Helstar

Biography

Helstar is an American heavy metal band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1982 by guitarist Larry Barragan. They influenced American power metal in the mid-1980s.

Early days and Combat era (1982–1986)

Helstar released two demos in 1983, followed by their first studio album in 1984, Burning Star×Burning StarApril 1984 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Burning Star3:502Toward the Unknown4:453Witch's Eye3:034Run With the Pack6:405Leather and Lust3:276Possession3:287The Shadows of Iga5:018Dracula's Castle4:52, for Combat Records, making them label mates with Megadeth and Exodus. Inner struggles and management issues led to changes in the line-up. After a year, they released the Remnants of War album on Combat, produced by Randy Burn. The band played their first arena show in December 1985, opening for Stryper at the Sam Houston Coliseum.

Metal Blade era (1987–1989)

In 1987, they briefly moved to Los Angeles with another line-up change, with guitarist Rob Trevino departing, and it is believed that the song "Abandon Ship", from the 1988 album A Distant Thunder×A Distant Thunder1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1The King Is Dead4:022Bitter End4:203Abandon Ship6:564Tyrannicide5:305Scorcher5:506Genius of Insanity5:027(The) Whore of Babylon2:338Winds of War6:089He’s a Woman - She’s a Man2:53, was dedicated to his departure. Along with guitarist André Corbin, Frank Ferreira was an addition to drums. They returned to Houston in 1988, signed with Metal Blade Records and recorded the A Distant Thunder album produced by Bill Metoyer. The band subsequently toured as openers for acts such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Exodus, and Armored Saint.
In 1989, the band released Nosferatu, which many fans consider their greatest album. It was based on the early Dracula film and contained spoken sound bites from the 1979 adaptation. Shortly after a tour of the album, the band recorded a four-song demo which did not gain interest from labels. André Corbin, Frank Ferreria, and Larry Barragan left the band in 1990 to pursue other interests, essentially ending the group for the time being.

Demos, Multiples of Black, and hiatuses (1990–2000)

Between 1990 and 1993, Helstar released a few demos that failed to receive great recognition. In 1995, Helstar released a new David Ellefson-produced studio album, entitled Multiples of Black×Multiples of Black25 March 1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1No Second Chance (In the Angry City)3:112Will I Catch It Again3:043Lost to Be Found, Found to Be Lost4:204When We Only Bleed3:095Reality1:396Good Day to Die3:377Beyond the Realms of Death5:408Save Time4:369Black Silhouette Skies4:3410The Last Serenade1:09. The band would effectively go on hiatus shortly afterwards.
The members of Helstar, namely James Rivera, cooperated in other bands between 1993 and 2002: Seven Witches for a short time in 1993, Distant Thunder in 1995, Chaotic Order in 1997, and Destiny's End. The latter was a group put together by former members of New Eden and joined by Rivera that released two studio albums, Breathe Deep the Dark in 1998 and Transition in 2002.

Reunions (2001–present)

Helstar went through several reunions starting in 2001. These reunions were primarily organized by James Rivera and longtime bassist Jerry Abarca.
Several live albums came out of this period, but the band was unable to produce any new material. In 2006, for the first time in over 15 years, James Rivera and Larry Barragan reunited and Helstar were officially declared musically active again. Along with Abarca, Rivera and Barragan, also reunited with the Remnants of War guitarist Rob Trevino, and Multiples of Black drummer Russell DeLeon. This lineup released Sins of the Past, "a greatest hits collection" of re-recorded songs in 2007. A year later, they also released an album of original material in 2008 titled The King of Hell×The King of Hell26 September 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1The King of Hell6:282The Plague Called Man4:533Tormentor5:134When Empires Fall3:535Wicked Disposition6:136Caress of the Dead5:047Pain3:478In My Darkness5:379Garden of Temptation8:5310White Witch4:4711Tormentor5:2512Caress of the Dead5:02.
In 2013, Helstar announced that bassist Jerry Abarca would take an extended break from the band due to a stomach related illness. Mike Lepond and Garrick Smith took on live bass duties for upcoming shows. Helstar released their ninth studio album This Wicked Nest×This Wicked Nest25 April 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Fall of Dominion6:372Eternal Black5:493This Wicked Nest4:564Souls Cry4:455Isla de Las Muñecas3:586Cursed7:297It Has Risen4:338Defy the Swarm6:059Magormissabib7:23 on April 25, 2014. Andrew Atwood joined as second guitarist in 2016 and contributed to that year's album, Vampiro×Vampiro26 August 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Awaken into Darkness6:472Blood Lust5:263To Dust You Will Become5:224Off with His Head5:175From the Pulpit to the Pit5:306To Their Death Beds They Fell4:417Malediction3:568Repent in Fire4:159Abolish the Sun6:0210Black Cathedral7:3911Dreamless Sleep2:31. A compilation album, Clad In Black×Clad in Black26 February 2021 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Dark Incarnation (Mother of the Night)6:122Black Wings of Solitude7:043Across the Raging Seas4:154Restless and Wild4:055After All (The Dead)6:076Sinner7:05Disc 21Awaken Unto Darkness6:472Blood Lust5:243To Dust You Will Become5:224Off With His Head5:165From the Pulpit to the Pit5:306To Their Death Beds They Fell4:417Malediction3:568Repent in Fire4:159Abolish the Sun5:5910Black Cathedral7:3811Dreamless Sleep2:32, was released in February 2021. The band's tenth studio album, and first in 9 years, The Devil's Masquerade×The Devil's Masquerade12 September 2025 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Adventus0:262The Devil's Masquerade3:273Stygian Miracles4:374Carcass for a King5:265The Staff of Truth3:556Seek Out Your Sins4:117The Haunting Mirror3:518The Black Wall3:589Suerte de muleta3:1610I Am the Way4:54 was released on September 12, 2025.

Current

James Rivera – vocals (1982–1995, 2006–present)
Larry Barragan – guitars (1982–1993, 2006–present)
Michael Lewis – drums (2010–present)
Garrick Smith – bass (2013–present)
Alan DeLeon Jr. – guitars (2024–present)

Former

Guitars
Tom Rogers (1982–1985)
Rob Trevino (1985–1987, 2006–2016)
André Corbin (1987–1990)
Aaron Garza (1990–1995)
Mike Heald (1993–1995)
Andrew Atwood (2016–2024)
Bass
Paul Medina (1982–1984)
Jerry Abarca (1984–1995, 2006–2013, 2025 touring)
Drums
Hector Pavon (1982–1985)
René Luna (1985–1987)
Frank Ferreira (1987–1990)
Russel DeLeon (1990–1995, 2006–2010)

Studio albums

Burning Star (Combat Records 1984)
Remnants of War (Combat Records 1986)
A Distant Thunder (Metal Blade Records 1988)
Nosferatu (Metal Blade Records 1989)
Multiples of Black (Massacre 1995)
The King of Hell (AFM Records 2008)
Glory of Chaos (AFM Records 2010)
This Wicked Nest (AFM Records 2014)
Vampiro (EMP Label Group, 2016)
The Devil's Masquerade (Massacre Records, 2025)