adg211288 Electric Punishment (2013) is the eleventh album by US power/heavy metal act Vicious Rumors. It is the second studio album from the group to feature the vocals of Brian Allen (after comeback album Razorback Killers (2011)) and follows hot on the heels of the live release LIVE You to Death (2012). Electric Punishment returns guitarist Thaen Rasmussen to the Vicious Rumors line-up, having last appeared on Warball (2006). The album features a cover of Strange Ways, originally by glam metal/hard rock act Kiss.

Vicious Rumors have a real classic and powerful metal sound which blends traditional heavy metal with the US style of power metal. Typically this is in the form of doing one or the other in each of the tracks although there is a couple which blends the two a lot more. They’re equally competent at both sort of sound but the USPM is most definitely their true forte. They have an aggressive near thrash approach to it that not even the harder edged (usually German) European power metal bands can manage. Brian Allen’s vocals work perfectly in this style, being just as aggressive as the guitars yet still retaining that crucial sense of melody that all power metal, European or US, has, and using this formula the band produces some real belters of tracks including Black X List and D Block. And yet they’re not afraid to show a softer side either, such as in the ballad Escape (From Hell). It should be noted that a ballad in terms of this album is still very heavy and aggressive, and turns back towards USPM about two thirds of the way through.

The more mid-paced heavy metal tracks are still pretty good but don’t stand out as highlights next to the USPM. I can understand the need for variation in a release like this, but I personally don’t doubt that if any band could pull an album off by just having the really aggressive numbers it would be Vicious Rumors. Out of the slower songs the title track is easily the best but nothing manages to stand out in quite the same way as the two tracks mentioned above or the opening I am the Gun or Thirst for a Kill near the end of the album. All of these are really addictive, pummelling songs and that’s what proper metal should be all about.

Vicious Rumors weren’t as such a new name to me when I was given a promo for their prior live album, but I hadn’t listened to them before. Intrigued, I checked out the live album and found I loved it, which definitely may me very excited for their next full-length and Electric Punishment most certainly delivers the goods. If fast and aggressive metal is your thing then you’ll no doubt love this one and an exceptional grade rating is deserved.

92/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven (http://metaltube.freeforums.org/vicious-rumors-electric-punishment-t2890.html))

Warthur Although fans of US-style power metal will find a lot to enjoy in Vicious Rumors' Digital Dictator, it's from an early enough period in the evolution of power metal that it still displays ample roots in traditional heavy metal, giving it a fairly broad appeal. At points, it feels a bit like the album you expected Iron Maiden's Somewhere In Time to be when you first saw the cover art - a series of NWOBHM-influenced song-rants about a cyberpunk dystopia - and I think it's broadly on a par with that album. Indeed, those who dislike the mildly poppier direction Maiden took on Somewhere might actually prefer this one.

adg211288 LIVE You to Death is a 2012 live album release by long-running US power/heavy metal act Vicious Rumors. Having debuted new vocalist Brian Allen with the 2011 studio album Razorback Killers, LIVE You to Death is the first live recording to feature his voice. The album was recorded during the band’s December 2011 European tour with Sweden’s HammerFall. LIVE You to Death isn’t the longest live album you’ll find, containing just nine tracks along with a couple of newly recorded studio cover versions, but the album showcases that Vicious Rumors must put on one hell of a show when they hit the stage.

Vicious Rumors weren’t a band I was very familiar with prior to hearing LIVE You to Death. I’m not normally fussed by live albums personally but for people like me they serve as good a purpose as any to get a feel for a band I hadn’t known a lot about before, and it most definitely leaves me wanting to look into the band’s studio work. From the more objective point of view even without a history with the band’s music I can see that LIVE You to Death is a nice package for the Vicious Rumors fan. The setlist features a mix of tracks from Razorback Killers such as the absolutely stomping beast of a track Murderball, along with older material which originally featured the vocals of the late Carl Albert, such as Digital Dictator, although with only nine tracks it’s very much a choice cuts type of live release, and some of the past studio albums are not represented at all here. This is the first chance the fans will have had to hear some of the older songs with Brian Allen’s vocals if they missed out on seeing the band live yet. As I said, I don’t really having a background with the music of Vicious Rumors, but with that in mind I can tell you that Brian Allen sounds fantastic on this album, both on old and new songs, and the band as a whole put on a performance which is easy to get into the mood with.

After the live tracks the band also included a pair of newly recorded studio cover songs. The first is Sign of the Southern Cross, originally by Black Sabbath and the second is Running Wild, originally by Judas Priest. Both are solid cover versions which the band makes their own, and a nice addition to the package. The Black Sabbath one originally featured the late Ronnie James Dio on vocals and I think Brian Allen does him proud on this rendition.

In my opinion LIVE You to Death is a high quality live album and a must own release for the Vicious Rumors fan. An exceptional grade rating, for both the quality and energy of the live performance as well as the decent cover versions, is easily deserved.

89/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven (http://metaltube.freeforums.org))

Pelata Since losing vocalist extraordinaire Carl Albert in 1995, Vicious Rumors has attempted to carry on with no less than four other singers: Brian O’Conner (on 1998′s Cyber Christ), Morgan Thorn (for 2001′s Sadistic Symphony), James Rivera (of Helstar for Warball in 2006) & Ronnie Stixx (who toured with the band but never recorded). At one point, even guitarist/band founder Geoff Thorpe handled lead vocals (on the first post-Albert album, 1996′s Something’s Burning). To varying degrees, the albums worked. Each one had moments of passionate intensity. Each one also had moments that may not have lived up to the VR name. I thought they had struck gold with James Rivera as Warball was easily the best thing they had done to date since Albert’s untimely demise. I am, however, happy to report that the new album (which also sees vocalist #5 attempt to fill Carl Albert’s shoes) is even better.

Brian Allen is taking his turn at the VR mic in true, aggressive metal spirit! Not taking anything away from the other guys who’ve stepped in here, Allen is without a doubt THE man for this job. He packs an intense, absolutely (forgive me) vicious punch! Musically, Thorpe and company have cranked everything up a notch, and the result is, from my view, the best thing the band has done since 1995′s Word of Mouth.

The band has buckled down and put out a very, very strong album. Tracks like “Razorback Blade” and “Axe To Grind” call to mind the glory and speed of classics like “Hellraiser” (from the 1990 self-titled album). Allen proves his mettle here with some seriously impressive vocal acrobatics and soaring wails…absolutely blistering. He comes down out of the stratosphere and puts in a brooding, impassioned performance on “Black”. “Rite Of Devastation”, “Murderball” and “Blood Stained Sunday” all boil over with patented VR rage and spirit, the likes we haven’t heard in a long time. Crowd-rousing track “Let The Garden Burn” is an homage to the European, open air metal festivals held every summer and is sure to get crowds headbanging and chanting back. There is simply not a bad song to be had here, people. Guitar solos are something the band is known for and a couple of returning heros turn out some gems. Brad Gillis (Night Ranger) makes his second appearance on a VR album. Former VR guitarist Mark McGee (who played on all the band’s albums from 1988 through 1995) is welcomed back for a few guest shredders in tandem with Thrope. Testament‘s Eric Petersen even puts in some harmonized solo runs on “Murderball”.

This is the album that I, as a Vicious Rumors fan, have been waiting for since Albert’s passing. Putting a few past missteps aside, because the band has released some strong material over the years. But they have hit a home run with Razorback Killers! This album feels like a natural follow up to Word of Mouth and easily ranks among the Albert years’ material. Get it!

Double-D Vicious Rumors have always been one of the most underrated bands. These American veterans deserved much more. Their albums with Carl Albert (RIP) are timeless classics and masterpieces for metal music. Now after 30 years of ups and downs they are still able to kick ass.

Razorback Killers is another great chapter in their discography. It is easily one of the best power metal releases this year. Vicious Rumors are back in their best form. Balancing on the edge of thrash and power metal the guitar duels between the founder Geoff Thorpe and the new axeman Kiyoshi Morgan are just brilliant. Well no one can replace the divine voice of Carl Albert but the new singer Brian Allen has strong powerful voice and fits really nice to the songs.

Razorback Killers is great symbiosis between the classic and the modern times in heavy metal. In this abundance of mediocre pretending releases these oldschool compositions packed in newschool production are great choice for all heavy music lovers. The new Vicious Rumors album won't cause revolution or shoot his creators to the mainstream but is great present to their dedicated fans and 4,5 stars rating is absolutely deserved!