Helstar ~ USA ~ Houston, Texas

Burning Star (1984)

Helstar were one of the classic metal bands that I got into about 13 years after their debut. Coming from nearby Houston, I probably should have shown more Texas pride and picked this up upon release. But funds were short in my early days of college, and I didn't read anything that stated they were that much more original than any of the other bands emerging during that era. In hearing this album for only the second time, I can understand that sentiment from the metal journalists of the day. However vocalist James Rivera (known here as Bill Lionel) could scream with the best of them, and his unique approach definitely adds points. The guitar tones and production aren't particularly heavy, even for the era, but the riffs and solos are inventive. And they do manage to throw a few ideas in per song. One could argue that Fates Warning simply took Burning Star as a blueprint and upped the ante on the complexity for their breakout The Spectre Within release. Early classic metal like this still has a place in the collection.

Ownership: 1984 Music for Nations (LP). Different artwork than the US release. Acquired in 2024.

First copy: 2005 Century Media (CD). Acquired in 2014.

10/19/14; 12/23/24 (review)

Nosferatu (1989)

Helstar's 4th album is considered by many to be their masterpiece. Not sure I disagree, though I'm not all that intimate with the band's body of work. There's a compact progressive thrash component here mixed in with the power metal sounds of Helloween for example. No question, though, that James Rivera has one of the all-time great voices for heavy metal.

Ownership: 1996 Metal Blade (CD). With full lyrics and a million "special thanks". Acquired in 1997.

1997; 4/19/20 (review)

Remnants of War (1986)

Remnants of War is  Helstar's second album. And is precisely the type of 80s metal I love - it's raw, heavy, inventive, a little messy, and extremely engaging. And... yes, progressive too as there's quite a bit of riff and tempo variety within each track. To my ears, Remnants of War sounds like a heavier version of Fates Warning's The Spectre Within, an album that remains one of my favorite metal albums ever. And James Rivera's soaring vocals even recalls John Arch at times. The relistenability factor is very high for recordings such as this.

Ownership: 1986 Combat (LP). Acquired in 2020.

First copy: 1999 Century Media (CD). Acquired in 2016.

12/4/16 (review)

Also own: A Distant Thunder

12/4/16 (new entry)

Fever Tree ~ USA ~ Houston, Texas

Fever Tree (1968)

This was a fun pickup for me. I first heard Houston's Fever Tree on the radio going back to the early 80s. I was intrigued but never really pursued them. In the latter part of the decade, as I was deep diving into progressive rock waters, I finally had a chance to hear the album. As usual with psychedelic records, my ears at the time just weren't interested, and I wrote it off. 30 some years later, let's try this again, shall we?

The standard review of Fever Tree is the first side is a compendium of superb acid rock, and the second side is pop slop. It's hard to go against the grain on side 1, as Fever Tree gives us a great example of what is commonly known as fuzz psych. The tracks are well-written, and all of them could be consider worthy of the various psych compilations out there. Side 2 is also quite good in my estimation, but it is different. While I would have been perfectly content for Fever Tree to continue as they had, I'm also fine with the direction they chose. The compositions here (or arrangements in some cases) are particularly well conceived. It's a bit disorienting, which to me is a keyword for psychedelia anyway. It's not commercial sounding at all. Fever Tree is a solid album all the way through, just know it's two different styles going in, and you'll be fine.

Ownership: 1968 Uni (LP). With printed inner bag. Acquired in 2026.

First copy: 1973 MCA (LP). Acquired in 2020.

7/16/20 (review)

Also own and need to review Another Time, Another Place.

7/16/20 (new entry)

Relayer ~ USA ~ Houston, Texas

The Relayer Album (1979)

Relayer were a band from Houston, who managed to release one album before disappearing into the mists of time. With a name like Relayer and a colorful rainbow fantasy cover, one can expect 'Gates of Delirium Part Deux' eh Oui? Non. Because they are from my home state of Texas, this private press wasn't too obscure up north here in DFW and I first heard this album some 25 years ago and quickly dismissed it as rubbish. During that time, I've gained an entirely new appreciation for the private press American music landscape of the 1970s that I've documented to death here on these very pages. And Relayer fits smack dab in the middle of that sound.

The album itself is interesting, because it almost plays like an archival CD issue, verse a real time released LP. And that's because they front loaded all the progressive rock tracks on Side 1. So the first side rounds up the usual suspects like Yes and ELP, with a hint of Styx's Grand Illusion, for a very satisfying listen. Side 2 treads in commercial waters, more towards Styx's Pieces of Eight, with a bit of loungy fusion to boot. Overall, I'd weight it 55% AOR and 45% prog rock, so for those who have no tolerance for late 70s American FM radio rock, I'd steer clear. This is a very good album for the style, and one that I'm glad to have bought for the collection.

Ownership: 1979 Hamilton Street (LP)

10/26/17 (review / new entry)