UMUR "Demo II" is as the title suggests the 2nd demo cassette tape by US, California based heavy/power metal act Vicious Rumors. The demo was self-released in May 1983. Since the release of the first demo there have been a couple of lineup changes as guitarist Jim Cassero has been replaced by Chuck Moomey, and drummer Jim Lang has been replaced by Don Selzer. Vicious Rumors were formed in 1979 and released their first demo cassette tape in 1982. The track "In Fire" was also featured on the first demo in a shorter and less developed version.

Stylistically the 3 tracks on the 13:37 minutes long demo continues the heavy/US power metal style of the first demo. "Steeler" is a relatively hard edged heavy/US power metal track (and probably the track which resembles the band´s later more defined US power metal style the most), while "In Fire" is a more melodic traditional heavy metal track greatly influenced by Iron Maiden. "I Can Live Forever" has a more hard rocking feeling to it´s tradtional heavy metal sound and it reminds me a bit of contemporary Judas Priest.

It´s obvious the band have developed their songwriting and playing skills since the first demo, and the sound quality is also slightly better on this demo than on the first. It´s still pretty lo-fi and unpolished though. The three tracks show that Vicious Rumors were still working on finding their own sound, but despite the stylistic inconsistency of the tracks, they are all quality material and a 3 star (60%) rating is warranted. Certainly a promising demo release.