(Power/Speed Metal) [CD] Helstar - A Distant Thunder - 1988, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

James Rivera - Vocals: André Corbin - Guitars: Larry Barragan - Guitars:
Jerry Abarca - Bass, Piano: Frank Ferreira - Drums:

Helstar is an underground band, but unrightfuly so. James Rivera is an excellent singer, and Andre Corbin and Larry Barrigan can shred with the very best of them. Along with Helstar's next album, "Nosferatu", "A Distant Thunder" is an underground metal classic.

As I stated earlier, the vocals are top notch. James Rivera has a great voice that never lets up. His operatic vocals fit perfectly with the pummeling speed/thrash of "The King is Dead" and "Tyrannicide" to the awesomely epic "Winds of War". He kind of reminds me of a "Geoff Tate" meets "Rob Halford" hybrid, but at the same time he has a totally unique voice that stands out from the crowd. Though at times it seems like he loses control of his voice (especially around the screams), he always manages to delivers. The Vocals are one of the many high points of the album, and does not disappoint .

The guitar playing is simply outstanding. Andre Corbin and Larry Barrigan manage to blend melodic speed metal with beautiful classical influences perfectly. Actually, this album is FULL of classical influences, from the opening to "Tyrannicide" to the many, many, awe inspiring solos that fill this album. Without the classical influences, I doubt this album would have been as heavy. Riffs are plentiful here, and by plentiful I mean OVERFLOWING with memorable riffs! Usually with thrash metal the riffs are recycled over and over again, leaving the music boring and completely unmemorable, but that is simply not the case here. There isn't a single complaint that can be said about the guitar playing.

The rhythm section is quite good too. The bass is clearly audible and is just as heavy as the guitars, following with the riffs seamlessly. The drums are also excellent, better than alot of the repetitive drummers that are plentiful in the speed metal genre.

Most, if not all the songs on this album are good, but some are worse then others. The instrumental "Whore of Babylon", while being well played, is sort of boring, and The Scorpions cover doesn't really fit in with the rest of the album all that well. Besides those two songs the rest are excellent.

If you are a fan of good, memorable, speed/neo-classical/thrash metal, then this album is definetly for you. The album is full of blazing guitar, pounding rhythms, soaring vocals, and excellent, complex songwriting. Highly, highly recommended.