New Helmet album!!!!!!!!

[countchocula]

http://www.helmetmusic.com/disco/images/album_sizematters.jpg

The line-up is slightly different, but I'm dying to get my bloodied claws on this. Size Matters streets on September 14, and you can sample it HERE (http://www.bornannoying.com/audio.htm). A full MP3 would be nice, but I'll take what I can get. I'm loving it so far. Very Helmet-y. The tracklist...

1. Smart
2. Crashing Foreign Cars
3. See You Dead
4. Drug Lord
5. Enemies
6. Unwound
7. Everybody Loves You
8. Surgery
9. Speak and Spell
10. Throwing Punches
11. Last Breath

[Criminal Rock]

One of my friends ADORES this band. I’ll have to check this out.

[countchocula]

No one else is amped by this blurb? Helmet has a new album coming out, people! Have an orgasm or something!

[Criminal Rock]

I’ll be sure to have plenty while thinking of you… on second thought; maybe not… cause’ you’re a monkey.:confused:

[jeo4]

Helmet has been hibernating for a while. It's good to see some good ass-kicking rock coming out.

[Elgyn]

Originally posted by countchocula
No one else is amped by this blurb?




I AM!
I loooove Helmet, one of my favorite bands, who have been sorely missed in the current metal scene.
I had heard some rumors of them getting back together in the past, but I didn`t realize they actually had a new album coming out! Sep. 14th you say? I`m so there!

Wow, I guess I need to frequent the music boards more often......

[JustOneFix]

Cool

[countchocula]

The release date has been pushed back to October 5. Page Hamilton sustained a rock-climbing injury, and was forced to postpone the upcoming tour. Oh, well. My budget is too slender to pick it up within the next month anyway. I heard "See You Dead" on Music Choice the other day. Quite catchy. I'm thinking this album will find a happy medium between heavy and melodic, which Aftertaste only partially accomplished.

[Jess]

You know, I've never heard of these guys. What singles have they released, cause I'm definitely not opposed to checking them out...

[countchocula]

If you've heard any of their songs, it was probably "Unsung." It was their breakthrough hit, and can be found on 1992's Meantime. They've been ripped off countless times, although I'm not sure how to describe their sound. It's groove-oriented hard rock. Download the following...

"Unsung"
"Ironhead"
"Wilma's Rainbow"
"Milquetoast"
"Driving Nowhere"

They could be viewed as one of the earliest nu-metal acts ("Wilma's Rainbow" is the best Limp Bizkit song of all time).

[urs74]

This awesome news Helmet is one of ym alltime favorite bands first discovering them my senior year in high school '93, can't wait now until this comes out. I still love the track they did with house of pain on the Judgement Night Soundtrack "Just Another Victim"

[Elgyn]

Originally posted by countchocula

They could be viewed as one of the earliest nu-metal acts ("Wilma's Rainbow" is the best Limp Bizkit song of all time).

True that. Helmet was a definite influence on the 'numetal' bands - Korn included. But the funny thing is, Helmet is much better than anyn of the numetalers.

[Jess]

I listened to Unsung but alas, it's not familiar to me. I didn't try any other songs. The band sounds great, it's just the vocalist doesn't cut it for me. I think he doesn't have a very 'rock' voice.

[Elgyn]

:mad:

[countchocula]

Calm yourself, Elgyn. There, there... :D

Jess, if you want harsh vocals (I'm not sure what you mean by a "rock" voice), check out "Ironhead." Page Hamilton alternates between melodic singing and disharmonious yelling (for a mixture of the two, try "Broadcast Emotion" on for size). I saw in another thread that you're a fan of Chevelle. You might be interested to know that they are heavily influenced by Helmet.

[Jess]

Originally posted by countchocula
Calm yourself, Elgyn. There, there... :D

Jess, if you want harsh vocals (I'm not sure what you mean by a "rock" voice), check out "Ironhead." Page Hamilton alternates between melodic singing and disharmonious yelling (for a mixture of the two, try "Broadcast Emotion" on for size). I saw in another thread that you're a fan of Chevelle. You might be interested to know that they are heavily influenced by Helmet.

Chevelle-wise, I know they're influenced by them, I even have a copy of a Helmet cover that they did (not sure which song though). But that's the reason why I wanted to check out Helmet cause I've heard some people say that both bands sound alike, which I don't think they do in the least bit.

'Rock voice'-wise, yeah, I like vocalists that can sing good but also scream really good, particulary Chevelle and Filter. I think the reason why I'm not feeling the lead singer is because his voice is sort of too high for my tastes, I like the voices kinda low but not too low. Jeez, it's hard to explain.

But anyway, I'll check out Ironhead and Broadcast Emotion. I'll report back to you at 0600 hours. :p

[urs74]

Yes Ironhead is a better one to suggest to a Chevelle fan for sure. Even Milktoast too off the The Crow soundtrack would be another suggestion as well.

Again a great band with Page having a cool lastname (I have same lastname) just good news he's bringing helmet back!

[Elgyn]

Originally posted by Jess


'Rock voice'-wise, yeah, I like vocalists that can sing good but also scream really good, particulary Chevelle and Filter.


Not to rag on your tastes in music Jess, but.........

Filter`s "Welcome To the Fold" = Best Helmet Song NOT Performed By Helmet.:p

[Elgyn]

Originally posted by urs74
. Even Milktoast too off the The Crow soundtrack would be another suggestion as well.



Am I the only one who liked the "Crow" soundtrack version of "Milqetoast" better than the album version from "Betty"?

[countchocula]

Originally posted by Elgyn
Am I the only one who liked the "Crow" soundtrack version of "Milqetoast" better than the album version from "Betty"?

Surely not, but I, for one, despised it. Muddy production suits certain bands, but Helmet benefits from crisp sound quality. The mediocre songs on Betty have the illusion of being good because of the plangent mix. You can hear every instrument, and the guitars, in particular, tug at your entrails. Jess (I'll stop bothering you soon, I swear), if you happen to download "Milquetoast," try to avoid the soundtrack version.

And I hate to say it, but I don't see the resemblance between Filter and Helmet.

[Elgyn]

Originally posted by countchocula
The mediocre songs on Betty have the illusion of being good because of the plangent mix.

So I take it you didn`t like "Betty". I realize it`s their least-favored album, but me, I kinda liked it. Maybe that`s because it was the first Helmet album I heard.

And I hate to say it, but I don't see the resemblance between Filter and Helmet.

I`m only talking about one song, "Welcome To the Fold".
Come on, just listen to that riff. It`s like a Helmet song.

[countchocula]

Don't get me wrong; I dig Betty, but it's a mixed bag. When it's good, it's fucking great. When it's bad, it doesn't exist.

To me, the riff on "Welcome to the Fold" is just a standard rock riff. It could be anyone.

[Elgyn]

One more stinkin` day to go........:cool:

[Elgyn]

I haven`t listened to the album enough to form a solid opinion, but a few things are clear after the first listen:

-This isn`t the same Helmet I know and love. Aside from Hamilton, this is an all-new line-up, and it`s obvious. Sad to say, at some points it almost sounds like a lesser band trying to emulate Helmet. These songs sound like Helmet songs, but they`re just missing the 'oomph' I`ve grown to love from Hamilton, Bogdan, and Stanier.

-John Stanier`s drums are sorely missed. It just isn`t the same without his 'gong'-style drum slamming. That was a signature part of Helmet`s sound IMO.

-Page Hamilton`s vocal style has changed, big time. When the first song started, I thought I was hearing Neil Fallon from Clutch. And in almost every song, he uses this new "super-harmonized" style of vocals that I just can`t seem to get into. It`s hard to explain, but if you`ve heard a lot of their old stuff, you`ll know what I`m talking about.


Again, I need to listen to this album a lot more before I form a definite opinion of it, but so far, it seems like a watered-down sissified version of Helmet, I hate to say.:(

[urs74]

Yeah I know exactly what you mean about the snare used in the old days not the same, I was a little displeased at first but it's grown on me, but don't get me wrong it's a great album but just no the Helmet I'm used to from the old dayz. :(

[countchocula]

I haven't had a chance to buy it yet, but the overall feedback does seem to be lukewarm. Seeing as how it's been seven years since Aftertaste, and seeing as how the line-up has been given a facelift, I'm surprised that it sounds like Helmet at all. Elgyn, are you warming up to it upon repeated spins?

[Elgyn]

Originally posted by countchocula
seeing as how the line-up has been given a facelift, I'm surprised that it sounds like Helmet at all.


It really doesn`t. A couple songs ("See You Dead", "Last Breath") kinda-sorta sound like Helmet, but only one ("Throwing Punches") really sounds like the old Helmet.



Elgyn, are you warming up to it upon repeated spins?

Yes......but I still stand by everything I said in my last post.

This album isn`t BAD.........but it just isn`t Helmet. It just doesn`t have that signature "Helmet sound".
And a big part of that isn`t even neccesarily the new band......it`s the new style of vocals Hamilton uses. And his songwriting is different too.

I almost think Page Hamilton should`ve given this new band a different name, i.e. Audioslave or Zwan.

[countchocula]

Originally posted by Elgyn
I almost think Page Hamilton should`ve given this new band a different name, i.e. Audioslave or Zwan.

He was with a different band for awhile (Ghandi), but they fizzled out before they had a chance to release anything. If he had released Size Matters under a different alias, fans would probably complain that it sounds too much like Helmet.

[Elgyn]

Originally posted by countchocula
If he had released Size Matters under a different alias, fans would probably complain that it sounds too much like Helmet.


Yeah, you`re probably right.

[countchocula]

I bought a used copy of Size Matters yesterday. I...love it! It's basically Aftertaste II, but I prefer it to Aftertaste. The riffage is heavy, the melodic edge is nice (the vocal harmonies don't pester me), and to me, it sounds like Helmet. It's a natural progression from where they (well, he) left off. I'm listening to it right now.

[Elgyn]

Well, cool, glad you like it.
I gave it a spin a few days ago. I like it, I just don`t think it compares to the old albums.

[countchocula]

I try not to think of it as a Helmet album. I think of it as a rock album that has the word "Helmet" on it. It works for me.

[The Postmaster General]

I love MEANTIME, but had never heard anything else aside form The Crow

They always reminded me of Soundgarden from earlier Ultramega OK days.