US band HELSTAR started out back in the 1980’s making their debut with “Burning Star” in 1984. Their initial phase of existence ended just prior to the the millennium shift, but following a decade or so long period in hiatus the band was resurrected in 2007, releasing a total of four studio albums since their return. “This Wicked Nest” is the most recent of these, and was issued through German label AFM Records in 2014.
I recall Helstar as a band exploring a blend of heavy metal and speed metal back from their early days, and have since seen them cited as a power metal band, a description that wasn’t all that commonly used when I bought their debut album back in 1984. I’ll have to admit that I didn’t keep track of the band following their initial release though, so cannot really vouch for how they developed over the years. But I was rather curious about how they would sound 30 years on, and went into this album experience with fairly open eyes and ears.
What I do hear is a band that have set their sights towards a somewhat different style of music than they explored in their early days. “This Wicked Nest” is a darker, tighter and meaner variety of thrash metal at heart, with nods towards power metal and heavy metal on a few occasions along the way. The style as such is one that does point back in time though, as far as specific references go I’d suggest the earlier exploits by Agent Steel and Nasty Savage to be useful indicators.
Helstar are good at this game though. They have a drummer that knows his way around well developed and suitably aggressive rhythms, a bassist who know how to add depth to the material at hand, and two blazing guitarists who can conjure up tight and vibrant riff displays using impact riffs to good effect for subtle alterations in intensity and primal melody just as much as they deliver monumental, rich and heavy slower riffs and intense, monumental riff barrages with enough fluctuation and occasional quirkier movements to keep matters interesting. When called upon they have a deft hand at delivering frail, plucked guitar motifs with an unnerving reverberation too, as on the “ballad” tinged Cursed, and intense as well as melody based guitar soloing are delivered with an ease many younger musicians could envy them. This is an experienced crew of musicians, and one able to use their experience to good effect.
Vocalist Rivera comes across as a versatile singer, still able to produce melodic wails but just as often shifting to a more intense, shriek like delivery of the kind that could be used in computer games as the defining voice of an old, evil witch. Striking and aggressive, a voice with an evil intent if you like. Personally I found him most at ease when using his voice in a similar manner to another veteran metal vocalist though, when opting for a more controlled vocal style akin to Saxon’s Biff Byford.
The weaker spots on this album are all when I experience the songs crafted in a manner that warrants vocalist Rivera to carry the song, when the instrumentation is more firm, plain and aggressive while the vocals are needed to add melody and contrast. As good and versatile as Rivera is as a vocalist he isn’t a sprightly youngster anymore, and with age there are some limitations that will appear. And while Rivera is an experienced hand and maintains a high quality delivery, it’s clear that range and power isn’t what they were 30 years ago, and material that calls upon that power of a few decades back to be able to make a strong impact will be a bit weaker overall when that just isn’t possible.
When that is said, this isn’t a weak album due to that aspect of it, but merely a case of why some songs and some passages just aren’t quite up to the level of others. Overall I find this to be a thoroughly enjoyable affair, a well made album with a vibrancy and energy many younger bands might envy them. As far as personal favorites go, The instrumental Isla De las Marches and the more dynamic unnerving ballad going powerful heavy metal excursion named Cursed are the ones I’d highlight, as these are compositions where I generally find the band playing to their strengths all the way through. Many others are in close contention though, and this is a CD that comes across as both strong and consistent throughout.
All in all, if you are the kind of person that tends to be fascinated by dark, aggressive and unnerving thrash metal, of the kind that dips into power metal, speed metal and old school heavy metal on occasion without ever leaving the aggressive thrash metal foundation for too long, and that you generally enjoy a band just as able and willing to deliver tight and vibrant riff barrages as they are to indulge in quirkier riff movements, Helstar’s latest album is one that merits a listen. In particular if you have a soft spot for intense thrash metal as it was made in the mid to late 1980’s.
My rating: 80/100
