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VOODOO SIX
Simulation Game
Explorer1 Music

By Shelly Harris London-based VOODOO SIX - like too many musicians and bands - were forced to postpone the original (late March) release of latest album, Simulation Game due to the Covid-19 disaster, but, fortunately, it is new music well worth the wait.

Simulation Game is chuck full of the kind of powerhouse British melodic hard rock that one would expect from the highly seasoned producer, mastermind, and band bassist and founder, Tony Newton, who began his international career while touring with earlier band DIRTY DEEDS (in support of IRON MAIDEN back in the late 90s), and who has gone on to a stellar production career involving many well-known artists of various genres.

Clearly, however, Newton perseveres with this brainchild band, VOODOO SIX, because he holds it closest to his vest. That devotion is evident with the way that he has kept the band together, despite some tough key personnel changes since the band's inception, but also by way of the sheer depth and innovation on Simulation Game itself. (The band is on its third frontman/vocalist with Nik Taylor-Stokes, and had included guitarist Richie Faulkner on the debut, amongst others.)

Produced and mixed by Newton at Steve Harris' Barnyard Studios in Essex, sixth studio album Simulation Game incorporates modern sounds with dashes of the madrigal, medieval - even evoking monkish chants - with a blistering energy and soaring melodicism that has defined the VOODOO SIX sound. Thus, this album takes everything up a notch, honing and refining all elements, including the powerful, compact songwriting and production, impassioned vocals, virtuoso guitar riffs, and infectious hooks, as illustrated with stunning impact on such tunes as "The Traveller", which features the Taylor-Stokes' scorching vibrato vocals.

But, thanks not only to Stokes' impressive wails, but also to cracking grooves of Newton on bass, the riffs of long-time band guitarist Matt Pearce (who is also a successful solo blues/rock guitarist in his own right with the release of Gotta Get Home via MATT PEARCE AND THE MUTINY) and the drumming of Joe Lazarus (Steve Harris' nephew and accomplished session and touring drummer), the ten tracks on Simulation Game jump out and grab you by the jugular and don't let go until the final bass crunch.

4.5 Out Of 5.0