The greatest Industrial Metal band ever, Helmet, has returned to the scene after a much-too-long hiatus. Their 2004 opus of start-stop excellence, “Size Matters” [Interscope Records], is an instant classic. Familiar yet a little different, longtime fans may need a few listens to warm-up to it. But after that, it’s all amazing.
Continuing that chunky, dense sound, Helmet is still as colorful and crunchy. Rhythmic blasts of guitar and drums interlock as a mechanized storm. Page Hamilton‘s low-key, and powerful vocals add fuel to the fire. And the synergy is phenomenal, unleashing with all the sheer force of a locomotive falling down a cliff. Helmet still crushes.
The best of these machine-cast wonders includes “Smart,” “Everybody Loves You,” the caustic glimmer of “Surgery,” “Throwing Punches,” and the intense cadence of “See You Dead” (my favorite by far). Helmet hasn’t lost a single beat.
Overall, Helmet is still the best at the game. Few even come close to their quality. Size matters: we want more…. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Gravity Kills, Stabbing Westward, Skold, KMFDM, Fear Factory, God Lives Underwater, Rob Zombie, Static-X, Prick, Rammstein, Snake River Conspiracy, Godflesh, Prong, Deadsy, Hypnosis, Samael, Darkseed, Dead World, Candiru, Skin Chamber, Mindfield, Perpetua, Spineshank, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Bill Vogel III
Email at: StrangeAeons@hatebox.net or LifeEraser@aol.com
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
