Helker - Somewhere In The Circle

Published February 12 2013

*=Staff's pick	Modern Roman Circus Just Be Yourself No Chance To Be Reborn Begging For Forgiveness* Wake Up At The End Of The Journey Ghosts From The Past* Still Alive* Flying Inside Of Me Dreams

Genre	Heavy/Power Metal	Diego Valdez	Vocals
Tracks	11	Mariano Ríos	Guitar
Running time	46 Min.	Leo Aristu	Guitar
Label	AFM Records	Christian Abarca	Bass
Release	15 February 2013	Hernán Coronel	Drums
Country	Argentina	-	Keyboard
Producer	Mat Sinner
Similar artists	Primal Fear

Argentine metallers Helker's third album is also their first with English lyrics, even if it's released in a Spanish version as well. South American metal is nothing that I usually listen to that much and I have not a single clue how Helker's previous work sounds like, but now with Mat Sinner, functioning as both producer and co-writer, this album have strong European and particularly German metal influences in the footsteps of Primal Fear and such likes.

Somewhere In The Circle contains eleven songs that pretty much are equally good, without being great or awesome. Classic heavy metal riffs and solos are mixed with melodic and catchy plays throughout the record. Most of their ideas have been heard before as it's definitely not groundbreaking. Not said though, that as long it's not totally original, it sucks. It's heavy metal with power metal influences and that touch of power metal sometimes make the songs feel a bit diluted and vapid, as they lack that power to really crush.

Primal Fear's Ralf Scheepers, along with Tim "Ripper" Owens of God knows how many constellations, make guest appearances on the somewhat epic semi-ballad Begging For Forgiveness and with these two vocalists, Valdez have a hard time catching up, even if his own vocal performances are in fact good. Above mentioned song and easy digested Ghosts From The Past, as well as riffing Still Alive are my three personal favorites on this album, as they catch my full attention.

A fairly good release from Helker, but nothing I will listen to again and again. I will however check out their past work as soon as I find the right time in between all these reviews. It will be odd to hear metal sung in Spanish though. 6 chalices to Somewhere In The Circle.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
6	3	6	7	6

Summary
6 chalices of 10 - Tobbe