I was in contact with Dave Starr some months ago, then being told the recordings for his WILDESTARR project were completed and the first promo copies for Media reviews would soon be on the way. Having not a single clue what his new mission would be about, it was an exciting moment to receive a fabulous promotional kit with full Press info and liner notes in order to have a generous input prior to listening to (what proved to be) this excellent album.
Dave Starr's name has been largely associated with the 'classic' discography of American renowned metallers VICIOUS RUMORS. Holding the bass duties during the band's 1985-1992 years, then briefly joining VR again for the Warball (2006) sessions, Dave has also been credited for working with guitar extraordinaire David Chastain in his notable In An Outrage (2004) CD while his was a member of the LAAZ ROCKIT team back in 1983 (the Press leaf states he contributed to the Oakland, CA thrashers' early Prelude To Death demo EP - it's impressive how educational a detailed info sheet can be!). In WILDSTARR now, Dave decides to record both the guitar and bass tracks while invites a mystery lady called London Wilde to handle the vocals and keys sections, with drummer Jim Hawthorne filling the WILDESTARR lineup.
London Wilde was initially invited to supply the keyboards work for the songs Dave had already written, after they had met in David Chastain's sessions. Impressed by her vocal abilities, it seems that Dave Starr had no other choice - or will - but to offer her the job. And - to cut along story short - London's singing is impressive. She manages to combine the Heavy/Power Metal dynamics (many males shall bow to her throat when she decides to reach the 'sky' notes) with some more emotional/ethereal vibe, while pieces of more sci-fi Rock singing are not out of the question, too. The balance proves to be fine; you know ho risky is to merge different patterns with today's 'harsh' requirements.
The music written by WILDESTARR is set on relative layers. Boasting massive classic American Metal guitars - both in the rhythm and leads fields - and some bombarding rhythm section, Arrival's songlist also features a portion of more atmospheric music, surely originating from the keyboards slices but also being an adequate result of Starr's view regarding enough lead parts and the production/sound. Do not rely on what Press info texts are declaring in general, but I guess this time the announcement is quite to the point, stating Arrival sounds like a mix of VICIOUS RUMORS, SAVATAGE, JUDAS PRIEST and EVANESCENCE. Even if the latter band's quote is quite controversial for the average metalhead's likes, it is essential to be stated that it is brought up just to underline the ambiance included in Arrival's songs and not to recall any of the Little Rock, AR rockers' songwriting blueprints (except from the vocals, maybe). Not to forget, I'd add HELSTAR, CRIMSON GLORY, LEATHERWOLF and CHASTAIN as some further bands brought to mind while listening to this album.
I'd like the production to be even more 'professional', even if it surely is OK now. Else, the diversity in the themes and tempos, the mix of the old and the new in WILDESTARR's musicianship and the hard work obviously done in the melodies and songparts result to a more than good album. Dave Starr has come up with an excellent CD and I really hope this is not all we'll ever gonna here from WILDESTARR; really hope. You can order Arrival - comes with a 16-page glossy booklet - directly from the band (info) and you're kindly advised to do so.