Voodoo Terror Tribe are a power metal outfit from New Jersey and hot on the heels of their promo EP (reviewed in our unsigned section earlier this year) comes this, their debut, album. 

The influence of classic mid-to-late eighties power metal is still in evidence throughout “Alone In Pain” especially the work of Armored Saint and Testament. But that's no bad thing as, when added to their Latin influences, it helps Voodoo Terror Tribe to carve a more distinct niche for themselves. 

The whole band carve out a power metal groove that's refreshing to hear in these times where bands seem to try and use the extremes as their selling point. Their only concession to modern trends is that there's no guitar solos to speak of, the band preferring to use alternative instrumentation at times to give a different dimension to the tracks. The flamenco guitar in the mid-section of “Looking For Serenity” being a prime example of this.  

To a man VTT show their commitment and skill in their individual areas and this all comes through in a set of proper songs that have powerful riffs and hook laden choruses. The drums pound  and drive where they need to, vocals are clear and powerful, guitar and bass provide weight and texture as appropriate and the whole lot is arranged in such a way to give the songs the required amount of dynamic interest. 

My criticisms of the promo still hold true however, to an extent in as much as the lyrics to  “My Disturbed Girlfriend” could have done with a rewrite  and “Beyond Redemption” still has a riff that's a total steal from Testaments “Burnt Offerings”. There's another nicked riff as well but its a good un' and I'll leave it for you to find it!! Answers on a postcard please!. 

From the Mexican flavour of the intro, by way of the hypnotic chanting in “Mandala” to the crushing weight of the main riffs in closer  “Deleted Scenes”,  Voodoo Terror Tribe rarely put a foot wrong throughout, recommended.

Let us know your views on Alone In Pain

Track Listing

Prelude To Hate
Under The Knife
World Of Lies
Looking For Serenity
Get Down
Beyond Redemption
Mandala
Redrum
My Disturbed Girlfriend
Deleted Scenes

Line Up

Harry Dullys – Vocals
Emir Erkal – Guitar
T-Bone – Drums
Danny Murphy – Bass