American Speed Metal (fast and furious, usually with some form of sporadic high pitched vocal, double-kick drums flying all over the place, frenetic riffing, but stopping just short of Thrash) was one of the 80’s Metal styles that never got the huge popularity or recognition of say Thrash, Glam or Power Metal, but one of it’s finest exponents were Helstar. They had all the qualities a top band of the genre ought to have. And 30 years since their debut hit the racks, they still do!
It’s quite incredible really, the riffs are as sharp as ever, the solos electrifying, the drums and bass are manic and the vocals…well what can you say about someone with the pedigree, dexterity and range that James Riviera had back then and still has now. Amazingly he sounds fresher, more courageous and even more insane than he did in the 80’s. OK, he’s kept his hand in, fronting bands such as Malice, Destiny’s End, Seven Witches, and Vicious Rumors (to name a few), but you would think someone with such a multi-octaved range would have knackered his voice by now, but not a bit of it. The years of experience has just enhanced it.
Now all this won’t be new to anyone that has heard the band’s most recent outputs, me included, and there are no great changes since 2010’s “Glory Of Chaos”, but then there are no particularly huge changes in style since “Nosferatu” back in 1989! The sinister flavoured ‘Cursed’ could be straight off that release – but with a more modern production of course. It has that same, slightly progressive technicality, a dark edge, and the ever present speed and power once it gets into it’s stride.
The link between past and present Power/Technical/Speed Metal is something that seems to come naturally to Helstar 2014. There are plenty of reference points that a fan of the genre can hear – The title track has a Nevermore/Sanctuary feel to it, whereas ‘Souls Cry’ could be a Brainstorm or Primal Fear track with different vocals. ‘It Has Risen’ and ‘Defy The Swarm’ seem to have equal measures of Arch Enemy with classic Agent Steel, but overall, thanks mainly to Riviera’s distinctive voice, you tend to think “That really sounds like that Speed Metal band I remember from the 80’s, who is it? Oh yeah…It’s Helstar isn’t it”. There is actually an instrumental for the musicians to effectively show their wares without being overshadowed somewhat by the enormous prowess of the vocals, which is a nice touch.
This album is an inspiration and a bench-mark for any band of that original era who thinks they can cut it 30 years later. If you can deliver the goods as competently and emphatically as Helstar do on “This Wicked Nest” then a new audience should take note just as much as your old one. Helstar demand it.
(7.5/10 Andy Barker)
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