“Burning Alive” is the first official DVD by the band from Texas. Recorded a couple of years ago at the Bang Your Head Festival in Germany, Helstar presents a 45-minute set list covering the most prolific and fruitful period of their career (1984-89). Being aware of the group’s capabilities, I must say that this specific DVD is absolutely disappointing! It’s not only the fact that the views from the 5 cameras are mediocre (to say the least), but also the sound has not been engineered at all leading at points James Rivera’s voice…into the void, as he is not heard at all! In addition, the band is performing early in the afternoon in front of a small and dull crowd, thus influencing Helstar’s show.

The total running time of the DVD is 46 minutes (the concert and an introduction by Rivera) and the exclusion of any extra material leaves a bad image (if we also take into consideration that this is the first and probably the only official DVD by Helstar). In a positive note we must underline the selection of some excellent Helstar tracks, including a rare rendition of Helstar’s “Benediction” taken by the band’s album “Nosferatu”.

A DVD intended only for the most loyal Helstar fans.

Sakis Nikas