VICIOUS RUMORS – Digital Dictator [remastered Digipak] 2009, MP3+FLAC

As requested, here’s one of the most influential records from the ’80s American Metal scene; VICIOUS RUMORS “Digital Dictator” in its remastered reissue done by original label Shrapnel Records on a deluxe Digipak appeared some years ago.

Originally released in 1987, ”Digital Dictator” was the year’s No. 1 album in one of Europe’s top metal magazines, RockHard. The album sold well in Japan, the US, and the rest of Europe, with the band performing at all major festivals.
While for this second VICIOUS RUMORS LP stellar guitarist Vinnie Moore already left the band, you do not miss him at all as mastermind guitarist Geoff Thorpe and powerhouse vocalist Carl Albert (RIP) put together an album that came to define the Vicious Rumors sound.

This is where the band moved past the Judas Priest-driven style of their debut and incorporated more in the way of metallic riffs, which were obviously a huge part of the San Francisco Bay Area scene at the time.
The result is an album that’s as aggressive as it is powerful, and one with some seriously high-octane metal anthems.

At that time, as listener, I was fully into melodic rock / AOR, but “Digital Dictator” was – and still is – one of my favorite albums from 1987 and from the American Metal genre.
All songs are a pure blast, but the awesome “Towns On Fire” is the absolute killer; melting riffs, smashing rhythm section and superb lead / harmony vocals on the chorus. All Vicious Rumors members contribute backing vocals on the album, and the result is stupendous.
Also the almost catchy “Lady Took A Chance” is plenty of fantastic grooves, which together with “The Crest” reminds me Black Sabbath’s finest moments with Tony Martin as vocalist.

“Digital Dictator” is a classic American Metal album, highly influential for many acts at both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. If you never heard it, or metal is not your type of thing, give it a chance, this baby seriously Rocks.
If you already love it and have the lovely original LP version, this remastered Digipak is pure gold: the sound quality is awesome.

01 – Replicant
02 – Digital Dictator
03 – Minute To Kill
04 – Towns On Fire
05 – Lady Took A Chance
06 – Worlds And Machines
07 – The Crest
08 – R.L.H.
09 – Condemned
10 – Out Of The Shadows

Carl Albert – lead vocals
Geoff Thorpe – guitar, background vocals
Mark McGee – guitar, mandolin, background vocals
Dave Starr – bass, background vocals
Larry Howe – drums, background vocals
Dino Alden, John Lavaysse – background vocals

turbo FLAC