Helstar recorded "Remnants of War" in 1985 with a new and powerful line up. Jerry Abarca, Rob Treviño, and drummer Rene Luna joined the band and released "Remnants" in 1986 for Combat records. Once again the band received much praise from around the world. Helstar embarked on its first US tour and opened up for such heavy hitters as Anthrax, Megadeth, TT Quick, and King Diamond to name a few. Once again though, line up changes reared its ugly head and Rob and Rene chose to leave the band. This happened at a critical time as the band had decided to move to LA in pursuit of a new record deal.
It was at this time that guitarist Andre Corbin and drummer Frank Ferreira joined the band. Helstar signed with Metal Blade records and produced two albums for the label. "A Distant Thunder" saw the band cross the pond for the first time. The band played several arena sized venues with Yngwie Malmsteen and Tankard. Headlining and selling out the famed Dynamo club was one of the highlights of the tour. In 1989 the band quickly followed up "A Distant Thunder" with "Nosferatu". It was Helstar's first concept album, with half the album being dedicated to the story of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Many believe that this album was ahead of it's time. Not only did it feature the most intricate music Helstar had done to this time, it dealt with a subject that several years later would become en vogue. It was the last album Helstar would record for Metal Blade. Andre and Frank exited the band soon thereafter. With the "grunge" movement running high, the face of music in the U.S. changed. Unable to secure a deal, Larry Barragan followed suite and left not only Helstar but music all together. But not before recording a 4 song demo with two new members. Aaron Garza took over at guitar and Russell Deleon became the new drummer. The demo would later be released as "Helstar-The James Rivera Legacy".
James Rivera never lost sight of his dream and continued along with Jerry Abarca as Helstar. Now having to fill Larry Barragan's shoes they turned to former Helstar guitarist Rob Treviño. They recorded "Multiples in Black" with the help of Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson as producer. This would be the last proper album Helstar would record. Several years later Metal Blade records released a live cd "Twas the Night of a Hellish Xmas". James Rivera later released 2 demo recordings as "The James Rivera Legacy". Helstar for all intensive purposes disbanded. Only James Rivera and Jerry Abarca would continue to do shows as Helstar but would not record again under that name.
Helstar laid the groundwork for the progressive power metal movement without even knowing it. Three things can be said about Helstar throughout the years. The music was full of integrity, it was heavy, and it was true.
James Rivera has enjoyed much success staying busy with several projects. He is considered by some to be one of the most legendary metal vocalist ever. He has recorded with Destiny's End, Seven Witches, Killing Machine, and is now a member of Vicious Rumors. He has kept the Helstar candle burning bright throughout.
Larry Barragan, Rob Treviño, and Russell Deleon have also resurfaced with a new band named Eternity Black. They have released a self-titled 5 song EP as well. Having never lost touch, the friendship and the bond between these members has always been strong. So when Robb Chavez came up with the idea, it was a "no brainer". Will this band continue? That really depends on you the fans and what the demand will be. There is one thing we all know for sure. When Helstar hits the stage on June 10th with all of its energy and power, it will be a show you will not want to miss it!
Helstar has recorded seven full length albums spanning over two decades. They have amassed an impressive body of work.
Dark Queen
Helstar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She silently waits in her lair
A stab in the back and the king will be gone
A blood stained crown she now wears
Darkness shrouds the realm of the king
Evil surrounds her domain
Distorted and twisted this land with no king
Her paupers all cry out in pain
Chained by deception
And shackled by all of her lies
Without rejection
We take her into our lives
God save our queen
From the light
The castle halls grow dim and cold
Take leave with the stars as your guide
Go on search of a city of gold
Go for your queen you must ride
To lay siege on distant lands
To heir the golden throne
To rule the world with an iron hand
To make your life her own
Bow to your queen strong and bold
Or off with your head it will be
For your life is hers forever to hold
Only she can set you free
Helstar's "Dark Queen" is a song about a malevolent queen who has taken control of the kingdom through deceit and murder. In the first verse, the song describes how the queen is waiting in her lair, biding her time until she can make her move against the king. She strikes before dawn, killing the king and taking the throne for herself. The imagery is dark and violent, with the queen's crown stained with blood.
The second verse speaks of the queen's rule, and how the land has become distorted and twisted under her reign. The people cry out in pain, but are shackled by the queen's lies and deception. Despite this, the people continue to follow her and take her into their lives. The chorus includes the line "God save our queen from the light," which suggests that the queen is seen as a figure of darkness and evil.
The third verse talks about the singer's quest to find a city of gold for the queen, in the hopes of earning her favor and perhaps eventually taking the throne himself. The lyrics suggest that the only way to survive under the queen's rule is to pledge loyalty to her and bow down to her authority. This theme is reinforced in the final line, which states that only the queen can set the listener free.
Line by Line Meaning
The queen will strike before the dawn
The queen is planning to make her move during the early hours of the morning
She silently waits in her lair
The queen is patiently biding her time, hidden away in her secret location
A stab in the back and the king will be gone
The queen plans to assassinate the king by attacking him when he least expects it
A blood stained crown she now wears
After she kills the king, the queen will take his place and rule with violence and bloodshed
Darkness shrouds the realm of the king
The queen's reign will be oppressive and full of misery for the people she rules over, creating an overall sense of despair
Evil surrounds her domain
The queen's kingdom is corrupted by her rule and her intentions
Distorted and twisted this land with no king
In the absence of a king, the queen has warped and twisted the land and people to serve her needs
Her paupers all cry out in pain
The people living under the queen's rule are all suffering through poverty, abusive treatment, and lack of power
Chained by deception
The queen has enslaved the people with her manipulation and lies
And shackled by all of her lies
The queen's dishonesty has trapped everyone beneath her rule in a cycle of distrust, oppression, and further lies
Without rejection
Despite the cost, people are accepting of the queen's rule
We take her into our lives
The people embrace their new ruler as powerful and necessary to their lives
God save our queen
The people look to a higher power to help protect their queen
From the light
The people fear what may happen to their queen should the light be revealed and the power of her rule falter.
The castle halls grow dim and cold
The queen has let the castle fall into a state of disrepair and decay, reflecting the darkness of her rule
Take leave with the stars as your guide
If you want to leave and escape the queen's rule, you will have to do so under the cover of darkness to avoid suspicion.
Go on search of a city of gold
The only hope for freedom and prosperity is to leave the queen's kingdom behind and make a new life elsewhere
Go for your queen you must ride
If you stay and fight the queen, you will be doing so against all odds and will risk everything, including your life
To lay siege on distant lands
The queen plans to expand her rule by attacking and invading territories beyond the kingdom's borders
To heir the golden throne
The queen is obsessed with acquiring powerful and valuable objects and titles to increase her power and reputation
To rule the world with an iron hand
The queen's ultimate goal is to achieve absolute power and control over everyone and everything, regardless of the cost
To make your life her own
Under the queen's rule, all aspects of your life – personal, financial, and emotional – will ultimately belong to her power and control
Bow to your queen strong and bold
The queen demands absolute loyalty and obedience from her subjects, with no room for rebellion or dissent
Or off with your head it will be
Any attempt to defy the queen or resist her rule will be punished swiftly and brutally, through imprisonment or even execution
For your life is hers forever to hold
The queen sees the people living under her rule as objects and tools to further her own power and goals
Only she can set you free
The queen promises to reward those who obediently follow her rule with a sense of security and purpose, but this security is ultimately fleeting and false.
Contributed by Leo G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.