esque track, with the two reminding me very much of Dio and Joe Lynn Turner if the pair ever got together for a few Rainbow classics.

Then it's time for a little Melodic blues with the mood ridden tones of ‘Heaven Can Wait’ before rocking it up once more with ‘Angels Will Cry’, a riff filled spectacle that rocks big style before we get a taste of Eastern Promise with ‘Enter My World Of Darkness’, a real heavy dark looming track that provides a platform for Beyrodt to experiment a little with a moody power edge.

One track where he really shines on is the instrumental ‘White Lady Requiem’.  This is a real guitar players track full of towering riffs and licks interwoven with soaring keyboards and powerful rhythm sections.  What a great was to round off such a powerful album that I know will still be played on my CD player and MP3 for many months to come, Great Stuff!.

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