Voodoo Eyes - THE BRIOLES
- johnaalex
- Sep 13
- 4 min read
Voodoo Eyes
Band: THE BRIOLES
Released: August 26th 2025
Label: El Toro Records https://www.eltororecords.com/Vinyl-Lp/BRIOLES-VOODOO-EYES-VINYL-LP::623.html
Reviewed by Callum Ross 7th September 2025
Barcelona’s The Brioles have been playing and recording for almost 40 years. With a regular presence on the live circuit they managed to take time out to get into the studio and the result is Voodoo Eyes, their latest recording of pure Spanish unadulterated original ‘Briobilly’.
Band Members:
Daniel Nunes
Jorge Nunes
Josep M. Ruera
Pedro Ortega
1/ FLY FACE: Fly Face gets Voodoo Eyes underway, it is lively ‘neo-rockabilly’ song with a catchy guitar riff running throughout the song. The Brioles have kept it simple without layering multiple tracks which helps retain the rock’n’roll roots feel of the song
2/ MY TOYS: I love the guitar intro to MY TOYS MASTER which is a variation on different scales and it works really well. The lyrics are brilliant albeit straightforward (‘Don’t Mess With My Toys’) and they are delivered perfectly in line with the song’s feel . If the Dead Kennedy’s did Rockabilly this is the sort of song they would make. I love this track and so will you.
3/ NO DESCANSAN EN PAS: A quick google search helped me translate this song’s title to ‘They Do Not Rest In Peace’. This has a real swagger about it with the shuffle drum beat and catchy, grinding guitar chords.
4/ SNAKE: Snake is not just very original but an extremely enjoyable track. Even though the vocals are not very busy, there is a lot going on musically and I strongly recommend multiple listens. This is a fantastic track.
5/ARRIBA: The 2nd song on the album performed in The Briole’s native Spanish which is totally appropriate to the feel of the track. The song has a subtle yet catchy riff which drives throughout the song and builds and builds until the end. I really like this one and although still sticking to their R’n’R roots this track also demonstrates a musical versatility that really works well.
6/ VOODOO EYES: As the title suggests the song is all about meeting a young lady with Voodoo Eyes. The Brioles again deliver a driving shuffle which is aurally infectious and you can’t help but get into the rhythm. Even while writing this I find myself moving my shoulders involuntarily to the beat. Great stuff!
7/ CALL FROM HELL: Call From Hell is more traditional ‘psychobilly’ than the earlier tracks on the album. An unusual but very addictive guitar chord riff and faster drum beat grind throughout the song.
8/ SLOW TRAIN: Slow Train changes the pace and the vibe to a more relaxed swagger. This is very catchy song with some great instrumentation and I know that the chorus will going round my head again and again. This is …so far…. my favourite song on the album mainly due to the great guitar riff and the very catchy chorus.
9/ NO ME DEJES ENTRAR: (trans: Don’t Let me In) No Me Dejes Entrar is a pacy, shuffle style Rock’n’Roll number which grinds away and my only criticism is that it finishes too soon, just as I was really getting into it. Most songs on this album are around the 2 minute mark, maybe they could have allowed this one to go on just a little bit more.
10/ DOWNSTAIRS: Listen out for the unusual guitar chords and riffs as they are brilliant on this track. The lyrics are uncomplicated and straightforward and it works perfectly with the instrument arrangement. Be warned, this is another foot-tapper.
11/ GHOSTS: The minor guitar riff is perfect for the song and drives through the song accompanied by the shuffle beat. The lead guitar riff reminds me of another song but I can’t quite remember where from, nevertheless it sounds great and works really well with the song lyrics.
12/ TORTILLAS: Just when I was thinking that the record was ending with a catchy and quirky instrumental, the vocals kick-in at 40 seconds with ‘Flying tortillas in my kitchen’. I love the bizarre song subject and coupled with a really catchy arrangement, this is a very appropriate track to close down the album on a high.
SUMMARY: The Brioles do not overcomplicate their songs, they are short, the lyrics are straightforward and the musical arrangement avoids overlaying tracks and effects. This is what makes them so enjoyable to listen to, what you hear on record is (I assume) what you hear live and there are an awful lot of bands who cannot recreate live what they release on vinyl or on streaming platforms. The Brioles have been in the business for many years and it is great to see that they have not lost their rock’n’roll roots, in this album they demonstrate that they still have a passion to write and perform great rock’n’roll songs in the way that they were originally intended to be delivered.
RECOMMENDATION: Voodoo Eyes is a great listen with a fair amount of variety between songs. it is a short album and that is not necessarily negative because what you can guarantee is that you will not have any unnecessary extended solos or remixes or songs that go on forever. This is Rock’n’Roll laid bare and it is refreshing to listen to. If you know The Brioles you will probably already have Voodoo Eyes, if you do not know the band, this is the perfect introduction to a band that you are definitely going to want to see live.
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