VICIOUS RUMORS

track-list:
Bloodbath
Dogs Of War
Crack The Sky In Half
High Hell Hammer
Butchers Block
Abusement Park
Wrong Side Of Love
Boring Day In Hell
In Blood We Trust
Better Than Me
The Devil’s Asylum

Vicious Rumors are:
Geoff Thorpe – guitars
Larry Howe – drums
Robin Utbult – bass
Chalice – vocals
Denver Cooper – guitars

It’s been five years since US power metal act Vicious Rumors unleashed their most recent album.
Five years during which band mastermind Geoff Thorpe and his crew played well over one hundred and fifty shows, presenting their longstanding career in condensed form and performing a playlist featuring their most important VR classics.
These shows have left their mark on the band members while at the same time releasing a burst of new energy.
Both these factors are now literally about to culminate on their upcoming album ‘The Devil’s Asylum’, which Geoff Thorpe aptly summarises, saying:
“‘The Devil’s Asylum’ sees us return to our roots, which we’ve combined with contemporary influences.”
And he continues:
“Vicious Rumors look back at a career that spans 45 years, so there’s only one goal for us: Everything we do should always be significant, every show, every song, every new album. This band has always stood for maximum intensity, powerful music and lots of new, fresh ideas.”
In this respect, ‘The Devil’s Asylum’ couldn’t be more typical of Vicious Rumors and at the same time the album is bound to appeal to new fans.
It is available on Steamhammer/SPV, with three singles – ‘Bloodbath’, ‘Crack The Sky In Half’ and ‘Dogs Of War’ – out ahead of the album release.
So there’s a lot to talk about, not only the new album, but also the highly motivated new line-up.
First of all, alongside band leader/founder Geoff Thorpe, there’s original member Larry Howe on drums and vocals, with long-time bassist Robin Utbult completing the core foundation of VR. Geoff’s songwriting, guitar work and vocal style, together with Larry and Robin’s thunderous rhythm section, set the pace for the group’s ‘The Devils Asylum’ album.
After the songs were written, the addition of two new members has made the band chemistry rise to a new level…
There’s vocalist Chalice, who Thorpe raves about:
“We were looking for a new frontman worldwide and of course received lots of video applications featuring candidates singing to one of our tracks. Chalice, on the other hand, sent us a video with just him singing, without any background music. So you could clearly recognise all the facets of his voice, his range, his amazing expression, his timbre, his sound. I don’t think anyone has ever come so close to the voice of our original singer Carl Albert and at the same time had a charismatic personality all of his own.”
The second new member is guitarist Denver Cooper, who – like Chalice – also hails from Cape Coral in Florida.
Thorpe:
“I got to know Denver on our last US tour, where he supported us with his band NZM. He’s a brilliant guy and a real shredder, a totally cool rock star! When I called him and asked whether he was interested, he was absolutely thrilled and agreed straight away.”
That continuing enthusiasm based on the tours of the past five year and the breath of fresh air thanks to the new line-up:
no wonder ‘The Devil’s Asylum’ is bursting with energy.
Vicious Rumors recorded their eleven new songs in four different studios during just a few weeks between December 2024 and January 2025 under the direction of Thorpe and his two co-producers Juan Urteaga (Machine Head, Testament, etc.) and Jimmy Evans, who also co-wrote three songs.
Thorpe refers to this time as a ‘quick and intense period‘ and is now proud to present some of the strongest tracks his band has ever recorded.
They include the three aforementioned singles, which range from a raw speed metal attack with melodic vocals and thrashy guitar riffs (‘Bloodbath’) through a typical Vicious Rumors mix of aggression and catchy melodies (‘Dogs Of War’) to a veritable anthem about never giving up and enjoying life to the full (‘Crack The Sky In Half’).
The album’s title track also deserves a mention and has composer and lyricist Geoff Thorpe put the extreme volatile situation worldwide with all its trials and tribulations into clear words:
“Times are just getting crazier and crazier, hence the album title, which also sums up the whole recording.”
No doubt about it:
‘The Devil’s Asylum’ is an album that combines perfectly the group’s irresistible heaviness with speed and catchiness.
Thorpe:
“The shows we played during the past four years and our two new additions have shaped a sound that blends classic Vicious Rumors with modern elements. I couldn’t be happier with the result!”

US Metal legends VICIOUS RUMORS released a new single and video.
The song ‘Dogs Of War‘ is taken from the upcoming album ‘The Devil’s Asylum‘.
Founder Geoff Thorpe:
“The song is a classic Vicious Rumors mix of aggression and catchy melodies “
‘The Devil’s Asylum‘ will be released on August 29th, 2025 worldwide (except Japan) through SPV/Steamhammer.