Helstar
Vampiro
EMP Label Group
2016
Hell, Helstar have managed to reach their tenth studio album and while they’ve never really gone away formally, the 90 were a lot time for the band with minimal output and a relative hibernation of sorts that lasted for near a decade before the band did what was viewed at the time as a “final” performance, only the to come back for a string of albums that weren’t bad, but rarely matched the 80s heyday, bit for bit. Especially on the last couple of albums while always managing a couple of pretty good songs, the overall performance left a bit to be desired, mostly as far as James Rivera’s vocals that appeared quite harsh and probably not good as in the past, more focused on intensity and ferocity than anything else…
“Vampiro” in many respects is the closest thing the band has done, since their “Nosferatu’ heyday and as you might have guessed a bit of its spiritual heir, with lyrics about vampyrism etc… from a broader perspective and covering a lot more “vampyres” than dracula… making even some well hidden references to the various novels and films it uses as inspiration but also to the original “Nosferatu” album.
Almost every song stands its own ground, with its own unique chorus, but an overall similar sound and dark aesthetic, with the band managing to accumulate all its more modern influences, successfully and rein in the aggression in such a way that it reinforces the effort, instead of wasting its potential. “Vampiro” is most definitely the best post millennial effort of “Helstar” and an album that can look most of the band’s classic works straight in the eyes, without feeling far inferior. Well, I’m off to sink my teeth into it, some more then…
“Vampiro” in many respects is the closest thing the band has done, since their “Nosferatu’ heyday and as you might have guessed a bit of its spiritual heir, with lyrics about vampyrism etc… from a broader perspective and covering a lot more “vampyres” than dracula… making even some well hidden references to the various novels and films it uses as inspiration but also to the original “Nosferatu” album.
Almost every song stands its own ground, with its own unique chorus, but an overall similar sound and dark aesthetic, with the band managing to accumulate all its more modern influences, successfully and rein in the aggression in such a way that it reinforces the effort, instead of wasting its potential. “Vampiro” is most definitely the best post millennial effort of “Helstar” and an album that can look most of the band’s classic works straight in the eyes, without feeling far inferior. Well, I’m off to sink my teeth into it, some more then…