Share the post "Album review: HELSTAR – This Wicked Nest"
AFM Records www.afmrecords.de [Released 28.04.14]
I believe the cover of Helstar’s latest release This Wicked Nest says it all really…a suit wearing skeleton complete with devil horns and a pentagram worked into the band logo. After listening…well yeah I was correct – I feel like I’ve just stepped back 30 years to 1984 and into the height of the American thrash explosion.
Helstar were founded in Houston, Texas way back in 1982 but only original vocalist James Rivera survives in today’s line-up. Original bassist Jerry Abarca had to step down in 2013 due to ill health but still hopes to return when recovered. The 2014 line-up is completed by guitarists Larry Barragan and Rob Trevino and drummer Mikey Lewis. Symphony X bassist Mike Lepond has been rumoured to be taking over live bass duties.
Helstar deal in thrash metal in the vein of early Metallica, early Megadeth, Testament and Exodus. Opener Fall Of Dominion kicks things off as they mean to go on – a typical acoustic Metallica opening leading in serious Megadeth riffing. The song titles say it all really – Eternal Black, This Wicked Nest, Souls Cry, Cursed, It Has Risen…but what kills this for me is the high pitched unique vocal style of James Rivera which makes for unpleasant listening to my ears. Isla De Las Munecas saves things slightly as it is an instrumental. Epic closer Magormissabib (from the Bible, Jeremiah 20:3 – a symbolic name given to evil priest Pashur by Jeremiah meaning “fear on every side”) has a little bit of Eastern flavour to it but is more of the same – I’m sure the story of Magormissabib is told in the song but unfortunately I couldn’t decipher the screams!
This is pure OLD school thrash with a distinct demonic feel…the label are even releasing 666 vinyl copies of the album!
Not my cup of tea but this will find its fans out there.
**
Review by Phil Berisford
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: HELSTAR – This Wicked Nest"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
