Vicious Rumors – Concussion Protocol
SPV/Steamhammer
Release Date: 26/08/2016
Running Time: 49:44
Review by Dawn King
9/10
Being a fan of Vicious Rumors for as long as I can remember, I jumped at the chance to review their forthcoming album “Concussion Protocol.”
Due for release on 26th August 2016 by SPV/Steamhammer, “Concussion Protocol” is the band’s twelfth studio album and marks a return to form for the California based heavy metallers.
The brainchild of guitarist Geoff Thorpe, who would hand out business cards in the name of Vicious Rumors at gigs and clubs before he had even brought together any musicians, the band formed in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay area, and have undergone several line-up changes over the years, none more so that the passing of vocalist Carl Albert in 1995.
But, as has been said many times about this awesome band, Vicious Rumors do not follow trends, they create them.
Their first two albums, 1985’s “Soldiers of the Night” and “Digital Dictator” from 1988, have become classic metal albums, full of hunger, passion and desire that helped formed heavy metal as we know it, and, although often classed as a thrash band, they were, in fact, pioneers of the power metal movement.
“Concussion Protocol” sees them return to their trademark sound of those first two classic albums and promises a “roller coaster ride of pure, unadulterated, cutting edge metal.”
As Thorpe, himself, states “the album is relentless and crushing in true, classic Vicious Rumors style but with many twists and turns. Believe me, you’re in for a treat!”
And what a treat this album is. The first concept album from the band, it tells the chilling story of an armageddon by a global killer asteroid and how humanity unravels in its wake. It is full of fast blazing guitar solos, pummelling drum sounds from Larry Howe, the only other surviving member of the original band, thick and heavy bass lines and a vocal range of singer Nick Holleman that could rival that of Halford, Tate and even King Diamond.
Nick, who joined the band in 2013, puts in a stunning performance, giving the already immense display of musicianship and talent something extra with his passion and conviction, and, along with thundery beats, fantastic guitar playing and drum assaults, this album really kicks you in the head, making your ears bleed.
This is old school, headbanging, brainwashing metal at its finest and is delivered at a break neck speed throughout, with just a temporary break in tempo with “Circle of Life”, at track number seven, before throwing you headlong back into an oncoming metal assault.
The stand out track for me was “Chasing The Priest”, its swirling guitar work, full on drumming and gritty vocals, reminding me just how damn good this band are, and always have been.
Vicious Rumors should be bigger than what they are and I would recommend them to any metal fan, young and old.
Go and buy this album, and then go and buy everything else they have ever done. If you like your music metal, and your metal heavy….then this is the band for you!
TRACKLISTING:
1. Concussion Protocol
2. Chemical Slaves
3. Victims Of A Digital World
4. Chasing The Priest
5. Last Of Our Kind
6. 1000 Years
7. Circle Of Secrets
8. Take It Or Leave It
9. Bastards
10.Every Blessing Is A Curse
11. Life For A Life
LINE-UP:
Geoff Thorpe – guitars, vocals
Larry Howe – drums, vocals
Tilen H – bass, vocals
Thaen Rasmussen – guitars
Nick H. – lead vocals
LINKS:
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Reproduced here with kind permission from Metal Gods TV