If you are a long time metal fan, you start creating bucket list bands that you hope to one day see in concert. For me as a power metal maven from the mid 1980’s onward, one of those artists would be Vicious Rumors. Fortunately for me through the years, I got the chance to see this California band a couple of times at festival settings such as Powermad in Baltimore, MD and the Classic Metal Festival 1 in Kalamazoo, MI - but never in my home area, until last year.
Live You to Death 2- American Punishment encapsulates those dates across the United States on said tour of 2013, crisscrossing the nation on the road with Seven Witches and Power Theory. A new vocalist joined just in time for these tour dates, Dutch singer Nick Holleman, and the young 22 year old has a set of leather lungs that have no trouble tackling any era of the band – from the “Soldiers of the Night” ender on through to the classic Digital Dictator- self-titled era of Carl Albert, plus the recent material on their last studio album Electric Punishment. The 13 songs heavily favor the classic VR period that most ardent followers cherish of the group – so it’s smart of the quintet to open the set with “Digital Dictator”, “Minute to Kill”, “Town’s On Fire”, and the infamous audience favorite “Lady Took a Chance”. 2 songs come from the last album, the first video “I Am the Gun” and the title cut – and other favorites include “You Only Live Twice” and “Mastermind” off of the criminally underrated Welcome to the Ball, plus “World Church” and the speedy “Hellraiser” from their self-titled 1990 effort.
35 years plus in the business for guitarist Geoff Thorpe, who along with drummer Larry Howe, bassist Tilen Hudrap and second guitarist Bob Capka still know how to slay the audience and raise hands, command chants, and keep the steady variety of power, speed, and traditional metal flowing. Expect another studio album to come out in 2015, but for now this live album gives great insight into where VR has been and hopefully will continue to go for years.
Matt Coe, HMS
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