[.ca] 1991-1997 Unsung Best Of

a well deserved collection:
My relationship with Helmet is like a lot of people I do believe. Unsung (the song, not this album, they're biggest single) back in the day was great, but I never took the time to investigate anything else by them. They just sort of slipped by. In the hunt for some good hard music, I grabbed this collection. I'm glad I did, as Helmet is a great band. Now I wish I had taken the plunge on them years ago. Helmet is nice and heavy, they're slow, repetitive and a bit spacy. They're sound is defined by short riffs that are repeated often. Doesn't that sound terrible? But it's not! It works very well. They have this nice "chugga chugga" pace to their music, and the vocals have this nice clean quality that sits nicely on top of it all. I'm always impressed when a band can really stand out with just the standard guitar/bass/drum setup, and Helmet definitely does that. If you like metal, punk, just hardish stuff in general, definitely give this a shot.

Trendsetters:
These guys are the trendsetters for the music we listen to nowadays. These guys started everything and this CD shows exactly how great these guys really were. Every song on this CD kicks major a$$. If you like hardcore, in-your-face rock then this CD is for you. Helmet are the reason we have today's rock.

The Virus is The Vaccine when it Comes to Nu-metal...:
When I bought this, I didn't take it out of my player for a week. I just let it drone on and on and on!!! And I still listen to it to get my fix, like smoking a cigarette, from start to finish, and this is what I like to call a "start to finish" album, you don't have to thumb through tracks, just push play ...If your a helmet fan, this disc is all you need if you only could listen to one Helmet cd for the rest of your life, or if you where on a desert island or something...Eventhough I personally wish it had "Biscuits for Smut" and "the silver hawaiian" on it, It it still complete...If your wanting to get into Helmet or check them out, this is the ONLY place to start because once you hear this you'll be able to buy the discs that you hear your favorites on...and the rest will fill in perfectly. If you claim your into heavy music, and you haven't listened to Helmet you are seriously miss'n out, you won't want to listen to nu-metal anymore. Helmet was one of, if not the major influences of nu-metal the virus that started a genre...unfortunatly like all virus' it evolves. And what it has evolved into is very ugly, mutated (crappy) music (disturbed,drowning pool, scream-o, poop-StainD )...once you listen to Helmet, you will be cured, you will never want to listen to that crap again!! Pure, simple, heavy, beautiful...

Put on your "Helmet".:
This is a pretty sweet deal. It's missing a few songs like "Symptom Of The Universe" from the "Jerky Boys" soundtrack, but when you get 21 tracks of excellent alt-metal, it's hard to complain. What's included is their biggest hit "Unsung", as well as other choice cuts from "Meantime", and great stuff from "Aftertaste" and "Betty", like "Milquetoast". Plus songs from their lesser known albums. Also here is the cool track "Just Another Victim" with "House Of Pain", from the awesome "Judgment Night" soundtrack. Overall this disc should be more than enough for the casual "Helmet" fan. It'll go great with your "Rollins Band" and "Tool" cd's.

"Unsung" Pioneers of a Revolutionary Sound:
There's a good reason why I simply shrugged my shoulders in boredom when I first saw MTV play Korn's "Blind" in mid '95. This was because years before, I was already listening to the uniquely heavy and distinctive styles of Faith No More, Clutch, Bloodlet and Helmet. Yet Korn achieved widespread popularity and where heralded as originators of a new style of metal, whereas the other bands faded into relative obscurity outside of the underground based on their lack of commercial accessibility. Hailing from the fertile New York post-punk and hardcore scenes, Helmet brought forth a dynamic style of heavy rock which is uncompromising, elegant, and crushing. Founded by 6-string wizard Page Hamilton and rounded out by bassist Henry Bogdan and drummer John Stanier, as well as a revolving lineup of guitarists, they gave metal a much needed kick in the ass in a time where to play heavy music you where required to have long hair, tattoos, and dark imagery. At times fusing an aggressive punk-derived metallic noisyness, akin to a faster Melvins, with odd-timed signatures and melodic progressions, this band was take no prisoners. The musicianship is years beyond nu metal. Page and his co-guitarists weave devastating and groove-based sonic attacks that pound with intesity. Simplistic-yet-technical drummer Stanier is as solid as they come(he currently plays with the might Tomahawk). And Bogdan gives an appropriately chunky low end growl to hold things together. Helmet is not for everyone however. Some people are turned off by Hamilton's somewhat flat singing vocals and limited singing range. However, the guy is a great lyricist and maintains a strong vocal presence throughout. His guitar work more than makes up for this. Yes, he can solo, though his solos are noticibly angular and unorthodox. Another downside is how samey much of Helmet's material is, especially during the Meantime years, as great an album as it is. While this is true in effect, you can really notice the progression in sound from album to album. And why the four stars? I prefer having all the albums as opposed to this one. However, I recommend this to anyone wanting to get aquanted to Helmet's sound. So if you have had enough of your Korns, your Disturbeds, your Stainds, your whiny screamo/metalcore clones, check out this groundbreaking band. It is as honest and memorable as good heavy music can be. Also be sure to check out Quicksand, Handsome(made up of Quicksand and Helmet members), Burn and Earthone9. Keep music good.

• Repetition
• Fbla
• Bad Mood
• Sinatra
• In the Meantime
• Iron Head
• Give It
• Unsung
• Better
• Just Another Victim
• Wilma's Rainbow
• I Know
• Milquetoast
• Rollo
• Overrated
• Disagreeable
• Pure
• Renovation 2
• Like I Care
• Driving Nowhere
• Exactly What You Wanted