From Florida comes the new band Voz that is lead by the very underrated guitar phenom Shane French who has graced stages with the likes of Jorn Lande, Zak Stevens and Jon Oliva. He has learned something from those he has been associated but with vocalist Morrie Vozdecky they have produced an album that will remind you more of the band Gravedigger than anyone he has previously played for. This is not a totally bad thing as these guys really bring it to you at the heaviest level but I would have to say that it also brings nothing to the table that you haven't heard before. With a style that seems to be a mix of Dio and the already mentioned Gravedigger Voz delivers some heady metal from start to finish and a very listenable disc but not one that takes you in any direction you haven't traveled before.
After the obligatory intro you get into the meat of the album right away with my favorite song off the disc called "Coldness of Night". You get your metal full strength and potent with a bit of the epic sound that harkens back to the days of Ronnie James. For those that are fans of the genre such as I, this is the kind of stuff that creates heart palpitations and that twitching in the neck which leads to a serious case of head banging.
From there the band takes you through another 8 examples of the kind of heavy metal which will most assuredly entertain even though it plows fields that have already been sown by so many bands before them. Morrie Vozdecky's vocal style is what makes this one different. Falling somewhere between Chris Boltendahl of the afore mentioned Gravedigger and Alice Cooper, he does make Voz a cut above the hoard of similar acts out there. The second thing that really helps this one is the outstanding guitar work of Shane French. His history is well served and although he is quite a bit heavier than in the other bands he has performed with it is obvious that his association with the likes of Oliva and Stevens were well spent.
If you don't expect anything earth shattering this is a truly enjoyable disc. Different yet still familiar this is one that I have no trouble throwing in the player at any time.
Track listing:
1. Shadows of Death
2. Coldness of Night
3. Buried from the Light
4. The Happening
5. Underworld
6. Witch Hunt
7. Run
8. Darkness Reigns
9. Heaven Cries
10. Fires in Hell
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
