Voodoo Highway
Showdown

We are in for a showdown, the second album from Italian rockers of Voodoo Highway which succeeds their debut from 2011 called Broken Uncle’s Inn. That debut was a bit generic in my opinion so let us hope this one carries a bit more punch. There is a lot said about this band, like the next Deep Purple and such claims. But also things like “known to most for the outrageous stage presence, crashing executions, a style that hovers between Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and The Darkness and for the now obsolete (but very cool!!) custom of smashing instruments on stage, Voodoo Highway are becoming a cult in their murky underground territory.” Many things said though can be said about many bands, but do they really have anything that sets them apart from the rest of those bands who dreams of simpler times? They have a cover art with a woolly stone at the edge of a cliff, usually a warranty for quality.

The music itself is not really that spectacular in terms of originality, it has been heard before and has so many times. Still, they have a freshness to their music, we haven’t heard it done like this too many times. The production is excellent, it is heavy rocking, energetic and no-nonsense. It is what rock music is supposed to be. It is modern, yet it is a nod back to simpler times, when bashing guitars was considered cool and rock music was dangerous to children. I would say that this album is a step upwards for these guys, it is an excellent production soundwise, and it has the catchiness to go with it.

As I said, the first album was a tad generic and not really that interesting. This one has a woolly stone with a female leaning on it, maybe it is to fall off the cliff. That alone signs that there is something more interesting to come than the generic looking debut. And then we start the album with a killer song, slightly hampered by some show of poor english skills but it is not too disturbing even if the italian accent is one of the more annoying. Just these things makes it better than the debut, so generic was the debut. But it is not over with the opening song because the album is a smorgasbord of brilliant rock music that stands for what rock music is supposed to stand for, rebellion, excitement, energy and no-fucking-nonsense. I like this album.

Besides the opening track, the ninth one is also a killer which I really enjoy and I can listen to this album over and over as it is one of the best rock’n’roll albums I have ever heard. Not that I really like this kind of music but when I do it sounds like Showdown. I think that they have offered us a real showdown this time, lets hope they keep it up. I would say that this is a recommended album, especially if you like you music without nonsense. And one more thing: you are not really a rocker if you don’t like this album.

HHHHHHH