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I'm just a sucker for this stuff. It isn't shameful. A lot of people are, and that's why there's so much of it. Yes, the scene has been saturated with melodic, bombastic power metal bands ever since Sonata Arctica and Hammerfall ruined err...changed everything all those years ago. Bubble gum, flowery power metal is still everywhere, and while I admit to rolling my eyes at the stuff every once in a while, when I'm alone in my car and blasting it, my pretensions are put aside. All I can do is sing along.

Voodoo Circle are another band starting out amidst an infinite sea of singsongy counterparts. The pulsating Edguy-esque choruses, double bass, and boundlessly catchy vocal melodies are endless here, just like their entire scene. Not entirely a clone of every other band, however, Voodoo Circle have a unique rhythm and flair to their music, one which finds itself with the dash of traditional rock influence they throw into their music. Songs like "No Solution Blues" have the power metal dazzle that we all know mixed in with an almost bluesy groove reminiscent of 70s hard rock balladeers, much in the vein of newer Avantasia.

But groove and catchiness can only go so far, and after about half of Broken Heart Syndrom has played, there isn't much more to hear. There will be ballads and anthems, and for the most part, they will still rock, but the formula remains the same. Vagabond vocalist David Readman has a spectacular mid-range wail, but he never captures the gripping emotional resonance of Tobias Sammet or even Klaus Meine, but you can see that he's going for that.

While Broken Heart Syndrom may be limited, it still has its place, and any simple power metal fan will be more than satisfied here.