Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Vicious Rumors Razorback Killers Company: SPV Release: 2011 Genre: Traditional, thrash Reviewer: EC

Still brings the VR past alive

Vicious Rumors never wear out listeners simply due to the famine-like nature of their output. Something to be said for anything good is worth waiting for and "Razorback Killers" nails that statement. Geoff Thorpe must be a phenomenal businessman because this record is only the third album in ten years. After James Rivera's excellent performance on "Warball" (2006) and further touring responsibility, Thorpe finds familiar ground again in uncertainty. In Steps Brian Allen of non-recording Malice/Wild Dogs and Last Empire and he fits like a glove with Thorpe's classic flashy ideals.

"Razorback Killers" is vintage and nostalgic VR from Allen's stance to the signature Thorpe "Shrapnel" shine. Bravado way up front and in fighting formation, the band write the best record since "Word Of Mouth" and maybe the most flashy effort of their topsy turbulent career. Oddly sometimes Allen sounds like Carl Albert, answering the old metalhead questioning of "What If" Albert was alive and well in 2011. Allen's pairing is almost as cool as Owens joining Priest or that Danish native joining Artillery. I love it when unbridled youth meets veteran tactics.

Some can argue that this whole record is more thrash than tradition and I would firmly lean one way or the other on any given day. Thorpe mixes high end and polished down strokes with heavy utility boom. This is the formula and calculation that was so well used by Testament/Overkill/Exodus on the last albums and it again works perfectly here with a band not as beefy on groove. This isn't quite to the point of modern machinery but still brings the VR past alive by catching it on fire for all to see.