Welcome to the Ball | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1991 | |||
Genre | Heavy metal, power metal | |||
Length | 45:04 | |||
Label | Atlantic [1] | |||
Producer | Michael Rosen, Geoff Thorpe | |||
Vicious Rumors chronology | ||||
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Welcome to the Ball is the fourth album by the American heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1991. [2] It was produced by Michael Rosen and Geoff Thorpe. [3]
The band supported the album with a North American tour. [4] Welcome to the Ball was nominated for a Bammie Award. [5] A remastered CD version was released by Rock Candy Records in 2024.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
Chicago Tribune | [7] |
Rock Hard | 9.0/10 [8] |
Sputnikmusic | 4.0/5 [9] |
The Chicago Tribune wrote: "By combining the best of two worlds—the anger and energy of thrash with the harmony and intricate guitar work of more commercial metal—Vicious Rumors sets itself apart from the scores of bands doing one or the other." [7] The Washington Post noted that the band "takes its musical marching orders from such aging British headbangers as Judas Priest... Every once in a while, though, the Vicious ones sound like Kansas." [10]
All songs written by Carl Albert, Geoff Thorpe and Mark McGee, except where noted.
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, featuring double kick and blast beat techniques; minor keys or atonality; abrupt tempo, key, and time signature changes; and chromatic chord progressions. The lyrical themes of death metal may include slasher film-style violence, political conflict, religion, nature, philosophy, true crime and science fiction.
Steve Smyth is an American musician who is the guitarist for metal band One Machine.
Vicious Rumors are an American power metal band, originally formed in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was conceived by founder and guitarist/vocalist Geoff Thorpe, and has been actively recording and touring worldwide since their full-length recording debut in 1985. They are signed to the Germany-based label SPV/Steamhammer.
Soldiers of the Night is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1985 through Shrapnel Records in the US and Roadrunner Records in Europe; a remastered edition was reissued in 2010. It is notably the only Vicious Rumors album to feature vocalist Gary St. Pierre as well as guitarist Vinnie Moore, the latter of whom would release his own debut album, Mind's Eye, in 1986.
Digital Dictator is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1988 through Shrapnel Records and Roadrunner Records (Europe); a remastered edition was reissued in 2009. The is the first Vicious Rumors album to feature vocalist Carl Albert, who would stay in the band until his death in 1995.
Vicious Rumors is the third album by the American heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1990.
Plug In and Hang On: Live in Tokyo is a live album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1992.
Word of Mouth is the fifth album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released on the Rising Sun label in 1994, This would be the band's first studio album to feature bassist Tommy Sisco and also the band's final studio album to feature both lead vocalist Carl Albert as the following year, he died from a car accident and guitarist Mark McGee, who departed the same year in 1995.
A Tribute to Carl Albert is a live album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1995. This live album is a compilation of recordings done in 1994 during their European Tour and put together as a tribute to singer Carl Albert.
Something Burning is the sixth album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1996. It introduces a notable change in the band's musical direction, with the power metal sound being replaced by groove metal; the music is also more aggressive and slower.
Cyberchrist is the seventh album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1998. The record continues the experimentation with the groove metal sound that they started on previous album, Something Burning. It is the final album to feature bassist Tommy Sisco, drummer Larry Howe and guitarist Steve Smyth. It is also the only album to feature lead singer Brian O'Conner.
Sadistic Symphony is the eighth album by American heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 2001. This is only album to feature Morgan Thorn on vocals and also the only album not have longtime drummer Larry Howe.
The First Ten Years is a VHS compilation album by American heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 1996. It contains various band footage: live, backstage and on-tour in Europe - as well as the band's four MTV videos.
VR – Crushing the World is a DVD compilation by American heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 2005. It contains several live performances, backstage clips, the MTV-era videos produced by Gore Verbinski, and three new/unreleased songs.
Warball is the ninth album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 2006. On this album, the band returned to the power metal sound, which pleased many fans after almost a decade of musical experimentation with their metal sound.
Drugs, God and the New Republic is the second album by the band Warrior Soul released in 1991. It was the first album without drummer Paul Ferguson, who had been replaced by Mark Evans. The band supported the album by taking part in the "Tune in, Turn on, Burn out Tour", with the Sisters of Mercy, Public Enemy, Young Black Teenagers, and Gang of Four.
Play God is an album by the American band Reverend, released in 1991. It was Reverend's second full-length release. Play God marked the departure of bassist Dennis O'Hara and drummer Rick Basha, who were replaced by Angelo Espino and Jason Ian, respectively. The album includes a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son".
Carl Spencer Albert was an American singer, the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Vicious Rumors from late 1986 until 1995. He was a 1975 graduate of Columbia Elementary School in Columbia, Tuolumne County, California, and a 1979 graduate of Sonora High School, Sonora, California, also in Tuolumne County. He played lead guitar in local bands in Tuolumne County for several years, notably in Crossfire, a hard-rock band, Chaser, another hard-rock band, and Uncle Fester, a hard-rock band.
Razorback Killers is the tenth album by heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 2011.