Vicious Rumors - Digital Dictator

\r\nI always had a great sympathy to VICIOUS RUMORS and this was because they had an element that first of all I want a band to have….quality. Very good musicians, perfect compositions and overall very good productions, were the things that always characterized the band. \r\n

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\r\nOf course, if you listen to their first album “Soldiers Of The Night”, which was released in 1985, then you will say that I am exaggerating, because the specific album is not so good. Not so much for the songs, but because the singer (or that is the way he think he is), Gary St.Pierre has “murdered” every band’s try to show to the fans something good. To imagine better what I am trying to say, the best song of the album is…the instrumental track Premonition, because there is no singer..!! Fortunately for us, the guitarist and leader of the group. Geoff Thorpe, realized it quickly and did some improvement moves, the results of which will be seen below. \r\n

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\r\nThorpe, who has founded Vicious Rumors in 1979 (!), replaced St.Pierre, with carl Albert and –future-guitar hero (as he thinks), Vinnie Moore with Mark Mc Gee and in 1987, they released their second album, Digital Dictator.
\r\nThe epic and pompous intro, “Replicant”, which open the album, get you high immediately. But you will say…”Yes, so did their first album…but”. Hopefully, thing here are much more better and the homonymous track which comes next, is excellent. Very heavy guitars, Powerful refrain, with strong backing vocals, Carl Albert’s voice really impress you, so it is very easy to realize that their mediocrity in their depute album, is a part of history.
\r\n“Minute to kill”, appears to sustain this truth. A great speed metal song, with fast riffs, excellent rhythm section and refrain and backing vocals that…kills. I wrote again about V.R.’s backing vocals, because it is one of their characteristics that always impress me, because they offer to the song the ability to get to a higher scale. \r\n

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\r\nThe next two songs, “Towns On Fire” and ‘Lady Took A Chance”, are not something great, but “Worlds And Machines”, which comes really, leaves you with your mouth open wide. The beautiful acoustic intro of the song, is succeed from the “storming” riffs from Thorpe and McGee, drummer Larry Howe is on perfect timing, while the perfect performance of Carl Albert, comes to finish this Power Metal masterpiece. A very well organized song, that makes me high even now, 20 years after I heard it for first time. \r\n

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\r\nAlthough “The Crest” was a very good song, it had the misfortune, to be the successor of “Worlds And Machines” and consequently it doesn’t impress, but this opinion is not the same for the next song R.L.H (Rock Like Hell), with the speed Thorpe-McGee’s solos, steal the show….Very good song, with heavy riffs is “Condemned” which comes next, while the album comes to an end with one of the best songs, the unique “Out Of The Shadows”. I use the characterization “unique” because the song can be at the same time very fast and very melodic and is a great combination between speed, power and melody. Impressive also, is for another time Carl “Ace” Albert voice, with gives to the song what it really needs. \r\n

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\r\nDespite the fact that ‘ Digital Dictator, has “medium” moments, it is overall one of the best power-speed metal album of the ‘80’s.
\r\nThe introductions of Carl Albert and Mark McGee, changed to the better the image of the band and song such as Digital Dictator, Minute To Kill, Worlds And Machines και Out Of The Shadows, really impress and bring to surface the composing and performing abilities of VICIOUS RUMORS.
\r\nGreat power, high speeds, but beautiful melodies, characterize an album, which must not be missed, from fans of the specific style. \r\n

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\r\nAntonis Alexandropoulos \r\n

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\r\nTranslated by: Manos Maragkos \r\n

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