VR's last aren't great, but they're still good...
Matt Willimas | Virginia, United States | 04/29/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I hear alot of flack about Vengeance Rising's last two albums not being as good as their first. It may be true that when Roger headed VR alone with only studio musicians, the band lost the good technical feel from the Human Sacrifice/Once Dead days. But I actually like Vengeance Rising's last two albums well enough and if you liked the first two, give these a try. At least try this two in one KMG archive if you're not sure...although like many of KMG's releases, two songs are missing from the "Destruction Comes" album but you're only missing an short studio burst and the last song from there. Onto the albums...Destruction Comes. Yeah, its true this album is really repetitive...the songs do basically sound the same and some can drone one. But for me, if I'm in the right mood the album can work once in a blue moon. While it lacks in good technical thrash/variation, you can still jam to this well enough. I dunno, maybe I just like the album to be arbitrary to those who say its awful. LOL! Now onto Released Upon The Earth...see, I heard this one first of all of VR's catalogue and I liked it almost right off, in fact it actually my second favorite of the four albums. While still predominantly thrash, Roger has worked some death/growl vocals and some slower grinding songs into the albums sound, i.e. the title track. The first four songs are pretty wicked, especially the opening six minute guitar solo "Help Me"...wicked!!! You must hear this! After song four, the album gets a little less interesting but still good. However, you'll notice songs 8 and 10 sound almost identical...hmmm. Ah well. These aren't perfect albums and true they don't hold very well compared to the early material, but I still half-way recommend them. Give 'em one listen at least...
I give 'em four stars because, well they work for me over Once Dead...you'll notice my review for VR's first two albums got three because I'm not as fond of Once Dead...just so you know."