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The American band Helstar was founded in the early 80's and released 4 albums in that decade. From the beginning their trademark was James Rivera's voice, but also the US metal combined with progressive structures. The riffing was influenced by thrash metal. And this still describes their sound, even if now more powerful and with an up-to-date production.
The opener is the title track The King Of Hell which starts slowly with guitar and female vocals, but then they kick off! And it becomes clear that they add some heaviness and power, but stick to their guns. The song is typical Helstar with partly high-pitched vocals, but it seems to me that the bass lines are more prominent... Bassist Jerry Abarca as well as drummer Russel DeLeon get space to show their skills during the opener, even if the songs is mainly based on the guitar riffing of Larry Barragan and Robert Trevino. Perhaps The King Of Hell isn't the best choice for an opening track, coz I miss a bit a catchy refrain and it's perhaps too complex for drawing attention... But Helstar songs always needed some spins to grow... The faster The Plague Called Man would have been a better opener in my opinion, but well... Heavy riffs and a great solo. And somehow this can also be said about Tormentor which comes along with a great guitar melody line. When Empires Fall starts with some drum beat and is a bit slower, but therefor they add some heaviness... At this one the progressive structures in the song writing are more obvious. And the fiver shows a slightly different side of the Helstar sound. At Wicked Disposition they present some slow guitar-based parts, but also fast passages. The song is probably showing best the different facets of the Helstar sound... The catchy Caress Of The Dead they played live already and it did well, I think it will stay in the set list. Melancholy and slow kicks off In My Darkness which later becomes a doomy rocker. For me one of the highlights on The King Of Hell - beside Caress Of The Dead. But for the last tune they speed up again and so with Garden Of Temptation they end get back to the more typical fast Helstar stuff.
The legendary Remnants Of War line-up delivers another typical Helstar album and which can keep up with the 80's releases. Fans of Helstar will love The King Of Hell, others might have problems with the high-pitched vocals, but that's part of their sound and without it wouldn't be Helstar anymore! In my opinion James Rivera and his band combines well their 80's US metal with heaviness and a modern production. I recommend to check out: Tormentor, Caress Of The Dead (both tracks were already released on Sins Of The Past), Wicked Disposition, When Empires Fall and In My Darkness.
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