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Vicious Rumors: Electric Punishment

Heavy/Power Metal

4.0/5.0

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SPV/Steamhammer Records
by Craig Hartranft,  04.18.2013

One thing you can accuse Bay Area metal band Vicious Rumors of is doing something half way. They always burst from the gates galloping speed and thundering heaviness, and their doing it again on their eleventh studio album, Electric Punishment.

Vicious Rumors:: we is metal.

VR definitely puts the 'heavy' in their heavy metal. If it isn't heavy, it's heavier with knobs on eleven, the amps quivering from the electric punishment. I Am the Gun, Black X List, Electric Punishment and D Block are powerful and pummeling at the start mixing traditional heavy metal with power metal and, being from the Bay Area, of course, some thrash.

But Vicious Rumors is always better when they mix things up, even backing off on the intensity at times. Escape (From Hell) is perfect example of an arrangement that moves less power and speed, but well-crafted parts. Another example is Together We Unite, a pure metal anthem which uses its moderated intensity to inspire. Then there's Eternally, a smoldering and haunting song that doesn't quite fit with the rest. At the end, the band throw in a quite heavier cover of Kiss's Strange Ways. Simply, Electric Punishment is Vicious Rumors doing what they do best, delivering intense heavy power metal. If it's not broken, don't fix the machine.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Simply, Electric Punishment is Vicious Rumors doing what they do best, delivering intense heavy power metal and blowing out amps and ears. If it's not broken, don't fix the machine.

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