German rockers Voodoo Circle were formed in 2008 by Silent Force/Primal Fear guitarist Alex Beyrodt initially as a project band, with members of Pink Cream 69, Primal Fear and Sinner but soon became a collaborative and ongoing band. Over the years, Voodoo Circle has seen several lineup changes but has kept Beyrodt’s guitar-driven style at its core. Vocalist David Readman joined and solidified their lineup, bringing a powerful vocal range that defines their sound. Over their career albums like Broken Heart Syndrome and Locked & Loaded have earned them a loyal fan base. Now, Voodoo Circle is back with their seventh album, Hail to the King, and we here at Sentinel Daily HQ couldn’t wait to dive in.

Right from the first track, Lay Down Your Loving, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d accidentally put on an old Whitesnake record. It’s crystal clear that Voodoo Circle wears its love for seventies and eighties rock on its sleeve but Voodoo Circle bring a heavier spin on it, making the track feel both classic and still current. Let It Rock is a fast-paced, powerhouse track with Alex Beyrodt’s phenomenal guitar work taking centre stage, whilst Sweet Little Sister brings a bluesy, almost eighties glam/sleaze rock groove to the party.

Two songs on this album, Billy’s Song and All For One, were written by former Rainbow keyboardist Tony Carey, and you can totally feel that vintage Rainbow influence. Billy’s Song has those big blues riffs, dramatic vocals and the classic Hammond organ sound, while All For One channels that love for old-school rock into a great sing-along anthem. There’s also Black Country, where David Readman totally nails his Robert Plant-inspired vocals over heavy blues-rock riffs—definitely one of his standout performances on the album. Fans were thrilled when Readman returned to Voodoo Circle for their 2021 release Locked & Loaded, and he’s in top form here, blending with the phenomenal guitar work from Beyrodt to give the Hail to the King tracks that extra edge.

Tracks like On the Edge and Castles Made of Glass dial things down a notch, showcasing some deep, soul-infused blues vibes that really bring out a depth and emotional side of the album. And then there’s the title track, Hail to the King, which wraps things up with a punchy, anthem-like energy that leaves you wanting more.

For fans of classic rock and metal acts like Whitesnake, Rainbow, or Dio, Hail To The King has a lot to offer. Highlights for me were Let It Rock, Sweet Little Sister and Hail to the King —with their heavier take on that classic metal sound. The album does sometimes straddle the line between inspiration and imitation and will quickly draw similarities previous to Voodoo Circle albums but they pull it off so very well. This will be a must have album for the loyal fans and a great pick up for lovers of classic rock/metal looking for something new.

Hail To The King releases on November 15th.