Voodoo Johnson - '10000 Horses'

A Rocktopia user review by Speedy Hicks.

In the good old days before the internet, with all this downloading material and file sharing, the only way for a rock band to get recognised was either the Friday rock show or graft, graft and graft again on the live circuit playing pubs, clubs, toilets the length and breadth of the country - well that's exactly how I bumped into this cracking band from Birmingham.

There I was standing in the pouring rain in a field at this years “Bulldog Bash” in Warwickshire when up popped “Voodoo Johnson” so good was their live act that a swift purchase of this their debut was the order of the day. Although to put a band sound wise into a pigeon hole can at times be a bit misleading and unfair it would be safe to say that “Zeppelin, Diamond Head and at a push Pearl Jam” have all influenced Voodoo Johnson’s sound.

This is evident in “End of the Empire” which starts of with a misleading acoustic intro then BOOM a barrage of drums, Guitar and musical aggression 
whilst still maintaining a great chorus and melody. Tracks such as “Rain” indicates a softer side to this group and fits in nicely alongside the more up tempo material. “Never Make it out Alive” a great seven and a half minute album closer demonstrates so many styles and influences, and a sound that is almost unique to this group but in the long run should be “Voodoo Johnston’s” best asset alongside vocalist Kev Bayliss who has the chops along with the band to go along way.

Speedy Hicks.