Year : 2013
Style : Heavy Metal , Power Metal , Groove Metal
Country : USA
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 113 mb
Bio:
Vicious Rumors is an American power metal band founded in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. The brainchild of Geoff Thorpe, the band has been active on the metal scene since its inception in 1979. Vicious Rumors is recognized for their guitar works and harmonies, as well as the variety of their music.Band leader Thorpe is also known for recording with the American rock & roll band 7th Order, alongside veteran British session guitarist Martin Pugh (of Steamhammer, the 1st Rod Stewart solo album and Armageddon[1]) and drummer Tim Kelliher (of Randy Hansen's Machine Gun[2]) on their debut CD, The Lake of Memory - released in 2007.After a period of relative stability, in 2013 the band still faced more line-up changes around classic members Thorpe and Howe: in the first leg of Electric Punishment European tour Brian Allen was temporary replaced by James Rivera due to serious family matters. In the second leg of European gigs and in the US tour, Slovenian multi-instrumentalist Tilen Hudrap (Thraw, Keller, Wartune) stepped in for Stephen Goodwin on bass and took over the bass duties permanently. Also Thaen Rasmussen left his spot later in the year, with Bob Capka rejoining VR ranks on guitar. During the American tour, surprisingly, young Dutch singer Nick Holleman (Powerized, Methusalem) took care of vocal duties, with Allen stating he and VR parted ways.Entering in the line-up alongside Thorpe, Howe and Capka, Hudrap and later Holleman became the first European official members in Vicious Rumors history, bringing fresh blood to the band before a very intense 2014 which carries VR in no less than three continents: first, Vicious Rumors will co-headline "70,000 Tones of Metal" cruise - where they will play the legendary "Digital Dictator" album in its entirety for the first time in the history of the band - and then, not only many European summer festival gigs but also the long awaited South American and Australia/New Zealand/Japan tours. The band will release a new live album, entitled"Live You To Death 2: American Punishment" in June 2014 (which marks the first official release by the new line-up, consisting of Thorpe, Howe, Hudrap, Capka and Holleman), achieving the goal of four album in four years.
Album:
Okay, hands up. I’ve just broken my Vicious Rumors cherry. There’s just such a wealth of exciting US heavy/power metal bands – both past and present – that I can’t jump into the sack with all of them! As such you’re going to get an unadulterated look into their latest full-length; with out any preconceived notions or bias, I’m calling this one exactly as I hear it.Here Vicious Rumors very much adopt a power/thrash approach which is similar to that of modern Helstar, or Agent Steel. I’ve also detected some serious Testament vibes, particularly in terms of production and tone, and I think The Formation Of Damnation signposted the sound and approach of a lot of these US bands would take. Particularly with that big, chugging rhythm guitar approach, and of course the more flamboyant lead guitars. As such Electric Punishment comes off a very heavy, modern release, and one certainly deserving of its title.Across the board I’d definitely say Vicious Rumors serve up some enjoyable material here, although I haven’t found anything to be too exciting. Very much by the book for the style, I’m sure more clued up fans of the band will find this to be as expected. There certainly isn’t any particular stand out factor to write about, with the guitars being good, yet unspectacular, and Brain Allen’s vocals applying to the same formula.On the whole I think fans of modern power/thrash will find something to enjoy here, although I can’t imagine the album offering much in the way of replay value. As I’ve said the material is enjoyable and solid, although memorable this is not. As my first taste of Vicious Rumors I can’t say I’m all that impressed, although I do owe it to myself to give their eighties albums a shot. For now though, I could take this or leave it.
Line-Up:
Brian Allen - Vocals, Lyrics (tracks 4, 6)
Geoff Thorpe - Guitars (electric, acoustic), Vocals (backing)
Thaen Rasmussen - Guitars
Stephen Goodwin - Bass
Larry Howe - Drums
Tracklist:
01. I Am the Gun 06:03
02. Black X List 04:26
03. Electric Punishment 06:09
04. D-Block 03:45
05. Escape (From Hell) 06:56
06. Dime Store Prophet 04:26
07. Together We Unite 03:35
08. Eternally 04:46
09. Thirst for a Kill 04:43
10. Strange Ways (KISS cover) 03:24
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