Vicious Rumors Live in Spain: 45 Years of Heavy Metal and The Devil’s Asylum on Tour
Vicious Rumors are heading to Spain. The California-based heavy and power metal band, founded by guitarist Geoff Thorpe in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area, arrives with The Devil’s Asylum, their first studio album in five years, released on August 29, 2025 via SPV/Steamhammer. Over four and a half decades into their career, Thorpe and his crew have logged more than 150 shows in recent years and rebuilt the lineup around what he considers some of the strongest material the band has ever produced. Vicious Rumors have long stood as one of the essential pillars of American heavy metal, and they show no signs of slowing down.
The Devil’s Asylum came together under unusual circumstances. After parting ways with their vocalist and guitarist in mid-2024, Thorpe moved quickly: he brought in vocalist Chalice and guitarist Denver Cooper, and by December the band was in the studio recording eleven tracks across four different facilities in just a few intense weeks. The results range from the speed metal assault of Bloodbath and Dogs of War to more melodic, layered cuts that expand the band’s sonic range. Alongside the new additions, original drummer Larry Howe and longtime bassist Robin Utbult anchor the lineup, giving the record a solidity and weight that reflects decades of experience. Thorpe describes it as a return to the band’s roots combined with contemporary influences — and the album delivers on that promise.
In late May 2026, Vicious Rumors will play four consecutive nights across Spain. May 28 brings them to Portugalete (Bizkaia) at Sala Groove, followed by May 29 in Madrid at Sala Silikona, May 30 in Barcelona at Sala Lennon’s, and May 31 in Valencia at Sala Zulu. Four cities, four nights back to back — a tight run that underlines how seriously this band takes the stage.
