VICIOUS RUMORS – “RAZORBACK KILLERS”
SPV (2011)
Can somebody please explain to me how it is that most times that I read a report for the fairly popular genre of Power Metal, either on the Internet or in any of the prestigious magazines here in the UK, Californian legends Vicious Rumors shine through their absence?
I mean, being formed back in 1979, they are hardly what you would describe as the ‘new kids on the block’ and it’s not like they have not featured any prominent musicians in their line up over the years, six-string virtuoso Vinnie Moore and vocalist James Rivera (Helstar) being two of them! Anyway, little annoying obstacles such as these never seemed to have affected Geoff Thorpe’s brainchild, as there has been a steady flow of albums coming out these last thirty years and, hopefully, now that the very impressive new album of theirs, entitled “Razorback Killers”, is finally out, maybe this major injustice will be rectified once and for all.
Vicious Rumors belong in that generation of US musicians such as Helstar, Queensryche and Fates Warning whose early style and sounds was heavily influenced by that of British Metal legends such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden – influences which they were always clearly audible in their music and which continue to guide them to this very day. While most other bands followed a slightly softer and a more technically demanding path over the years, Geoff Thorpe’s outfit continued to invested in their trademark Heavy-meets-Thrash riffs and, just like Helstar, continued to operate in that vast grey area which lies between these two amazing genres.
The benefits of having such an approach to song-writing have been immense for an album like “Razorback Killers” as it provides it with the variety needed in order to become and attractive proposition to a wide range of music fans. Furthermore, by adding to their ranks a very charismatic and multi-ranged vocalist by the name of Brian Allen and ensuring that Thorpe’s virtuoso guitar playing remains as cut edge and relevant as ever, they have managed to portray “Razorback Killers” not as a product of nostalgia, but as a strong competitor of a continuously vibrant scene.
As I mentioned earlier, “variety” is the key word here and that could not be better portrayed than by the co existence of the opening track “Murderball” with the six minute “Black”. The former is a mid tempo riff-orientated opus whose riffs sound as if they have been influenced by Testament, whereas both its melodic refrain and the accompanying twin guitar solos move closer to Iron Maiden ground. “Black”, on the other hand, is a far heavier piece that operates at a much slower tempo, relying on Allen’s commanding vocals for both guidance and inspiration.
Fans of up-tempo, Metallica-influenced Thrash will really appreciate the quite straight-forward “Razorback Blade” and those of you with a soft touch for atmosphere ought to check out the harmonic leads of “Blood Stained Sunday”. The one song that really stands out as a result of combining the band’s strongest attributes is “Pearl Of Wisdom” – a six and a half minute track whose slow paced epic riffs and multi-layered vocals combine brilliantly with its explosive head banging prone Thrash outro.
Though a big fan of Crimson Glory, I found the melodic tunes of “All I want Is You” to be the ‘weakest link’ of the album but I was soon rewarded by two killer tracks – the rhythmical Thrash Metal monster “Axe To Grind” and the more epic orientated “Let The Garden Burn” whose pompous chorus is one of the best I have heard in years! The album closes with two very enjoyable songs, a rhythmical Thrasher by the name of “Rite Of Devastation” and the seven minute opus “Deal With The Devil” whose main riff is quite similar to that featured on Judas Priest’s classic “The Rage” (see “British Steel”).
“Razorback Killers” is the kind of album that you will be hooked on very easily and which will do its absolute best not to let you get away! There is nothing innovative or scientific about Vicious Rumors’ approach to music but what is indeed very special is the passion and skill with which they approach their craft, something that is clearly audible in the ten compositions on offer.
There is no such thing as a filler here and there are many occasions where the craftsmanship, especially with regards the lead guitars, is of such high standards that it ought to make this your album of choice next time you are in a mood for some good quality Heavy/Thrash music. Vicious Rumors did their bid by releasing another good quality album – I really hope that the music world will do its part and finally pay some much deserved notice to them!
John Stefanis
Rating: **** (4.0/5.0)
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