Revisiting Vengeance Rising--Released Upon the Earth

Over the past few days I've listened to the original album, a bootleg of the Released Upon the Earth Tour in Denver, and the "Remastered and Expanded" edition put out by Roxx in 2014.

This is probably the least popular of the VR discography. But what do you all think of it?

I like the diversity of the vocals from the outset: "The Damnation of Judas and the Salvation of the Thief" features a very unusual vocal style from Roger, and then on the title track immediately after he goes into a deep growl.

There are some really cool hooks throughout, especially on the chorus to "Lest You Be Judged" and "Bishop of Souls."

I wasn't too crazy about the instrumental track "Out of Bounds" at first, but I really like the breakdown in the middle, which sounds similar to the classic riff from Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers." In my mind, it's a cool throwback to the roots of the band, even if the lineup had by then drastically changed.

"Tion" is probably my least favorite song. I find it kind of funny how the song expresses the importance of understanding the lyrics, when the vocal delivery (both Roger's and background shouts of the various "..tion" words) is utterly unintelligible unless you have the lyrics printed out before you.

Roger's intensity really comes through on "Human Dark Potential," where Charles Darwin and Karl Marx are equated to Jeffery Dahmer. The lyrics mention Roger being in Milwaukee in 1989 express his wish that he had been able to lead him to Christ. I guess I didn't realize how much that case defined that era in the early 1990s. Dahmer even comes up in the interviews that are featured on the Roxx Productions expanded edition.


Anyway, what do you guys make of the album 28 years later?

Never could get into this band. I own one album by them, Anthology.

Maybe i need to check out more.

Gilbert wrote:

Never could get into this band. I own one album by them, Anthology.

Maybe i need to check out more.

I've never listened to that compilation straight through, but if you don't care for the material on there, I can't imagine the rest of the four albums represented will be more enticing.


This band really seems to be a love or hate type of group.

I like it. It was more death metal than the previous albums.

For me, the first 2 albums. I could never get into the last 2 at all. have tried many times to listen to Released and it just isn't for me.

I've tried to "get" this band numerous times over the years but while I find V.R.'s crash-and-burn saga interesting, I have never seen what the big deal was musically. (shrug)

I like all the songs musically, but I hate half the vocals. The death metallish songs are the best on this album. Its far better than Destruction Comes though!

Lurideath wrote:

I like all the songs musically, but I hate half the vocals. The death metallish songs are the best on this album. Its far better than Destruction Comes though!

I think I’m one of the few that likes Destruction Comes. Yeah, it’s “loose and sloppy”, but I like Chris Hyde’s drums and the energy. I also think the vocals are unique and interesting!

I like it ok, nothing like the first two though. This was my favorite track off the album.

I absolutely love this album and wore it out back then.

Each VR has its place. This isn't their best, but in my opinion each VR is great so that's not a negative.

Love the music, love the vocals.

It has Roger’s best guttural vocals.

Bishop of Souls was actually played on KNAC’s manic metal show back in the day. I assume because it sounded secular.