Review Summary: Helmet: Bringing THE RIFFS since 1990
Helmet is an alternative metal band that was formed in 1989 in New York. NY's 80's/90's hardcore scene is one of the most famous underground musical acts of its time, bringing some of the better bands of its genre to life, like Bad Brains, Minor Threat and Biohazard. Helmet born into this place, so the influence from some of these bands is obvious, but they created a sound of their own in Strap It On, their first album.
Their sound is all about raw staccato riffs with tuneless, agonized vocals and unusual song structures. The stop-and-go riffs build some catchy songs like "Bad Mood" and "Blacktop" without losing the raw, striking ferocity that is permanent through the album. There's some strange solos and sections that show some noise rock influences, like in "Murder" and "Sinatra". Oh, by the way, "Sinatra" is the definitive standout track of the album, with its horror vibe and atmospheric bass mixed with the album's usual riffage that builds up into a highlight of Helmet's discography.
However, some songs blend together, and drag for too long. While almost every song has a redeeming factor about it, some of them become boring and unattractive in a few minutes. The album's recording quality helps it to achieve a raw sound, but it also removes some of the music's punch, making it hard for a casual listener to like.
The overall instrumentation is gorgeous, and every member has a key role to the music's attacking approach. The vocals are aggressive, and while they aren't that great, they suit in the band's music for the most part.
Helmet's first album shows a band creating what will be a revolutionary sound in the future, but it suffers from some issues that brings it down and stops it from being a real milestone in its genre, something that their next album would be.
Standout Tracks:
Sinatra
Bad Mood
Blacktop
Repetition
