A worthy album
I find Voodoo to be a good album from King Diamond. Released in 1998, Voodoo is King Diamond's eighth full-length disc; it's also a concept album--I think that the storyline is interesting. There are 14 cuts, and they are in a gothic hard rock musical direction. I find every one of them to be listenable. The songwriting is satisfying, the musicianship is skilled, and the sound quality is tight. When it comes to the vocals, King Diamond doesn't disappoint--he's a unique, versatile, dramatic singer; his falsettos are striking. The guitar work is solid throughout. Along with electric guitar playing, acoustic guitars are utilized. Keyboards, an organ, and a harpsichord are also used. The fast-paced, urgent "'LOA' House" is a likeable tune. "Life After Death" contains curious vocalizing from King Diamond and a melodically fluid guitar solo from Andy La Rocque. The title track, "Voodoo," sports a strange, liquid-sounding guitar solo from guest Dimebag Darrell of the band Pantera. La Rocque provides two nice, flowing guitar solos on "The Exorcist," while "Cross of Baron Samedi" features a taut main guitar riff. Examples of other songs that I like are "A Secret," "Salem," and "One Down Two to Go." The CD booklet includes the song lyrics, an individual color photo of each member of the group, and illustrations of the characters in the story. I'm impressed with the album cover's artwork. Obviously, a lot of work was put into its creation. There's a drawing of a map that shows the location where the story takes place behind the CD tray. Enlarged portions of the album cover artwork are exhibited on the backs of the CD jewel case and booklet. The CD is just over 53 minutes. Voodoo is a worthy disc from King Diamond.
Keeping the goosebumps erect!
Another concept album from the Royal Dane, this time concerning supernatural dealings in New Orleans (a la Anne Rice). Like many apathetic former fans, I passed on listening to his last offering, "The Graveyard", after reading nothing but bad reviews, but this new record garnered an excited buzz on the internet, so I was kind of looking forward to checking it out. And damn does it smoke! The King is obviously on his second wind, as the songwriting is topnotch throughout this project. Much mileage has been gained from the traditional 80s style of metal on "Voodoo", which doesn't lack in either guitar solos or throat-shredding vocal sonics. I like the way King Diamond maintains his own identity on his records: here he manages to add enough tribal drumming to evoke primal voodoo ritualism without sounding like Sepultura, and he's always been comfortable enough with his Satanism that he doesn't feel the need to constantly flaunt it in his lyrics like most death metal bands. Instead, he soldiers on with his most consistent effort in years. Some may say he's no longer the innovator he once was, today sticking to the same styles and cliches he once helped define. That may be true, but who can argue with the quality of this material? Programme music for the bleak at heart.
King Rules!!!
This is awesome. This is the second KD cd i got. I have almost all of his cds. I only like 5 more. But i only need one more studio release(conspiracy), the others are live and collectible stuff. But back to the cd. Its unbeleivable, It starts off the creepy sounding Loiusiana Darkness, and then kicks into LOA House wich is totally awesome. This whole cd rocks and i suggest any fan of KD or MF pick this up if you dont already have it, if your a KD or MF fan you should already have it though.This is one of the finest cups of tea.
Voodoo is good, middle of the road, King
First, let me say that only true classics deserve 5 stars, whereas only corporate drivel deserves 1 star, like a Britney Spears album. Voodoo is a good album, but a little too inconsistent. A return to a more basic approach would probably have helped.
Again, like most of his post-'The Eye' efforts, this album takes a while to get in to. Sure, 'One Down, Two to Go' rocks, arguably one of his best songs ever, but for the most part, the tracks are a little too complex and uneven. There are other strong points, like 'Cross of Baron Samedi', 'Exorcist', 'Secret' and 'Life After Death', but these require quite a few listens to really appreciate. One problem I have is that there are too many songs and, at times, difficult to follow the story without reading the lyrics. While I appreciate King's efforts to fill up the cd, a tighter story and song structure would be better. King's vocals are strong and he still does a fairly good job mixing his deliveries. That, together with a bunch of songs that grow on you, makes for a fulfilling listen. Still, one can't help but think this is middle of the road King - he has done much, much better.
Voodoo is good album, one that I enjoy listening to after spinning the 'Conspiracy' or 'Abigail' one too many times. King fans will enjoy it, but modest fans of progmetal would be better suited to dig up his earlier work first.
Voodoo Works?
There is many good tracks like "Salem" and "One Down Two to Go" but this album seems to fail because King is repeating himself. He doesn't sing like before. Tracks have become more simpler. Keyboards isn't so good anymore.
