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Helmet - Monochrome Audio CD

A fair review of the Helmet "Monochrome" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Helmet reviews here, or go back to the Helmet tabs.

Helmet Band: Helmet
Title: Monochrome
Rating:
Release Date: 2006-07-18
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Swallowing Everything 2: Brand New 3: Bury Me 4: Monochrome 5: On Your Way Down 6: Money Shot 7: Gone 8: Almost Out of Sight 9: Howl 10: 410 11: Goodbye

A return to the sounds of old
have hooked up with old engineer Wharton Tiers, who produced Helmet's first two classics, roughed up the Helmet sound again, and come up with a highly listenable and distinctive product. Page Hamilton and co. Unlike many fans, I actually felt that "Size Matters" was a decent record, but all the ideas on it were used up by the fifth or sixth song. Here, as I believe another reviewer mentioned, Hamilton draws inspiration from all the eras of Helmet, and thusly the tracks are much more realized.

The first two tracks, "Swallowing Everything" and "Brand New", are so much like old Helmet that, if not for the new vocal style and better production, you'd swear they were outtakes from the first two records. This is both a good thing and a bad thing, however- Brand New's initial riff is literally the same riff as the verse riff of "Turned Out" transposed down a half-step and with an extra chord inserted between the first two chords. No one in their right mind would get the two songs confused though, as after about 45 seconds the song goes in a completely different direction. Still, it serves to indicate just how similar the songs are to the Strap It On/Meantime era songs.

The rest of the record sounds more recent- "Monochrome" and "On Your Way Down" sound like they could have been on Size Matters, and "Money Shot" and "Almost Out Of Sight" sound kind of like Helmet is doing what the newest incarnation of King Crimson did, and taking some influence from bands that they influenced. This is all well and good, it shows that Helmet aren't just treading water, and these are pretty good songs, though with Hamilton covering so many of Helmet's bases now, my only real complaint about the record is that he didn't take any influence from their super-early stuff ala "Born Annoying". I'd love to hear something like "Rumble" with big-budget production values- it'd conjure up an image of Hamilton's old mentor Glenn Branca. And now that Hamilton's back using his old (and awesome) solo style, he really could write some great dissonant stuff again.

Overall, though, despite some lifting from earlier records and skipping over some of the better ground the band has covered over the years in favor of the more conventional "Helmet sound", Monochrome is a very, very good record, easily an 8/10, and a great return to form. Recommended for any fan.


The album that should start at track 4 and end with 10
If your reading this, you prolly have been also. Been a helmet fan for a very long time. If you are new to helmet, don't start with this. Do what everyone says and go with Meantime or Betty. That said, i can't say how excited i was when the opening guitar riff started. I was thinking "OH THANK GOD! SOME OLD SCHOOL HELMET!" then Page opened his mouth and i wanted to puke. I started to wonder if something horrible had happened to his voice in his old age. BUT, and i can't emphasize the but enough, although his vocal style has changed significantly, the first three tracks are the worst of it. Those first three tracks, although the music is great, are almost impossible to listen to vocally (what i think is best described as some sort of messy train wreck or love-child of hetfield, corgan, and rollins {[. . ]}). Thankfully, after that, page falls into his groove, and the next six songs are VERY enjoyable. So i say, if your a fan, GO FOR IT! just have one finger on the skip button in case you can't hack his hacky vocals on the first three. the last two are a little rocky too, but the middle is gold. so just think of it as an exceptional six-song ep sandwiched inbetween some vocal excrement.


Paige Corgan
sounds like a Helmet tribute to Smashing Pumpkins. . .
Aftertaste and beyond, they lost it.


Shameless Ploy to reuse the name "Helmet"
This album is by farrrrr Helmet's worst CD. . . if that what you want to call the band. With the only surviving member Paige helming the band, this CD sounds nothing like the 1st 4 CDs of the band. . . . nothing. This CD sounds like a shameless ploy to produce lame tracks with Paige's crackling faded voice slapped with the famous band name on it. Ughh. . . i bought this CD the day it came out hoping to be better than the last "new" Helmet album, and this one was far worse. I couldn't find a single song to jam out with so i turned around and sold it on eBay for $8. 00. ****WARNING!!!! If you are a Helmet fan and LOVE their music from the 90's era (Betty, Aftertaste, etc) than DO NOT buy or even listen to this CD**** . . . . you have been warned, mooahahaahahhaha.


Helmet may just be back
With albums as good as "Betty", "Aftertaste" and "Meantime" there was nothing for Page Hamilton to be ashamed of and pretty much retire making mediocre albums. After an abysmal comeback album for the Page Hamilton-led wannabe Helmet with "Size Matters", I felt like Helmet was something in the past. But I was wrong.
"Monochrome" is a truly solid album, with Hamilton picking up where the original Helmet left with "Aftertaste". The very strong relationship between the rhythm section and guitars is back, Hamilton does not overtax his own voice and melody remains somewhere between angry and melancholic. Right where it should be.
There is nothing groundbreaking here but a very solid album from a reformed band that is promising again.


You can see a complete list of all Helmet discography, or go back to the Helmet tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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