Customer Reviews

Voodoo

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

Somewhat over-the-top (but, in a good way), 1998 solo release by the notorious King Diamond. This looks to be his eighth solo outing. Put out around the same time as Mercyful Fate's 'Dead Again', but better. This CD covers some scary subjects like ghosts, witch craft and the afterlife. Tracks that I thought showed that Diamond still has it are "LOA House", the head-banging title cut "Voodoo", "Salem", "Sarah's Night" and the outrageous "If They Only Knew". Also noticed that King Diamond's vocals through out this fourteen track opus is really good. Well done. A definite should-have.

Yet another concept album from King, musically phenomenal (actual voodoo styled drumming in some parts instead of normal metal style but fits well - don't panic though this cd is still METAL)... its sticks to the KD formula, little "intro" song, second song heavy as,conceptual story line throughout cd, hammer horror feeling throughout, however this cd does take several listens but then it grows on you... I like how the first track is "underplayed" in the last 2 tracks "if they only knew" and "aftermath" where we find the 'ironic shocks" on this storyline.... the only bad things with this cd is in ironically my fave song on the album "LOA" house how King uses several voodoo words such as "Hougun" and "Bogor" in an almost namedropping spirit...musically and vocally this is a phenominal KD cd the songwriting here is best in ages... basically this is where King gets back on track... If you've ever been a Diamondbanger but have tuned out this is the cd to get back on with...enjoy

"Voodoo" has to be the best Diamond album since "Conspiracy". King and LaRocque, with the rest of the band, are in fine form. The best story since "The Eye". All the songs have great timing and execution. Hebert is a fine addition to the band. Songs like "LOA House", "Voodoo", "A Secret" "The Exprcist" and "The Cross Baron Samedi" really stand out. LOVE the Louisiana setting.

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 decent album, but a little too inconsistent. A return to a more basic approach would probably have helped. Two and a half stars.

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.

I enjoy listening to Voodoo every now and then after spinning the 'Conspiracy' or 'Abigail' one too many times. But its not a must-own, by any stretch. King fans will probably enjoy it, but modest fans of prog-metal would be better suited to dig up his earlier work first.

I'm a long time fan of KD and own all of KD and MF albums. And believe me, none of them is as rich musically and lirically as this one.

This album has to do with a mysterious mansion in Louisiana, and believe it or not, it had something to do with my decision of moving here. I was somehow interested in the mystery of the old underground Louisiana traditions and... superstitions.

It begins with Louisiana Darkness, a small introductory track that sets the mood for what's to come. Then it continues with the powerful "LOA house", with the great introduction line: "1932, North of Baton Rouge... Louisiana nights are darker than before" (I used a variation of that quote for some time in the msn). In this song we meet the main characters: David and Sarah LaFayette.

Then, in my opinion, two of the best tracks of the record. The hypnotic "Life after death" (great use of the keyboard and the vocal lines here) and the title track's voodoo drums, a great combination that makes this record an epic. In these two songs the main ghostly characters and their rituals are introduced.

"Salem" and "A secret" are just songs necesary to continue with the narrative.

Then, another great moment comes with "One down two to go" and "Sending of dead". The first one opens with subtle acoustic guitar chords that set the mood for what's going to be an "ill-fated day" and the the songs explodes histerically with the words: "from yesterdaaaaay!!!" Great song in every way, it gives a feeling of helplessness when Salem sings: "you used to be so beautiful, but now you're gonna die!!!" Then, "Sending of dead" is the perfect narrative complement for what was so eerily schemed in the last track. Salem tries to warn Sarah about the problem going on in her mansion but she doesn't listen, and leaves him with no option than the "sending of dead".

"Sarah's night" is the usual harpsichord-sound KD song. "The exorcist" is a song to continue with the narrative but also to introduce Father Malone into the story.

Then in "Unclean spirits" we can hear an exorcism ritual very much alike to the actual exorcist movie... KD should know that actually not in every exorcism the same phrase is repeated, usually the priest repeats some phrase he said that seems to be particulary annoying for the devil... in this case "The power of Christ compells you" is something that The exorcist's movie director found interesting, and KD just follows the line... a little clich? on this one.

"Cross on Baron Samedi" describes how Sarah now fully possessed attacks Father Malone with a crucifix.

Then the last two tracks only described what happened after this episode and the record ends. (I don't wanna tell you the end in case you don't know it).

Some say that for this record KD borrows something from Abigail, and that might be true, but anyway this story is much more complex and interesting and the characters more rich in personality.

Great album, so far nothing better.
montecarlostar

In my opinion, this does not represent King Diamond's greatest efforts. But even his lesser works are better than a lot of the stuff out there today. The music is really good. My problem with this record is that it does not have the tightly unified tale of pure terror that we will find in "Them," "Abigail," or "Conspiracy." This may not sound like much, so I will try to explain a little more. With "Abigail," "Them," and "Conspiracy," I did not have to read the lyrics to understand what was happening. And at times, the absence of the heavy drum and guitar pounding terrified me: (i.e. Phone Call, Something Weird). After I read the lyrics, I said to myself: "Weren't these records scarey enough already?" The musical quality on "Voodoo" is fine. But I could not really grasp the terror behind what was going on. Even when I read the lyrics, I didn't feel shaken. But there are some memorable tracks like "Sarah's Night" and "Unclean Spirits." If you are not a King Diamond fan, this record can probably be skipped. If you are a King Diamond fan, except that certain works of his are better and enjoy the good music on this one.

one of the best stories of the King and his band.Music totally sticks together with a completely terrific story.You recognize at once the 'Diamond' touch,and that's perfectly delightful to listen again and again to a song such as The Exorcist or the eponymous 'voodoo. from the beginning 'til the end, you are totally drown deep down a louisiana swamp, from which you will never be able to go out until the end of the last track, and his last word: VOODOO!

This cd and the story made me feel uncomfortable and uneasy but it was due to the fact I was so into the story and the wicked music. I haven't heard all of albums yet but so far I like this one the best. The title track is greatness and LOA House has to be the most incredible song from the King I've heard yet. If you want to listen to King Diamond and don't know where to start, I'd recommend starting here with this great album.

Friends, when I die, at an absolute minimum, please pack among my provisions for the journey, the following tracks from this album: LOA House, Voodoo.