Helmet "Size Matters" CD
[Interscope]
Here's the deal, I've been a pretty big Helmet fan since 1992 (you know, when basically everyone else got into 'em), but even though I fucking loved 1997's "Aftertaste", I didn't have high hopes for this - the band's first studio output in just over seven years. Well, within a few spins I'm basically confident enough to state that this is my favorite Helmet release to date. Don't get me wrong, "Meantime" is an absolute classic, "Betty" has its moments, and the more melodic "Aftertaste" is spectacular (I honestly never cared much for "Strap it On"), but this disc is really fucking consistent, and the songwriting just kills through and through. Many have expressed concerns over the all-new lineup, but I have no clue as to why. It's no secret that mainman Page Hamilton has pretty much run the show from day one, and on this particular outing he's joined by one hell of a fucking lineup featuring ex-Orange 9mm guitarist Chris Traynor, onetime Exodus and Testament drummer John Tempesta, and a real shocker with former Anthrax bassist Frank Bello. But it's all about the fucking songs here, and they kick ass. There really isn't much in the form of fucked up time signatures or anything like that, but there are still plenty of the staccato rhythms, churning power chords, and eerily dissonant layers of subtle melodic textures or caustic guitar noise that Helmet laid the foundation with well over a decade ago. Of course structurally and vocally things are definitely more streamlined and similar to the band's last record, with Hamilton opting for more singing than shouting (and a few semi spoken passages that add more character to certain tracks), though that suits me fine because there are tons of excellent vocal harmonies that really brighten up the choruses. "Smart" kicks it off in classic Helmet form with plenty of somewhat basic chunky grooves and just the right amount of melody, which continues immediately in the slightly more aggressive but also slightly more textured and melodic "Crashing Foreign Cars" (which has an amazing chorus). "Unwound" takes things a bit slower and opens up a little more for the melody to blatantly shine through, and is actually the first track that really blows me away... probably one of the catchiest overall compositions herein. "Speak and Spell" builds on a great stuttered rhythm and lots of discordantly clashing notes with plenty of post-hardcore textures during the chorus, making for one of my favorite tracks throughout the disc. As far as "weak links", of which I truly don't feel there are any, "See You Dead" does push my limits of groove tolerance during its verse parts (but the chorus holds strong and makes it all worthwhile), and "Enemies" also suffers from weak verse/killer chorus syndrome, but other than that? It's all gold. The recording is perfect in my opinion as well. Ultra thick and warm, excellent density levels, pristine clarity, etc. The guitars are heavy but often fall under different realms of light effects for added character, the melodies and abstract textures ring through brightly, and the basslines punch through just enough to make their mark. The percussion can seem somewhat overly polished on rare occasion, but for the most part sounds fucking great. I love the mix as well because there are a lot of subtle nuances to pick up on, and it's all so cohesive but still really intricate and clean. The layout? The lyrics? Eh. So-so. It looks clean and consistent, but the photography's nothing to write home about, and the lyrics are bluntly personal without going too far... so they've got their moments but are really nothing that hits me per se. I'm not overly impressed in those departments, everything's fairly simple and makes sense, but the songwriting is certainly where my attention is focused here. And like I said, the songs are amazing in my opinion. The bulk of it is extremely catchy without being overly stripped down or devoid of musical aptitude, the running time is a perfectly honed 40 minutes with no significant downtime, and the end result is a phenomenal disc well suited for repeated listens. Very fucking highly recommended. I'm impressed. I love it when my minimal expectations are absolutely shattered. (9/10)
Running time - 39:34, Tracks: 11
[Notable tracks: Crashing Foreign Cars, Unwound, Surgery, Speak and Spell]
Helmet - http://www.helmetmusic.com

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