Ελληνικά
Genre: Speed/Power/Thrash
Country: U.S.A.
Label: AFM Records
Year: 2014
HELSTAR have already placed a corner stone to the power metal legacy, starting from their early stages, with their first four albums/jewels being deeply appreciated. After a thirty year old career, they arrive at 2014 being turned around as they move away from their usual style without of course denying their roots. This new style of theirs might draw away the ones that were used to the way HELSTAR were playing in their first four albums, but that is something that happens with a lot of bands (e.g. when JUDAS PRIEST went for a heavier sound on ¨Jugulator¨). But that is not necessarily a negative turn of events. It’s better than playing the same old stuff again and again, running out of new ideas and boring everybody with flat compositions. And it’s even better when your new style is successful and accepted by the audience.
Moving on to the album itself, ¨The Wicked Nest¨ is a worthy successor of ¨King Of Hell¨ (2008) and ¨Glory Of Chaos¨ (2010). The album sounds solid and massive (with the very good production having a lot to do with it). It’s inspired by the social turbulence and ominous events all over the world, and it has a politicized edge concerning the ones that rule us (as the cover of the album indicates). Following a melodic intro, the avalanche of ¨Fall of Dominion¨ gets you into the spirit of the album and gives you a taste of what is about to follow… a blast in your face. The album is a mix of speed, power and thrash (!!!) metal, reminding you from bands like AGENT STEEL, EXODUS and TESTAMENT (was that the ¨phobia¨ riff I heard on ¨defy the swarm¨?) to even doom metal (¨curse¨ will bring back memories from CANDLEMASS’ ¨Ancient Dreams¨ era).
Mr. J. Rivera proves that he is still without a doubt, one of the best singers in this field, sending a message through ¨it has risen¨ (having witnessed himself the riots in Turkey). Michael Lewis, the stronghold of the band, fires the cannons behind his drum kit and the duo Trevino – Barragan charges either with aggressive riffs and solos or with melodic passages. The only moment of the album that allows you to catch your breath and at the same time it is its’ weak moment, if you can say something like that about it, is the instrumental ‘Isla de la Munecas’. The band reveals its’ manifold talents, bringing out a dark beauty of an album that is here to stay.
Best moments: Fall of Dominion, Eternal Black, Souls Cry, Cursed, Defy the Swarm. And if until now, TESTAMENT’s ‘Dark Roots of the Earth’ blew you mind… reconsider…. here is the total furiousness & aggressiveness!!!!
5/6
