Customer Reviews

Digital Dictator

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This album has to be one of the finest albums that I have ever heard. VR (Vicious Rumors for short) really shines on this album, as well as their 'Welcome To The Ball' disc. At the time this album was recorded, VR was a local San Francisco club band with a pretty loyal following and an excellent live show. To see VR live was just awesome, they were tight and loud. The production of the album was not the best considering it was done on a really tight budget in a small studio, but the track that Digital Dictator contains are some of VR's best. From the title song, Lady Took A Chance, to Worlds & Mechines this album just rocks. Carl Albert's voice was in top notch performance and a pleasure to listen too.

If your a metal fan, do yourself a favor and chech out this CD. These guys should have been bigger here in the states, but poor label support by Atlantic (for there self title CD & Welcome To The Ball) did nothing for the band here in the US. With there powerful sound, these guys should have appealed to fans of Megadeath and Metallica. R.I.P. Carl Albert, you are missed!

As influential as Vicious Rumors was, particularly on the thrash scene, you'd think they would get a bit more recognition. As it stands, it seems like only the true metal faithful give this band the credit they deserve. The band was one of the best at blending elements of power and thrash metal, and had as much in common with Testament and Overkill as they did with Armored Saint and Lizzy Borden.

1987's Digital Dictator is the band's second album. No Vinnie Moore this time around, but he didn't really fit the band's sound anyway. Instead 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 Priest-driven power metal of Soldiers of the Night and incorporated more in the way of thrash riffs, which were obviously a huge part of the 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. "Digital Dictator", "Worlds and Machines" and "Condemned" are some great examples of Digital Dictator's fierce nature, but the whole album is remarkably solid.

Digital Dictator is a classic American heavy metal album, and one that should appeal to fans of traditional, power and thrash metal. This album, alongside Vicious Rumors and Welcome to the Ball is part of a run of standard-setting power/thrash metal albums from the band, and belongs in the collections of just about any serious fan of classic heavy metal.

Edition Notes: In 2009 Shrapnel finally got around to officially reissuing Digital Dictator (as well as Soldiers of the Night) on CD. The new version comes in a digipack and features digitally remastered sound. There are no bonus tracks, but honestly just having this classic metal album on CD is bonus enough.

I am so glad that the label decided to re-issue this great metal masterpiece. Every song is awesome "No Filler ALL KILLER." This captures VR at the height of their power. This has been a very hard album to find or way over priced for auctions. If any more copies are available during this time for the re-issues, GRAB ONE FAST! With only 2000 copies out, they will be gone in no time. You will definitely Enjoy this album from start to finish.

I bought this in cassette form for a whopping $1 (used) in 1992 and doubted it'd ever see CD form. Finally Shrapnel has come through! Of course the musicianship is first rate, but VR's trump card was vocalist Carl Albert (R.I.P.), who blows through these tracks like Rob Halford on steroids. VR were one of those rare bands who wrote good catchy songs with killer chops. "Minute to Kill", "Condemned", "R.L.H.", the whole thing rocks like hell as VR melted the LA poseurs into the Sunset Blvd. pavement with this one. Just a car stereo classic all the way.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO ALL IT IS TRASURE FOR REAL METAL HEART FAN!
YOU WONT BE SORRY EVER WITH THIS BAND!!! BEST FROM THE BEST!!!

This disc is worth finding, even if it is somewhat dated now. However, back in the late-'80s, this was a gem, perfect for fans of thrash with melodic vocalists like Flotsam & Jetsam, Sanctuary, Crimson Glory and early Anthrax. Orginally, this was released on Shrapnel Records in the U.S., the label that took great pride in exposing up-and-coming neo-classical guitarists (Jason Becker, Marty Friedman, Tony MacAlpine, etc.), so the guitar work on this disc is also top-notch.

What's more, Vicious Rumors' two discs for Atlantic Records -- one is self-titled and the other is called "Welcome To The Ball" -- are also must-haves in any self-respecting metal fan's collection.