Texas heavy metal veterans HELSTAR have signed with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson's EMP Label Group. The band's new album, "Vampiro", is due later in the year. A single, "Black Cathedral", will precede the full-length effort on April 9.
"Vampiro" is being mixed by Bill Metoyer, who has previously worked with SLAYER, ARMORED SAINT, W.A.S.P. and SACRED REICH).
According to a press release, "Vampiro" is "another opus of tales of Dracula and vampires, like the band's all-time most acclaimed 1989 release 'Nosferatu'."
HELSTAR's last studio album, "This Wicked Nest", came out in April 2014 via AFM Records.
Formed in Houston in the early '80s, HELSTAR cut its teeth playing backyard parties and small club gigs. It soon became apparent that HELSTAR had much more to offer then its contemporaries. Combat Records snapped up the band and released HELSTAR's debut, "Burning Star", in 1984. Next came "Remnants of War", followed by HELSTAR's breakthrough album, "A Distant Thunder", in 1988. The success of "A Distant Thunder" ultimately set up "Nosferatu".
HELSTAR is: James Rivera (voice), Larry Barragan (guitars), Andrew Atwood (guitars), Mikey Lewis (drums) and Garrick Smith (bass).