Concussion Protocol

Vicious Rumors’ "Concussion Protocol" sounds like a band going through the motions of a style they once helped define. The ingredients are all there—punchy riffs, steady pacing, and a veteran sense of control—but the execution feels oddly lifeless.

The biggest issue is the songwriting. Tracks blur together into a stream of mid-tempo sameness, lacking the variation or memorable hooks that typically give this style its bite. Riffs, usually a strength for the band, ... read more