(Power Metal / Speed Metal) Helstar - Glory Of Chaos - 2010, APE (image+.cue+scans) lossless

1981 - Houston, Texas, at the tender age of 16, Larry Barragan knows he wants to form a band that is special; one whose members would all compliment his burgeoning writing and playing skills to create a musical monster! He forms Helstar with members of his previous band, Black Rose.

1983 - After numerous lineup changes the band settles into its first solid recording lineup: James Rivera (vocals), Larry Barragan (guitar), Tom Rogers (guitar), Hector Pavon (drums) and Paul Medina (bass). The average age of the band at that time was 19! The band records an 8-song demo in the springtime. Almost instantaneously, the newly recorded demo becomes one of the most highly sought-after and traded demos of the underground tape-trading scene. Before long, this little old band from Texas with members still in high school, becomes internationally known and celebrated as the next big thing in heavy metal. By year’s end, the demo finds its way to the right people and thus begins the official career of one of the most influential underground US metal bands of all time, Helstar! The band sign with Combat Records in November and in December enters the studio to re-record the songs from the demo to release as its first album entitled ‘Burning Star’.

1984 – 'Burning Star' is released to much critical acclaim. The metal press takes notice and heralds the band for its musicianship and songwriting ability. Many quickly point out the band’s highly-talented vocalist ‘Bill Lionel’ AKA James Rivera, whose voice is described as Dio meets Halford and the twin guitar attack of Barragan and Rogers that is just as lethal as many well-known established acts. The band opens for well known act Wasp in Houston, Texas. Regional Texas touring ensues and solidifies the band’s status as a crowd favorite.

1985 – In July, the band enters Mad Dog Studios in Venice, California to record its second release for Combat. The lineup: James Rivera, Larry Barragan, Jerry Abarca (bass), Rob Trevino (guitar), and Rene Luna (drums). In December, the band plays its first ever arena show opening for Christian rockers Stryper in the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, TX.

1986 – In March, the band tours with Anthrax throughout Texas. ‘Remnants of War’ is released in June and receives much praise from around the world. The album is in the top 10 heavy charts in Germany and others in the press are giving stellar reviews. A US tour begins in October. The band is opening for Megadeth and TT Quick as well as some headline dates. The response is overwhelmingly positive. More regional Texas touring occurs with some headlining shows and a couple of special guest slots opening for King Diamond, and Keel.

1987 - The band relocates to Los Angeles and signs with Metal Blade records. The lineup: James Rivera, Larry Barragan, and Jerry Abarca with newcomers Andre Corbin (guitar), and Frank Ferreira (drums).

1988 – ‘A Distant Thunder’ is recorded and released. The band returns to its home base of Houston, TX and later embarks on its first ever European tour. The tour is a huge success playing several arenas with Yngwie Malmsteen and Tankard and also headlining and selling-out the famed Dynamo club in Eindhoven. In the U.S., the band is given a support slot for Savatage at their performance in Riverside, CA.

1989 – The band records and releases ‘Nosferatu’, which is partially a concept album with the first six songs dedicated to the story of Braum Stoker's ‘Dracula’. The music was highly complex, yet highly musical, and dealt with a subject matter that would become quite en vogue in years to come. At the time, it is misunderstood, yet now, almost unfailingly, most consider this release to be the band’s Magnum Opus. Also, this year saw the band tour with label mates Fates Warning in support of the Perfect Symmetry release.

1990 - The band records a 4-song demo with two new members, Aaron Garza (guitar) and Russell Deleon (drums). However, with the grunge movement gaining momentum, the face of heavy music in the U.S. is changing and the band is unable to secure a new deal.

1995 – The band signs with Massacre records and hires Megadeth bassist (and friend from years back) David Ellefson to produce its 5th release, ‘Multiples of Black’. The lineup: James Rivera, Jerry Abarca, Russell Deleon, Aaron Garza, and Mike Heald (guitar).

2000 - Metal Blade Records releases a live bootleg CD ‘Twas the Night of a Helish Xmas’.

2001 – Iron Glory Records packages 2 demo recordings and releases them as ‘The James Rivera Legacy’. James assembles a reunion lineup with Jerry and Russell and some guest musicians to perform at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Europe. Following this, the band embarks on a US tour beginning with the Milwaukee Metal fest and ending at the Powermad festival, held in Baltimore, MD. Participation in the German Bang Your Head!!! festival inspires James to organize a carbon copy of the event in Houston, TX, in which the band headlines.

2002 – The assemblage of reunited and guest musicians perform at the Dynamo festival in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

2004 – Touring Europe in support of his ‘Distant Thunder’ release on Massacre Records, James headlines the Keep It True festival in Germany as Helstar. Select appearances in Greece, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands follow. The lineup: James Rivera, Jerry Abarca, Mike Heald, Eric Halpern (guitar), and Mikey Lewis(drums).

2006 – The year 2006 marks the 20th anniversary of the release of ‘Remnants of War'. After 19 years of separation, James, Larry, Jerry, and Rob reform with Russell to bring the nucleus of this classic line-up back together.

In June the band plays its first show in San Antonio at the 4th annual Robb’s Metalworks Showcase. It is a triumphant return with people traveling from all over Texas and the US to witness the event. In August the band plays 2 shows at the Jumping Turtle in San Marcos, California, a sold-out performance in its hometown of Houston, TX and also appears at the 3rd annual Minneapolis Mayhem festival in Minnesota.

2007 – In March the band lands supporting act for Testament in Houston, Texas, while the summer yields two festival performances; Burning Star Metal Fest II in San Marcos, CA and Bang Your Head USA Texas II, held in Houston. Amidst these events, the classic reunited lineup garners interest from AFM Records, located in Hamburg, Germany, with whom they ultimately sign a four album worldwide distribution deal. The album 'Sins of the Past' is recorded over the summer months at Bravo Studios in Houston, TX, and Skull Seven Productions in Northridge, CA. AFM Records releases 'Sins of the Past', in Europe on November 23, 2007; a collection of the band's favorite classic songs re-recorded with updated style and production, plus two brand new bonus tracks.

Back in 1988-89, Helstar had pretty much written themselves into a corner with excellent albums A Distant Thunder and Nosferatu, a corner that they would certainly not escape with the abysmal Multiples of Black, which might stand as one of the most miserable letdowns in all metal music history. Six years in the making, too! Well, the band's coma ended in 2008, 13 years post-atrocity, James Rivera having spent the interim dancing about a number of other acts trying to be Helstar. The King of Hell was a respectable if not highly appealing comeback, though the entire lineup of their Golden Age would not return, and here we arrive at the band's 7th full length effort, Glory of Chaos, with James Rivera, Jerry Abarca and Larry Barragan returning to the fold with Michael Lewis on drums and Robert Trevino in the second guitar seat. Both of whom have worked with the Helstar members in other project, so it's safe to say they 'get it'.
And damn, do they 'get it'. Glory of Chaos marks a notable increase in aggression for this band, and stands as by far the heaviest offering they've ever released. The first few tracks ("Angels Fall to Hell" and "Pandemonium") are misleading, because they paint the portrait of a pretty pure thrash band, almost like Destruction's masterwork The Antichrist if James Rivera had been handling the vocals. The guitar tone is superb, thick and punchy, but once you move beyond these, you start to see a return of the old Helstar's intricate, classically evolved guitar patterns songs like "Summer of Hate" and "Trinity of Heresy". Still, it's quite telling that the best of Glory of Chaos is where it hits the hardest, like the enormous "Bone Crusher" or punishing "Dethtrap", the latter of which feels like something Ritual Carnage of Japan might write, such pure and unwavering thrash force, with Rivera's siren-like laments cast upon it like a sorcerer's lamentation at a conjuration gone foul. There are also a number of other, intense cuts like "Alma Negra", "Monarch of Bloodshed" and "Anger" that ultimately add up to the feeling that you've just been blown into smithereens before you even realized you had gone numb and limbless.
If you asked me a month ago if I was interested in a thrash Helstar, I might have begrudgingly admitted that the potential was there all along, and that they certainly incorporated such elements into their 80s catalog, but that I'd be more interested in hearing A Distant Thunder Mk. II. Well, I am gladly chewing my own cowboy boots here, because the Texas tycoons have indeed succeeded in creating something tense and violent that puts most modern thrash to shame, without losing all of the characteristics that once graced their best work. Immense production values, impeccable musicianship, and an expansive, angered James Rivera ensure that Glory of Chaos is one of the best of its kind this year, and worth the cash whether you're into their old records or just want your head kicked in. Is it as memorable as the band's prime? Perhaps not, but it's a lot more than I bargained for, and with Forbidden and Helstar offering such wonderful surprises late this year, I have to wonder what might turn up next?
Review written by autothrall for www.metal-archives.com

James Rivera - Vocals
Larry Barragan - Guitars
Robert Trevino - Guitars
Jerry Abarca - Bass
Michael Lewis - Drums