German hard rock quartet Voodoo Circle push the grandiosity on Hail To The King. This 67 minute long release hearkens to the 70s and 80s with a fusion of metal and arena rock. The opening riff of “Lay Down Your Lovin” is a primer of the nostalgia that is replete on King. “Lovin” is a dynamic, mid-tempo rocker, layered with brief acoustic passages that give it semi-soft texture. Guitarist Alex Beyrodt throws out a bluesy lead straight out of an 80s hair metal album. “Let It Rock” begins with an aggressive, chomping riff akin to early Dokken or Ratt. The track gets the head bobbing and Beyrodt dials in a guitar lead that is not over the top. King’s first two tracks are the shortest on the record, both clocking in at under five minutes. The band’s ambitions get the better of it on the remaining 10 songs, as every track is longer than five minutes.
Hail To The King deviates into prog metal territory with “On The Edge” with its saccharine piano, and operatic chorus. The band does not get too sophisticated, but the straight forward vibe of the first two tracks is all but discarded. We now have a sampled choir and a few rhythm changes. “Castles Made of Glass” is notable for its arabesque influence, thumping bass line, and driving main riff. It meanders a little too long, which slightly diminishes its impact. “Black Country” is a seven minute autobio epic about vocalist David Readman’s upbringing. It offers little twists and turns, and is fairly monotonous. David’s vocals are commendable, and the guitar lead is slick, but it does not rescue this track. “Strangers In The Night” is a jangling track with its tight drum pattern that slows down during the pre-chorus. The title track concludes the album, with a drum build-up before the a Middle eastern riff is unleashed like a genie from a bottle. This track has a slight Dio feel, with its epic guitar lead that feels like one is traveling on a caravan.
The length of this album is its biggest drawback. Hail To The King spans over an hour and the songs last too long. Most of these songs could be two to three minutes shorter, which would have made for a more engaging listen. Hail To The King’s second drawback is its incoherence regarding musical direction. The album goes in several directions: hard rock, hair metal, progressive metal. Some genres overlap but the album goes from an 80s inspired metal record, to a progressive metal album within 15 minutes. However, the musical complexity does not match the track lengths and this causes King to drag. It is a shame, as this could have been a fun record that clocks in at 45 minutes.
Voodoo Circle really go all out on Hail To The King, and that is all the way out. The musicianship is not the problem, just the direction and length. The maxim “less is more” is apt when describing this album as it lasts too long. The king expects his accolades, but this one wears out its welcome.
Check out the band’s official website here: https://www.voodoocircle.de/home/
