Nine years of waiting for a full-length studio album was a long time for all Helstar fans, especially after the mind-blowing “Vampiro” which had (rightfully) received rave reviews. “The Devil’s Masquerade” comes to compensate everyone, as the result is truly exceptional. With a fantastic cover artwork—perfectly suited to the overall lyrical theme of the album—and a first single (“Seek Out Your Sins”) that whets our appetite for the main course, the chances of us getting our hands on a classic Helstar album were in our favor…and we were not disappointed!
The notable difference from the relatively recent past is that guitarist Andrew Atwood (who is credited on some compositions) has been replaced by Alan DeLeon Jr. Nevertheless, the band’s chemistry has not been disrupted in the slightest, as Larry Barragan has taken over most of the guitar parts, contributing all the elements that make up the Americans’ trademark sound. His collaboration with James Rivera is unique, with the latter impressing once again with his performance behind the microphone. Personally, I consider “The Devil’s Masquerade” to be a mix of “Vampiro” and “The King of Hell,” with the songs “Carcass For A King” and “I Am The Way” being the absolute highlights. In fact, “I Am The Way” features a host of distinguished guests from the Texas scene.
Overall, we would say that “The Devil’s Masquerade” is not just a flawless Helstar album but a great heavy metal album…period! It would also be an oversight not to mention Massacre’s meticulous work on the various editions of the album. Let’s hope we won’t have to wait another nine years for the next album…Long Live Helstar!
Highlight: Looking forward to Helstar’s return to Greece on November 29…
