Rough Edge: Vicious CD Reviews

VICIOUS

"Vile, Vicious & Victorious" (Sound Riot; 2004)

With a name like Vicious, you'd think you'd be getting a completely extreme, maniacal band of wild banshees. But this is not the case. Vicious and their full-length debut "Vile, Vicious, & Victorious" stem from the Swedish death thrash sound. Granted, this is a sound and style that reaching neat saturation point, but some folks gotta do what they love.

It's obvious that Vicious have their hearts and souls in the Swedish death thrash sound – and more power to them. "Vile, Vicious, and Victorious" does not offer anything new or revelatory, but that's OK. Taken for what it is, the album rocks pretty hard. Vicious have a bit more hardcore edge in their music than most bands still playing this style. This is actually a pretty good feature of Vicious because it separates from the pack more than most bands of this ilk.

The nine tracks on "Vile, Vicious, and Victorious" breeze by in 35 minutes for maximum impact. Everything is pretty compact and concise just as you'd expect from Gothenburg-inspired metal. Normally I'd review an album like this with a two and a half chainsaw rating, but I kinda like "Vile, Vicious, and Victorious" despite its lack of progressiveness and I'm awarding it a three chainsaw rating. If you like bands such as The Haunted, Carnal Forge, and The Forsaken you'll dig Vicious' "Vile, Vicious, & Victorious." However, I sense that there is a lot of room for improvement and Vile should be poised to make headway into a more individual style and sound on future releases.

"Vile, Vicious & Victorious" was produced by Pelle Saether and Vicious.

Vicious: Henke Wenngren (Skyfire) on vocals, Simon Jarrolf on guitar, Pontus Pettersson on guitar, Alexander Savander on bass, and Fredrik Eriksson on drums.

For more information visit http://www.viciousonline.tk.

"Vile, Vicious & Victorious" (Sound Riot; 2004)

Reviewed by Snidermann

Sometimes a name fits a band like a second skin and Vicious is just such a name and such a band. And the name of their CD, "Vile, Vicious & Victorious" fits pretty damn well, too.

Right from the beginning, Vicious's "Vile, Vicious & Victorious" transports the listener to a heavy metal realm that is full of blistering guitar riffs, thundering drums bass licks and a screaming vocalist. Put all those things together and you get Vicious.

"Vile, Vicious & Victorious" kicks metal ass and is already on my "A" list rotation. I've already spun probably a dozen times and, come to think of it, I think I'll go listen to it again now. It is that good.

My only negative thought here is that this CD is only 35 minutes long. I would really like to hear more of this highly talented and very intelligent metal band.

Vicious: Henke Wenngren (Skyfire) on vocals, Simon Jarrolf on guitar, Pontus Pettersson on guitar, Alexander Savander on bass, and Fredrik Eriksson on drums.

For more information visit http://www.viciousonline.tk.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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