This release from London based quintet, Voodoo Six, will be familiar to any long time fans out there, as eleven of the twelve tracks were released back in Aug 2006 under a different title. However, label issues led to a complete career stall during 2007, before the album was re-mixed and opening song (and current single) “Faith” added. It has also been nicely re-packaged and, with a 25+ date Club tour of the UK in April and May coming up, it should see Voodoo Six begin to re-build their fan base once again. 

When the single “Faith” was reviewed recently on this site, Steve Cummings said that the sound was heavily influenced by the seventies and it is impossible to disagree with that comment. Whilst the key to Voodoo Six may be the big guitar riffs, driven along by the extremely powerful bass provided by Tony Newton (ex Dirty Deeds), it is the excellent vocal performance by Henry Rundell that really make you sit up and listen to this album. Rundell’s vocal range and soaring screams are amazing and the comparison made to Robert Plant in the previous review is certainly not overstated. 

Overall, the bulk of this album is simply out-and-out classic rock, there to be played as loud as you like but Voodoo Six do manage to throw in a real curve ball with “Mistaken”. This song starts quietly with an acoustic guitar intro, adds strings throughout the soulful middle section and finally transforms into a full blown, guitar driven power ballad. It’s well structured, subtle and a welcome interlude to the heavier numbers, showing just how melody and power should be blended together. Guitars, provided by Matt Pearce and Chris Jones, are solid and very powerful throughout this album and are particularly strong on the opener “Faith”. Other highlights include “No Friend Of Mine”, “Saint’s & Sinners” and “One More Day” which is probably the heaviest track on the album, with a real gutsy bass line under pinning the guitar. However, it was “Walking On Nails” that really stuck in my head. The lyrics are perhaps a little clichéd but it is one of those songs you can just see the crowd singing along to live. 

It may be second time around but Voodoo Six could just have hit it right with this album given the current resurgence in 1970’s music, on the back of the Led Zeppelin reunion concert. The quality and consistency of “First Hit For Free” means that anyone with an interest in that era really should check this out. Stand out track, “Faith”, also shows that there is likely to be a lot more to come from this band in the future but in the meantime, I for one will be trying to catch them live.    

Let us know your views on First Hit For Free

Track Listing

Faith
No Friend Of Mine
Feed My Soul
Walking On Nails
Crawl
I Am The Sun
Saints & Sinners
One More Day
Mistaken
Shine On
Century
Slip Inside

Line Up

Henry Rundell – Vocals
Tony Newton – Bass
Dave “ Geav” Cavill – Drums
Matt Pearce – Guitar
Chris Jones - Guitar