Helmet - Size Matters
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Music CD Cover
Artist: HelmetEdition: Music CD
Published: 2004-09-27
CD Release Date: 2004-10-05
Music Label: Interscope Records
Soundtracks:
- Smart
- Crashing Foreign Cars
- See You Dead
- Drug Lord
- Enemies
- Unwound
- Everybody Loves You
- Surgery
- Speak and Spell
- Throwing Punches
- Last Breath
Free Music Notes for Size Matters
Free Music Review: Helmet-Episode V: Attacking the Clones
Hit: 5 Stars
There is a GOD. After years of listening to Meantime, Strap It On, Aftertaste and most frequently, Betty my prayers have finally been answered. Queens of the Stone Age was perhaps one of the only newer bands maintaining this tradition of rock/metal. I should begin this review by stating plainly: Helmet is one of my all time favorite bands. This fact might lead one to believe that I do not have the ability to critique this album objectively. Well objectively, "obshmectively" I don't give a flying rat's patootie! But what I will do is make sure I give you a fair and balanced viewpoint from a fan and non-fan's perspective, much like the beacon of television journalism Fox News (heh-heh). Should my ability to critique come into question I have one statement to make, ahem: "Incubus is one of my other favorite bands and I think their last album blew donkey chunks."
Those who are either familiar with Helmet or are obsessed with their back-catalog of releases much like myself while notice a markedly different stylistic difference between this album and previous releases. The main element that sets this album apart from other Helmet releases is, in a word: melody. Whereas Strap It On and Meantime seemed the antithesis of this aesthetic Aftertaste was the precursor. Anyone afraid that this album has turned into a mamby-pamby display of tunes similar to the likes of Nickelback will be greatly relieved.
This album begins with a sledgehammer to the stomach with lead off track Smart, the trademark mid-tempo, groove-oriented, riffing fully reinstates the Helmet sound we all grew to know and love. Not only is this song heavy and gritty, it moves seamlessly into a melodic chorus without sounding like a cheesy nu-metal song. The album continues with an up-tempo balls-to-the-wall Meantime-esque rocker Crashing Foreign Cars. See You Dead the album's first single is perhaps the darkest song I've ever heard from Helmet with lyrics such as:
I could miss you more right now or
I could slit your throat
Sometimes I get so down
You're not around and I'd rather
See you dead
Um, ouch. I have to say that I was 1) very surprised this was the first single and 2) not a fan of this song when I first heard it. The syncopated riffing throughout and strong chorus makes it a good choice to both reinstate Helmet in the music scene and pronounce their more melodic turn.
The album at this point begins to hit a more decidedly mid-tempo patch. This might make some find the album as not an easy listen based on this stylistic shift. I find this area of the album to be where Helmet is most spreading its wings and branching into new types of material. Songs such as Enemies and Unwound have soaring choruses and other elements such as quietly, sung-spoken sections that will surprise long-time listeners of the band. Enemies in fact has such a soaring chorus that I can almost guarantee that it will be used in a movie trailer for an action, sci-fi or superhero movie.Unwound is the closest thing to a ballad that I've ever heard from Helmet.
The album also ends strong with a one-two-three kick to the rib cage. With Speak and Spell the albums second single, Throwing Punches from the Underworld soundtrack (previously credited under Page Hamilton), and the not quite as strong, but fun nonetheless Last Breath.
And now, we must address a few last details. Some obsessed fans like myself have heard about 5 of these songs already either in their current forms or in earlier incarnations from Page Hamilton's side project Gandhi. The songs in this state however, have more of a Helmet-esque edge than the electronic leanings of Gandhi.
Many purists will say this is not Helmet without John Stainer or Henry Bogdan but I must vehemently disagree. Helmet's line-up has changed with virtually every release. Much like Trent Reznor is Nine Inch Nails, Helmet is Page Hamilton. He has and always has been the principal songwriter. Even with John Tempesta (Rob Zombie) on drums, Chris Traynor (Orange 9MM, Helmet live) on guitar and bass, and Frank Bello (Anthrax) on live bass, anyone giving this album a listen will still know it's Helmet.
Finally, the best thing about this album is that it not only maintains Helmet's trademark sound, but it reinvigorates it by introducing an increased emphasis on hooks and gasp bridges. The bridges in most Helmet songs were usually more riffing and/or solos. Page introduces more vocal melodies in the bridges this time around. One might think that this suggests a cookie-cutter modern rock radio sound, but what it achieves is quite the opposite. Not only does this album sound great melodically, but it maintains the chainsaw bite with growling vocals and down and dirty riffage. And solos? Yes, there are still solos...but some are more blues-inspired than previous endeavors.
Helmet is one of the most underrated bands in history. Even after all these years and a slight stylistic shift this album sounds fresh. Even after all the legions of clones, it still sounds better than any radio ready nu-metal boy band. Dirtier than Aftertaste more melodic than Meantime, many will find this album the happy medium between the two sounds. Those unfamiliar with Helmet may find a new band to love; while the rest of us will find this album a relief...rock and roll has returned. Welcome back, Helmet!
Size Matters Poster
titolo-size mattersartista-helmet # audio cd (october 5, 2004)# original release date: october 5, 2004# number of discs: 1# label: interscope records----1. smart 2. crashing foreign cars 3. see you dead 4. drug lord 5. enemies 6. unwound7. everybody loves you3:27$0.99buy track8. surgery3:14$0.99buy track9. speak and spell3:31$0.99buy track10. throwing punches3:44$0.99buy track11. last breathHard Rock & Metal Music CDs
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