Helstar - GLORY OF CHAOS

Holy cow! How was I not aware until now that Helstar had a new CD coming out later this month?? Well, I just so happened to "like" their official page on Facebook today and got hooked up with all the straight poop.... the new album is called GLORY OF CHAOS!



Record release party (with RAVEN!) is October 23rd at Backstage Live in San Antonio, Texas (of course I live nowhere near there... heavy sigh...)



And two sample tracks are currently YouTubed:
"Alma Negra"


"Monarch of Bloodshed"

Me like....


Laterz

I knew they had a new one, but didn't know it was coming out so soon.

And...um...they get a new singer?

I wanted the last one, and now this one. Obama very behind.lol. Is James Rivera singing on this one?

Man that is sounding sweet. At first I wasn't so sure that was Rivera singing on Alma Negra during that screechy beginning but as the song went on it definitely is.

Both tunes sound great. Bring it on !

Eyesore wrote:

And...um...they get a new singer?

powermacho wrote:

Is James Rivera singing on this one?

Haha, I thought the same thing, especially when I heard the first track ("Alma Negra") -- but their Facebook page still lists Rivera as the vocalist, and I think if they'd made a singer switch we would've heard about it on Blabbermouth or wherever. So I guess ol' James is just stretching his vocal style a little bit on this new one...

Here's an interview w/the band (Rivera included) where they talk about the tweaks to their sound on the new record...

Oh man, too many releases too close together but on the want list. Anyone need a kidney?

Sounds like they are moving towards a thrashier direction.

Wow! One more great album this year? I thought I had enough with my last purchase of HELLOWEEN. I bought 10 or more albums from this year, and all are great.

Seriously. Those tracks are insane! I can't believe that's Helstar! Haha.

Yeah, sounds like a different band.

They have definitely went a little extreme on this one.Reminds me of Tenet.Still good stuff though

That first song sounds like ass...

Would love to see Raven & Helstar together.

I saw Helstar & TT Quick together back in 1986 at a little club in Rochester, NY.

Those screechy, blood curdling screams are like nails on a chalkboard to me. Pass.

ultmetal wrote:

Would love to see Raven & Helstar together.

I have And boy, what a show!!!!

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

That first song sounds like ass...

Yea, I wasn't too crazy about the first one either. When I first heard it I was like "Uh-oh." Fortunately the second one sounded more "Helstar-ish."

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

That first song sounds like ass...

Well, that's harsher than I would be but I can see where you're coming from.

I don't hear a lot of catchy hooks, vocally or riff-wise. The rhythms don't sound very HELSTAR-y to me.

The new drummer Mikey Lewis is awesome. For a brief period of time, he almost ended up in TEMPLE OF BLOOD playing on our last album but fortunately our drummer Lance was able to do the album.

Watching the interview, I can really agree with where they are coming from. I hate it when people box in our music and I can see why they have a strong reaction against that, especially after being influenced by so many new bands during their hiatus.

The production sounds really good.

This album sounds rushed, and from the interview they admit that it was. Needs stronger hooks.

Oh branching out is all good...I'm all for that...that one song just sounded terrible to my ears...I totally get where they're coming from and what they want to do...more power to them...I just don't necessarily want to go with them.

I won't judge until I hear more, one song doesn't tell me much. The second song sounds really good.

Jesusandmetal23 wrote:

Sounds like they are moving towards a thrashier direction.

That's the problem i'm having with the new material. I wish they would go back to their glory days of playing top notch power/speed metal. I'm not digging the vocals at all.

More songs have been posted to youtube. After hearing Trinity of Heresy, I'm starting to get excited for this album!!

WhenTheWildWindBlows wrote:

Jesusandmetal23 wrote:

Sounds like they are moving towards a thrashier direction.

That's the problem i'm having with the new material. I wish they would go back to their glory days of playing top notch power/speed metal. I'm not digging the vocals at all.

And then everyone would complain that they're just rehashing things they did 20 years ago. Bands can't win.

Damn, Joe! Those two tracks you posted frickin smoke! I'm definitely looking forward to this album now. "Alma Negra" threw me at first but after hearing these other songs I'm guessing that particular track is an exception, not the rule, if you know what I mean.

Joe wrote:

More songs have been posted to youtube. After hearing Trinity of Heresy, I'm starting to get excited for this album!!

Both of those sound great!