Broken Heart Syndrome

Metal supergroup Voodoo Circle's 2011 album, Broken Heart Syndrome, sounds exactly like the albums of groups who pioneered and popularized the metal genre: Whitesnake, Rainbow, Deep Purple. However, this is a much more difficult task than it may seem. Metal requires an extraordinary amount of musicianship and skill to execute, and the impressive technicality of the musicians in Voodoo Circle is what stands out on this album. The band was formed by Silent Force's Alex Beyrodt with the intention of harkening back to the sound of the great hard rock bands of the '70s. The band consists of several European musicians as well. One of the best songs on the album is "King of Your Dreams," which features the signature sounds of metal: pulsating organs, thrashing guitars, and a powerful voice soaring above the band. The titular track showcases the importance of having both rhythm and lead guitars; the lead plays a fantastic riff high on the fretboard while the rhythm lays down a strong, aggressive pulse. Overall, the album is a strong collection of classic metal tunes and a testament to the genre's vitality and to the musicianship of the men in Voodoo Circle.