"Evilution", is the first album by this bunch of American underground veterans, and it's a pure well-crafted but uninventive US Power Metal in the VICIOUS RUMORS / HEATHEN / HELSTAR / FORBIDDEN tradition played with determination and  expertise, the eminently talented singer Brian O'Connor (CONSFEARACY / ex-SPECTRE) found fame when he was fronting VICIOUS RUMORS with Geoff Thorpe,  for the album "Cyberchrist" in 1998 and he gave a strong positive signal back then toward the early fans and also to the inconsolable nostalgic of Carl Albert's (R.I.P.). Here you can find a Music based upon sharp chainsaw riffs, with no surprise but some subtlety, plus a lot of ferocity; it's an old recipe: strict aggressive American Metal with fierce guitars and a very good vocalist with some more than competent musicians. Nothing more really, no pure genuine melodies nor out of this world harmonies, but who cares? That's pure American red white & blue steel. Warning! If you are still searching for a good pretext to purchase this platter, here are a few ones.

First of all, This record contains one of the best cover of DIO ever published since the terrible loss of Ronnie, with only the ADRENALINE MOB or the JORN rendition of "Mob Rules" as serious challenger, veritably their "Last In Line" cover is uplifting, adventurous and respectful in the same time...This specific track alone is worth the buying of the whole disc.

Second serious and full of credibility, reason to buy, "Evilution" is the guest musicians list, a real wet dream for the mature headbanger like me, with such an impressive list of gunslinger as invited like: The Legendary MERCYFUL FATE / KING DIAMOND's related batch of amazing axe-shredders Hank Shermann, Michael Denner, Andy LaRocque, Mike Wead in the Huge track "Final Solution", with beside the obvious fantastic lead-section some clever hi-tech Bass licks provided by Steve Northam (MUCUS MEMBRANE) with additional hot six-strings contribution from the less famous, Claudeous Creamer (DRAGONLORD / SERPENTS & SERAPH / MUCUS MEMBRANE). And to complete the hammering, the brillant duo of US Thrash mercenary : Glen Alvelais (TESTAMENT / TENET / FORBIDDEN / DEFIANCE) and Steve Smyth (TESTAMENT / NEVERMORE / VICIOUS RUMORS / DRAGONLORD) in the solo spot for the song "Path We've Chosen". A cut that's sounds pretty much like NEVERMORE, of course. Nevertheless the duo Kevin Rohr / Michael J. Gardner is hyper efficient, highly complementary and their guitar competency, their virtuosic skills spread all over this CD has nothing to envy to anyone else.

As a perfectionist, I couldn't restrain myself to buy it, and you know what? Well , I'm enjoying it quite a bit. This is straight to the head, no bullshit Power Metal with some slight Thrashy overtones with a real patriotic lyrical recurrent theme that bubbling under, for me another (the third) valid alibi to acquire it. Horns up, support the troops, beat the bastards down.