Vicious Rumors

Established by guitarist/co-vocalist Geoff Thorp, heavy and groove metal merchants Vicious Rumors are one of the immortal flagbearers of the West Coast scene. After ruling local stages for six years, Geoff managed to assemble a stable line-up that delivered a serious punch with ‘Soldiers of the Night’, still one of the more impressive metal debuts to date. On follow-up ‘Digital Dictator’ they fine-tuned their sound into what was to become the blueprint of US power metal that also brought Vicious Rumors success on this side of the Atlantic in the first half of the nineties. In 1995, singer Carl Albert perished in a car crash and finding a suitable replacement proved challenging; drummer Larry Howe proved the only stable factor in an otherwise volatile line-up. They rallied on ‘Warball’ (2006), heralding a return to the success formula of the first decade. To this day, stalwarts Thorpe and Howe stay the course and continue to protect that unique, powerful sound. Their latest feat ‘The Devil’s Asylum’ (2025) introduces new guitarist Denver Cooper and vocalist Brian ‘Chalice’ Betterton.(#GMM26)