by Andy Hinds

On King Diamond's eighth concept album, the prolific horror rocker hasn't entirely run out of ideas, although the material on Voodoo is generally predictable. Set in New Orleans, the story line is loaded with more witchcraft, haunted houses, and ghosts. The music stays true to form as well; Diamond's cartoonishly ghastly vocals haven't lost any of their bite, long running sideman Andy LaRocque maintains his own high level of proficiency on the guitar, and the band in general turn in dependably workmanlike performances. Overall, King Diamond achieves a sort of musical equivalent to the classic Hammer horror films of the 1960s. He invests a sincere enthusiasm in his work that is hard not to appreciate.