Strap It on

Helmet | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 8, 1992)
• Original Release Date: 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fontana Interscope
• ASIN: B000001Y5L
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,107 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the TRUE Helmet., July 7, 2000

By 

D. K. Malone (earth) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strap It on (Audio CD)

Strap It On is the sound of 4 guys struggling to eke out a living in the hell hole that is NYC's lower east side. It's the release of all of the tension such a life entails. This is pure, raw emotion EXPLODING into sound. Helmet were what they were because of their struggle to live in such a place. This album was originally released on the then-microscopic indie label Amphetamine Reptile Records. At the time, I assumed that Helmet was doomed to obscurity, like so many other abrasive and "unmarketable" bands were in 1990. (Hell, I thought the same thing of Nirvana at the time.) But through just a few months of touring, Helmet generated such a huge amount of word of mouth praise and attention, Interscope swooped right in and picked them up, gave them a multi-million dollar contract and everything. Now, I won't say that this "killed" the band, because I can't deny that I did enjoy all of Helmet's later albums as well... but I will say that none of their records that came later, records made by 4 guys who were now making a reasonably comfortable living relative to their Strap It On days, don't even come close to holding a candle to the pure unleashed power and fury of their first album. This isn't a record so much as it's a wrecking ball.

Those who were weaned on the kinder, gentler, more polished Helmet may not enjoy this so much.

EDIT (over 10 years later): I wince every time Strap It On is described as a "metal" record. I suppose on paper it may resemble metal: over-driven guitars, heavy power chord riffs, lockstep rhythms. Granted, metal heads latched on to it almost immediately and Helmet's sound rapidly became more and more metallic as they went on. But on this, their first album, this is not metal. This is noise rock with an added wrinkle- a major emphasis on riffs.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Orgins of Helmet, December 8, 2004

By 

Wolfdog - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strap It on (Audio CD)

This debut album "Strap it on" shown many Metal Heads that you do not need long hair to pump out some serious tunes. Quite possibly the most unique bands to ever come out, Helmet announced their entrance with pure Chaos and rage.

The Album is one of art. Paige Hamilton's singing (sorry Screaming) compliments the entire bands attitude. You can search for the most heavist of metal bands and none could compete or be compared to this bands sound and harshness.

As for the album itself? If you enjoy pure destruction, you will love this album. The guitar harmonics and distortion will really get your heart pumping, your mind to go slowly down the road of beautiful insanity. Songs like Repetition, Rude, FBLA will make peoples head turn (Especially Slipknot, Linkin Park fans) and wonder "What the heck is that"? If you love pure metal, buy this album! You will not be disapointed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is possibly the best Helmet release to date, February 27, 2005

By 

Mono-Grind "dtb" (Here) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strap It on (Audio CD)

Helmet are definitely highly influential. Without a doubt. And this album is a must-own for all Helmet fans, as i believe it's probably their best album.

Starting off with Repetition, you know you're in for a headbanging 30 or so minutes from then on. Rude kicks off with a kinda long drum intro, then the riff...Is just HELMET. Helmet really are unique in the way they structure their riffs. Paige Hamilton might not be the best vocalist in Alternative/Metal/Grunge..But the music more than makes up for that.

Bad Mood is one of the best songs on here. Pretty fast, in which if they had a video for it i think they'd have someone getting chased by the Cops or something. Sinatra, the next song, is the longest song on this CD, as it goes for 4:30 mins. It's pretty good, then it gets better at around 2:40 secs, as it builds and builds and builds..then yet another trademark Helmet riff begins, really heavy as Paige Hamilton is screaming, "What's the best for me?!" over and over.

The weakest songs on here, which aren't even that weak just not as good as Helmet can really do, are probably FBLA and Make Room. Distracted is a very good riff-based song yet again. My 2 other favourites on this album, aside from (pretty much all of them, but..) Bad Mood..are Blacktop and Murder. Murder, i think, has the best Paige Hamilton screaming on it. And Blacktop has probably the coolest riff in it. Very headbangable.

All in all, a great Helmet album. For all fans of Helmet, get this if you haven't already. And to all those who haven't yet bought any Helmet albums, i'd buy this first and see what you think. If you like this, i'm sure you'll enjoy all of their other albums. This album is extremely good.

5/5