Looking forward to hearing this one, here's an early review
from Detritus:
VICIOUS RUMORS - WARBALL (A) Mascot Records, 2006
10 tracks, RT: 42:57
[ http://www.viciousrumors.com/ ]
[ rumors@... ]
The ball is back, and it's badass! This new release seems poised to
answer every metalhead that lost faith when Mark McGee left the band
to pursue other avenues, every headbanger that laments the tragic,
untimely demise of Carl Albert, every afficionado who hasn't been
moved by anything the band has released since those distant Atlantic
Records years. Since those illustrious big-label days, Geoff Thorpe
and crew haven't had much success recapturing the magic of the early,
classic lineup output. I write here to ask you to keep an open mind,
because WARBALL might just fulfill those dreams you'd all but
abandoned. A couple of years back, things were looking somewhat shaky
with yet more lineup issues as co-lead guitarist, Ira Black left to
join Metal Church for a recent tour, then there was news that singer
Brian O'Connor had moved on, along with iconic bassist Cornbread.
Following these and other issues, a glimmer of hope: classic lineup
stalwarts Dave Starr (eight-string bass) and Larry "drumspank" Howe
had returned to rejoin the fray. After that, the completely
unbelievable tidbit that none other than Brad Gillis (Night Ranger,
Ozzy Osbourne) was going to join Geoff on guitar, as it turns out in a
special guest capacity. The final pièce de résistance: vocal duties
would be handled by another metal legend, James Rivera (Helstar,
Destiny's End, Flotsam And Jetsam, Seven Witches, etc). Geoff took
Vicious Rumors, mkX (who's counting?), also including newcomer Thaen
Rasmussen (Anvil Chorus) on guitars into Trident Studios under the
tutelage of Juan Urteaga, with whose skills I was not familiar
previously, to record what has turned out to be quite the "comeback"
effort. To preemptively answer the questions: Q1: But James Rivera has
been everywhere, and makes everyone sound like Helstar? A1: Curiously
enough, James sounds completely un-James-like on eight of the nine
tracks on which he sings lead. (Geoff does a truly impressive job
singing the remaining tune) Q2: Brad Gillis? A2: Yeah, Brad Gillis. He
plays trademark, whammy-filled leads on tracks #1-4 and 9. Q3: Michael
Rosen isn't producing? The album must suck! A3: All now bow to Juan
Urteaga! This disc sounds crisp, well-balanced, full, heavy, beefy and
completely stiffy-inducing. I really do think it's even better than
the slightly boomy production Rosen gave them for especially WORD OF
MOUTH. Your woofers won't clip when you crank it. Kudos maximi to
Geoff and Juan for doing it up right. Highlights include "Mr.
Miracle," "Dying Every Day," "Immortal," and "Crossthreaded," which
actually seems to have the most classic Vicious Rumors flavor on the
album, despite the aggressive vocals of Mr. Thorpe. If you've missed
them for the past decade, rest assured Vicious Rumors are back and the
WARBALL is engaging battle. If you haven't heard of them before, don
your body armor, yank up your bootstraps and prepare to be drilled in
good old American power metal.
- Paul Lackey (mrnot@...)
from Detritus:
VICIOUS RUMORS - WARBALL (A) Mascot Records, 2006
10 tracks, RT: 42:57
[ http://www.viciousrumors.com/ ]
[ rumors@... ]
The ball is back, and it's badass! This new release seems poised to
answer every metalhead that lost faith when Mark McGee left the band
to pursue other avenues, every headbanger that laments the tragic,
untimely demise of Carl Albert, every afficionado who hasn't been
moved by anything the band has released since those distant Atlantic
Records years. Since those illustrious big-label days, Geoff Thorpe
and crew haven't had much success recapturing the magic of the early,
classic lineup output. I write here to ask you to keep an open mind,
because WARBALL might just fulfill those dreams you'd all but
abandoned. A couple of years back, things were looking somewhat shaky
with yet more lineup issues as co-lead guitarist, Ira Black left to
join Metal Church for a recent tour, then there was news that singer
Brian O'Connor had moved on, along with iconic bassist Cornbread.
Following these and other issues, a glimmer of hope: classic lineup
stalwarts Dave Starr (eight-string bass) and Larry "drumspank" Howe
had returned to rejoin the fray. After that, the completely
unbelievable tidbit that none other than Brad Gillis (Night Ranger,
Ozzy Osbourne) was going to join Geoff on guitar, as it turns out in a
special guest capacity. The final pièce de résistance: vocal duties
would be handled by another metal legend, James Rivera (Helstar,
Destiny's End, Flotsam And Jetsam, Seven Witches, etc). Geoff took
Vicious Rumors, mkX (who's counting?), also including newcomer Thaen
Rasmussen (Anvil Chorus) on guitars into Trident Studios under the
tutelage of Juan Urteaga, with whose skills I was not familiar
previously, to record what has turned out to be quite the "comeback"
effort. To preemptively answer the questions: Q1: But James Rivera has
been everywhere, and makes everyone sound like Helstar? A1: Curiously
enough, James sounds completely un-James-like on eight of the nine
tracks on which he sings lead. (Geoff does a truly impressive job
singing the remaining tune) Q2: Brad Gillis? A2: Yeah, Brad Gillis. He
plays trademark, whammy-filled leads on tracks #1-4 and 9. Q3: Michael
Rosen isn't producing? The album must suck! A3: All now bow to Juan
Urteaga! This disc sounds crisp, well-balanced, full, heavy, beefy and
completely stiffy-inducing. I really do think it's even better than
the slightly boomy production Rosen gave them for especially WORD OF
MOUTH. Your woofers won't clip when you crank it. Kudos maximi to
Geoff and Juan for doing it up right. Highlights include "Mr.
Miracle," "Dying Every Day," "Immortal," and "Crossthreaded," which
actually seems to have the most classic Vicious Rumors flavor on the
album, despite the aggressive vocals of Mr. Thorpe. If you've missed
them for the past decade, rest assured Vicious Rumors are back and the
WARBALL is engaging battle. If you haven't heard of them before, don
your body armor, yank up your bootstraps and prepare to be drilled in
good old American power metal.
- Paul Lackey (mrnot@...)
