Customer Reviews

Distant Thunder

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How I, among countless others, overlooked Helstar back in the late 80's is beyond me. Helstar is awesome old school Heavy Metal. It's fast, very melodic, and at the same time very complex. These guys are all very talented musicians, and deserve to acknowledged. I love this CD, and since I've bought it, I can't get it out of my CD player....

I'm a huge Iron Maiden/Fates Warning fan, and have been since the early 80's. Helstar is a great mix of both. If you haven't heard Helstar yet, don't wait another day, but this now!!!!

I like "A Distant Thunder" more than "Nosferatu", but these guys are without question, one of the most underrated Heavy Metal bands of their time....

4 1/2 STARS....HELSTAR RIPS!!!

What can I say, I guess I have to disclaim that I went to high school with these guys. That won't stop me from saying that they are one of the best, hardest rocking, old-school metal bands around. From the pumping drive of 'The King is Dead' to the lyrical genious of 'Abandon Ship' and on to the comical value of 'He's a Woman, She's a Man', this CD will become one of your regular listens. I only wish I could go back to the day and see this band in the small clubs I used to. This CD is a must buy for any serious metal fan.

I LIVE IN AUSTRALIA REMOTE FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD
SO I AM A LITTLE LATE IN THE DISCOVERY OF SUCH A FINE
METAL BAND, HELSTAR. I GOT THE CD TODAY THROUGH OUR GOOD
FRIENDS AT AMAZON[.COM] AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU I HAVE ALREADY
PLAYED IT 4 TIMES, ONE AFTER ANOTHER. NOW I`M AN OLD SCHOOL
IRON MAIDEN , early FATES WARNING FAN, AND I ALSO LIKE MODERN
DREAM THEATER, SHADOW GALLERY, BUT THIS HAS BLOWN ME AWAY
ITS PURE METAL ONLY PROGRESSIVE WHEN ITS NEEDED .
IF YOUR LIKE I WAS , NOT SURE ? DON`T BE. IF YOU THINK YOUR A METAL HEAD, YOUR NOT UNTILL YOU HEAR THIS. YES HELSTAR COULD BE
ONE OF THE MOST UNDERATED BANDS(along with Black jester)
IN METALS HISTORY SO GIVE EM A GO, BUY THEM SECOND HAND IF YOUR
NOT SURE BUT THEY ARE WORTH FULL PRICE.

Originally released in 1988, A Distant Thunder was the third album from Texas-based heavy metal band Helstar. As much as I enjoyed the band's previous albums (Burning Star and Remnants of War), with A Distant Thunder Helstar took a major step forward in terms of both overall quality and developing their own sound (those first two albums are essentially Judas Priest worship, not that there's anything wrong with that).

You can hear the sound that made Helstar cult heroes as soon as the opening riffs of "The King Is Dead" kick in, James Rivera's signature hypersonic wail immediately adds power and majesty to the speed and fury. It's such a deadly combination, and it's what made Helstar one of the best bands in the underground metal scene. A Distant Thunder features some of Helstar's most essential songs, including "The King Is Dead," "Abandon Ship" and "Winds of War." The only disappointing track is the closing cover of the Scorpions' "He's a Woman, She's a Man," which is one of my least favorite Scorpions songs. "The Sails of Charon" would have been much more appropriate.

It's not quite as essential as their follow-up album Nosferatu, but A Distant Thunder is still one of Helstar's best releases, and an album that any fan of 80's era traditional/power metal - think Omen, Armored Saint, Vicious Rumors - needs to own. It's also an album that could use a good remastering. Hopefully Metal Blade will turn its attention to the Helstar catalog now that the essential Fates Warning albums have all been reissued.

If you have Nosferatu, get this. You will thank yourself later. An excellent Classically inspired speed metal band of unmatching fury and skill. Nosferatu, i feel, is a better album, but this one is a VERY close second. If your a fan of Helstar, get this ... it's a must have. If you never had a Helstar CD, i would recommend Nosferatu first, then this one. I think Nosferatu is a little more polished. Distant Thuder still rocks completely, so don't get me wrong. I just had to give it 4 stars because i feel Nosferatu is PERFECTION! Distant Thunder still kicks immense explitive! Enjoy!