Customer Reviews

Welcome to the Ball

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best metal records of all time. The writing is superb (both lyrically, and instrumentally). The musicianship is amazing. Carl Albert was without a doubt one of the best metal singers of all time and his performance on this record does not disappoint. Mark McGee and Geoff Thorpe are both great guitar players and their styles melded together as one during this time period. What are you going to say about Larry Howe's drumming... He's a machine! I can't think of a single cut off this album that isn't a "10". From Abandoned, to Strange Behavior, From Raise Your Hands to Savior from Anger one cut better than the last! The only thing better than listening to one of these CD's was seeing this band live, which I had the opportunity to many, many times as I lived in the SF Bay Area through these years. I can't believe this is available again. I horded up multiple copies years ago thinking I would never see this in print again. Digital Dictator, Vicious Rumors, Welcome to the Ball, Plug In Hang On (LIVE), and Word of Mouth are all amazing releases by this highly overlooked, extremely talented band. RIP Carl.

You want heavy? Check.
You want melodic? Check.
You want fist-shaking fun? CHECK!!!

I saw Vicious Rumors late one night on MTV's HeadBanger's Ball in the very early 90's, and I was just frankly blown away. I rushed out with my fast-food-crappy-job-earned money and bought the "Welcome to the Ball" cassette, and I could not have been more happy.

Well 10 years later I'd long worn out that tape and for years couldn't find the VR cd's online anywhere (other than outrageously pricey imports), and then the beauty that is the thing of Amazon MP3 arrives and here I have my masterpiece metal album again!

Suggested tracks for VR newbies:
4. Children
2. You Only Live Twice
5. Dust To Dust
7. Strange Behavior
1. Abandoned
10. When Love Comes Down
11. Ends of the Earth
9. Mastermind

Also check out self-titled album "Vicious Rumors" for a handful of must-have songs.

I am so psyched that Vicious Rumors albums are now available again. By far the best Metal act in the world. The vocals of the late great Carl Albert are amzing as well as the lead guitarwork of Guitar GOD Mark McGee. I've seen him play with VR, as lead guitarist for ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAMER - Gregg Allman and with others. He is one of the world's greatest players and musicians. Geoff Thorpe still has kept the band going but no replacements can fill the shows of Carl or Mark! If you like serious musicianship and classic metal ala/ Priest/ Sabbath/ Scorpions/ then Vicious Rumors - Welcome to the Ball is a must have. Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!

I consider this work to be their best.No moronic lyrics here. A heartfelt recording that will stand the test of time. Just listen to the song "Children".

Originally released in 1991, Welcome to the Ball was the fourth overall album from Vicious Rumors, and the third in a series of jaw-dropping power/thrash releases from this influential, but constantly overlooked American metal band. The metal assault the band delivered over the course of Digital Dictator, Vicious Rumors and Welcome to the Ball remains an absolute classic run of albums.

Thrash metal was on the rise in 1991, and Vicious Rumors was able to prove they could serve up rapid-fire riffs with the best of `em on this album. That they did it while still maintaining a good sense of melody and power metal energy just shows how talented and versatile they were. Like Armored Saint and Helstar, Vicious Rumors found that perfect spot between power and thrash metal. Between Geoff Thorpe's amazing guitar work and Carl Albert's (RIP) powerful vocals, the songs on Welcome to the Ball are just electrifying. Highlights are the punishing "Abandoned" and "Mastermind," but even a slower song (I don't want to call it a ballad) like "When Love Comes Down" kills.

This is what real metal in the early 1990's was all about - power, speed, aggression and sheer metal energy. Serious metal fans owe it to themselves to check out Vicious Rumors, and Welcome to the Ball is one of their absolute best albums.

Edition Notes: Wounded Bird reissued Welcome to the Ball in 2005. As with their previous Vicious Rumors reissue, the album has not been remastered, there are no bonus tracks, and the liner notes are bare-bones. It's cool that they got the album back into circulation, but if you already owned the original version there's definitely no need to replace it.

All fans of their 1990 album will enjoy this but in my opinion this album has a few more fillers. The vocals of Carl Albert are fantastic, what a great singer - I enjoy his work with Ruffians and Villain, check them out! This album has a mixture of slow-paced and fast-paced songs with 2 lighter songs, so there is a great variety here. I really recommend purchasing this album because it is a great effort all in all. I had to listen to a few of the tracks on here to see where the songs were going but after a few listens I got the idea. Not all tracks are solid on this album, I feel some of the choruses are a bit weak but other songs on the album make up for it. Overall I gave this album a 3/5 but still a great album. I would recommend everyone to buy their 1990 album which is more on the lines of a 4.5/5. It truely is a sensational album. This is still up there with their great albums so buy this cd aswel!
Enjoy!

Nice progressive metal. Mid/high, gravely vocals. Good singer, similar to Mike Howe-Metal Church. Few power ballads, couple choppy songs and some fast ones gives Welcome to the Ball a nice variety. Talented band, well written songs, all around good stuff. Agree with most other reviewers.

I hate it when good bands with a lot of talent suddenly decide to change their sound drastically. That's what Vicious Rumours did with Welcome to the Ball. They took the soaring, melodic, graceful quality out of their songwriting, and opted to go for a hardcore thrash/speed metal sound instead. Big mistake. This album lacks the inspiration and creativity that so characterized their self-titled effort. While there are a couple of good tracks, it's plain to see the magic is gone here. But then, if you like your metal thrashy and pointless, you might like this. Check out their self-titled first. You won't be sorry.