{"title":"Vicious Rumors","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"welcome-to-the-ball","title":"Welcome To The Ball","description":"\u003cp\u003eFully Remastered Audio \/ Bay Area Power Metal quintet raze roofs with pulverising album \/ Co-Produced by Michael Rosen (Testament, Mordred, AFI) \u0026amp; Geoff Thorpe \/ Includes ‘Abandoned’, ‘Mastermind’ \u0026amp; ‘Children’  \/ 16 page full-colour booklet, 4,500 word essay with new interviews, enhanced artwork \u0026amp; previously unseen photos. The mid to late ’80s gave us a number of fine heavy metal bands, most of them echoing the thrash metal scene spearheaded by Metallica, Exodus, Death Angel and Megadeth. Vicious Rumors, in the scene from the start, were an act who gave the full-on thrash style a neat makeover, lacing the riffs with razor sharp emphasis and maximum melody. Vocalist Carl Albert was uniquely placed to exert a powerful influence on the band’s sophistication, with a voice that could easily push the band to new heights and help them achieve more commercial success. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFormed in the San Franciso Bay area in 1979 and producing two independent records (on the Shrapnel label) and one for Atlantic Records (also reissued on Rock Candy) the band’s chief protagonists by this point in their career were twin lead guitarists Geoff Thorpe (group founder) and Mark McGee; two players very much in sync with each other and their musical goals. Perfectly complimentary, their interlocking sound moved the music into areas not normally afforded such precision in this genre. They had, unknowingly, occupied an area of power metal, with a technique that provided a stepping stone for other bands who wanted to push the genre’s limits. Originally issued in 1991 on Atlantic Records ‘Welcome To The Ball’, their fourth album, included a collection of superlative tracks, featuring such heavy hitters as ‘Abandoned’, ‘Children’, ‘Mastermind’ and ‘When Love Comes Down’. Music filled with angst and a resolute determination to take no prisoners. Recorded in San Francisco, kudos must be given to co-producer Michael Rosen for his clear and concise work, allowing every instrument to resonate with enough clarity to provide maximum damage.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rock Candy Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50407464337739,"sku":"2179449","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Vicious_Rumors_-_Welcome_To_The_Ball_97db76c2_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726598042"},{"product_id":"digital-dictator-2","title":"Digital Dictator","description":"\u003cp\u003eLegendary US Metal masterpiece finally available again on deluxe180 grams vinyl after more than 35 years! With their sound and style completely defined on their previous and nearly perfect album, “Soldiers of the Night”, Vicious Rumors continue on with yet another outstanding sequel that could go hand in hand with their debut. This is pretty much US Power Metal with actual riffs, and some technical and mindblowing riffs at that with Geoff Thorpe’s tremendous skill and incredible songwriting. The standout here is hands down vocalist Carl Albert (Rest in peace). Nothing but energy sparks from his every lyric spoken. His aggressive and energetic mid-range performance can easily be matched to Bruce Dickinson. Vicious Rumors were truly out of this world when Carl was with them, this being the flawless beginning of that legacy. Its nearly impossible to pinpoint Vicious Rumors exact sound and style and just throw them in one genre, because you really can not. There are a few Speed Metal songs here, a few more Power Metal orientated ones, few hints of progessive structures, and even some Thrashy parts from time to time. Standout tracks would be the self title track, “Minute to Kill”, “R.L.H (Run Like Hell)”, and “Towns of Fire”. Then again, this whole album is just great with no real low points at all. In the end, this is an essential Vicious Rumors album, and often hailed as their finest release!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hammerheart Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50445523714379,"sku":"2177201","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_f831acfc_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1729985487"},{"product_id":"soldiers-of-the-night-3","title":"Soldiers Of The Night","description":"\u003cp\u003eLegendary US Metal masterpiece finally available on deluxe 180 grams vinyl after almost 40 years! We do not think there is a single word out there that could do this album justice aside perfection. And once you have given this album a listen, you instantly realize this is Vicious Rumors. This is their style, their own genre and sound, their formula. “Soldiers of the Night” is their flawless blueprint that they would always follow for the rest of their career. There is enough speed here to have them thrown in the Speed\/Power Metal genre, there is enough emotion and diversity to have them thrown into the progressive genre, there is enough technical skills on here to had them landed under the Shrapnel Records roof.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hammerheart Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50445526368587,"sku":"2175552","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_9c21c656_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727040063"},{"product_id":"vicious-rumors","title":"Vicious Rumors","description":"\u003cp\u003eVicious Rumors are an American power metal band, originally formed in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was conceived by founder and guitarist\/vocalist Geoff Thorpe and has been actively recording and touring worldwide since their full-length recording debut in 1985. Their first Atlantic release was the self-titled \u003cem\u003eVicious Rumors\u003c\/em\u003e in 1990. The band subsequently began their first full US tour - which lasted for over three months and shot their first official video, “Don’t Wait for Me”, directed by Gore Verbinski. This tour was quickly placed in rotation on MTV’s Headbangers Ball.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Music On Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"LP - Blue","offer_id":51387788296523,"sku":"R9669-2674","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/MOVLP3891__Sleeve_webp.jpg?v=1741246268"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/vicious-rumors.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}