JUSTIN’S METAL REVIEWS W/C 10/11/08

 

HELSTAR / KING OF HELL

 

If you like Power/Speed Metal mixed with Thrash then the return of Helstar will be good news; the guys are back and on top form with a stunning album of technically proficient tracks that will rock your socks off.

 

It was the ominous year of 1984 when the Classic album Burning Star came out and Helstar have not looked back since, their ability to capture the darkness of Thrash with musicality of Power Metal and fine song writing skills are what set this band apart from the rest of the pack and I for one am glad that 2008 finds them on similar form.  One listen to the title track “King Of Hell” will convince any Metal fan of this bands worth, with more riffs than anyone can handle, some very fine guitar playing, “The Plague Called Man! And “Tormentor” is just as stunning, if not better.

 

Of all the bands that have reformed for one reason or another Helstar are one that deserve to be listened to, listen out for: “Garden Of Temptation”, “Caress Of The Dead”, “Wicked Disposition” and “When Empires Fall” all of which deserve to be heard and I shall make it my mission that they will be.  There is a limited edition with the bonus CD “Sins Of The Past” which features re recordings of their best tracks, essential.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.helstar.com/ & http://www.afm-records.de/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 50 mins + 9 BLISTERING TRACKS

 

 

EVOCATION / DEAD CALM CHAOS

 

This is Swedish Death Metal at its best with the bands sounding a bit like In Flames and Soilwork, so with a combination like that how cold they possibly go wrong?

 

The songs are full of great, fluidic guitar playing with more than a hint of melody but still possessing that hard edge, the vocals are of the standard Death variety but manage to sound fresh, listen of “Angle Of Torment” and you will se just how good this band are.  The Metal riffs just keep  on coming and the tracks “Protected By What Gods”, “Truth Will Come Clear” and “Razored To The Bone” both kick serious ass and will stand up against any of the better known bands that have CD’s out at the moment.

 

This is a very strong 2^nd album from the band and I hope that they get the break they deserve, if your looking for a new Death Meal band to champion then Evocation is that band, buy and enjoy.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.evocation.se/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 44 mins + 12 SUPERB TRACKS