When folks look back on the magic and glory of 80s metal, Helstar tend to get overlooked. The little Texas band that could, Helstar dropped a series of influential albums from 1984 to 1989 that were important to the US power metal and prog-power genres. Their Burning Star debut was charmingly rough and raw, and so metal it hurt, giving birth to classic cuts like “Witch’s Eye” and the timeless “Run With the Pack.” 1986s Remnants of War saw the band fully embrace the USPM sound for a righteous platter of bold, badass battle tunes that sound as mighty today as they did when released.1 1988s Distant Thunder and especially 1989s Nosferatu helped lay the groundwork for many future prog-power acts, most notably, Nevermore. After that, Helstar had missteps, broke up, reformed, and never quite recaptured the magic of their salad days, despite a few solid late career releases like The Wicked Nest and, most recently, 2016s Vampiro. It’s been a long time in the crypt since then, and I was quite shocked to see The Devil’s Masquerade arrive in the promo sump. With much of the same lineup intact from Vampiro, can Helstar rise from the dead once more and draw fresh blood?
I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting as much heat and venom as the band delivers on the opening title track. It’s a beefy, bruising beast with churning riffs and James Rivera’s distinctive vocals raging. It could have appeared on Nosferatu, which is a major compliment. It has the classic Helstar sound and vibe, Rivera sounds great, and the guitarwork from original axe master Larry Barragán and new(ish) slinger Alan DeLeon Jr. achieves the right blend of beef, brains, and balls. The burly alchemy extends into “Stygian Miracles,” which really sounds like 80s era Helstar, especially the riff work and neo-classical noodling. “Carcass for a King” almost crosses over into thrash, and it’s a delightfully aggressive aural beating with uber dramatic vocals and enough riff weight to crush an industrial earth mover.
By the time you get to “Seek Out Your Sins,” you may start to realize how Helstar reminds you of Nevermore. That’s understandable, since there isn’t all that much space between what Helstar was doing in 1988-89 and what Nevermore did from 1995 onward, and here you get a hyper-active overdose of prog-power intensity reflecting both acts. “The Black Wall” is another nostalgia-inducing trip back to the past with all the beloved Helstar elements of olde exploding back into life. Likewise, the impressive and shreddy instrumental “Suerte De Muleta” would have fit on any of the band’s later 80s works. Surprisingly, The Devil’s Masquerade holds the line on quality from start to finish, and that finish is the burning speed and fury of “I Am the Way,” which even features guest vocals by Robert Lowe (Solitude Aeturnus) and Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Dangerous Toys). At a super tight 38 minutes and with all songs smartly constrained in the 3-5 minute window, there’s no filler or chaff to deal with, just raging heavy metal full of adrenalized aggression and anger.
James Riveria has been at the mic for Helstar since the beginning, and damn, his voice has held up shockingly well over the ensuing 41-plus years. Sure, he can’t just toss out stratospheric screams at every juncture anymore, but his voice sounds strong, firm, and commanding nonetheless. He even dabbles in extreme vocals for extra spice. Not bad for a guy pushing 65. Larry Barragán and Alan DeLeon Jr. bring all the bells and whistles to the Black Mass, offering wild, shreddy fretboard surfing while making everything sound smart and stately rather than chaotic and showboaty. They dazzle with crushing riffs and heavy-as-fook leads, then color the skies with fancy fingering. They make the album’s instrumental a must listen and I’m suitably impressed by what they accomplish.
The Devil’s Masquerade is the best thing Helstar have done since Nosferatu, and I’m quite shocked that they had something this potent up their sleeves at this point in their lives. It feels enough like their heyday to satisfy old heads like me, but it offers enough nods to modern times to avoid feeling stuck in the past. Most importantly, you get a collection of well-written, entertaining metal songs with power, poise, and precision. This reminds me why I loved Helstar so much as a kid, and now I get to love them again in my dotage. If you’ve never heard Helstar, this is not a bad starting point at all. After that, go back to discover their 80s material. It’s something special.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps
Label: Massacre
Websites: facebook.com/helstar.metal | instagram.com/helstarofficial
Releases Worldwide: September 12th, 2025
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