Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible, August 21, 2002
This is a massively influential recording, especially when viewed alongside the contemporary 'nu-metal'/'rap-rock' scene. It is also one of the harshest, most tightly written and performed albums I have ever heard.
Helmet produced music that truly was an assault on the senses, from the searing guitar lines to the quirky stop-start dynamics on numerous songs, coupled with the jazz-influenced time signatures and extremely raw vocals. This is not an album for the faint hearted, yet it is similarly not a release that panders to the stereotypically moronic metal fan (a label which I will be the first to point out is entirely inaccurate); Helmet are unquestionably purveyors of intelligent, thoughtful sentiment shrouded in some of the highest quality songwriting I have ever heard the genre produce.
On the opener, 'In the Meantime', Helmet set the scene for the ten superb tracks in typically cataclysmic fashion, with 30 seconds of churning noise giving way to a hypnotic, persistent drumbeat closely chased by layered guitars cranking out one of the heaviest, most recognisable riffs in metal, then pulling back to hammer one chord in truly eloquent, unforgettable fashion. These 3 minutes of 'In the meantime' may define Helmet, yet this album showcases a band truly comfortable with their own niche, their own raison d'etre, perfectly.
Many of the albums songs sound similar: indeed, I often think this record runs like one extended suite. Yet upon repeated listens each track follows the other so precisely, and the album's themes are so cogent even when wrapped in the bizzare anecdotes of the lyrics, that the status of this recording as a masterwork is apparent.
Buy this album if you enjoy intelligent music, or even if you merely like to bang your head profusely whenever you can, or both: this album caters easily to each faction. Consider carefully the irony behind the line, 'Walk through no archetypal suicide: to die young is far too boring these days', when contrasted to the grunge explosion taking place on America's opposite coast when Helmet recorded this release.
An ambitious, original record, and a musical unit whose impact should not, indeed cannot, be ignored.
|
|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hands Down the Hardest Rockin' Band of the Nineties, June 28, 2001
Led by classically trained jazz guitarist, Page Hamilton, Helmet unleashes its unique brand of melodic punishment on their major label debut. Recorded by the anti-Rick Rubin, Steve Albini, Meantime is from start to finish a total aural assault with driving chords and drumbeats that undoubtedly influenced the new wave of rap-rocking bands that deal in heavy snares (Korn, Limp Bizkit) and downtuned guitars.Back before grunge when MTV actually looked for new talent to play, Helmet had a minor hit with "unsung" which made the rounds frequently on Alternative Nation and other such shows. But, thier image and clothes didn't make them cool, it was thier unbridled aggression and melodicism in addition to a great no holds barred live show, opening for bands like Faith No More before headlining and touring with the Rollins Band. If you like rap-rock you owe it to yourself to check out Helmet and explore one of the fore-runners of Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Tool. Another great band that should have been huge.
|
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The start of something new., May 1, 2003
When this record came out I was a 11-12 year old metal head. I listend mainly to thrash/heavy metal bands like slayer, megadeth, metallica etc. One day I saw a video by a band called Helmet on tv and was amazed by the chrushing, monotonous, sound they made (especially because the guys in the band looked wierd...wierd meaning normal, average, looking people with crewcuts).
I bought the CD and was actually kind of disappointed by the way it sounded. I remember that I thought that Page's song was too melodic and weak.But after I played it a couple of times I grew to like it, and later on...love it. Basically, Helmet changed my whole view of (heavy) music and indirectly because of them i later got into everything from hardcore punk to jazz. To this day I still listen to it and regard it as one of my favourite albums of all times (and music genres). Sadly, people who comment on this brilliant band generally have the tendency of comparing them to other metal (especially [bad] nu-metal or "rap-metal") bands which i think is out of line. Helmet were trailblazers and they truly stand alone. Maybe if you just listen to the witty & sarcastic lyrics, the monotonous trainlike precision of the heavy, yet minimalistic, drum beat & the guitars swarming like angry bees you too will figure that out one day. Meantime captures Helmet in their prime, do yourself a favor and check it out!
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Helmet 
