Helmet is a band that has always broken the rules. When it formed in 1989 in New York City, Helmet was heavy and dissonant enough to win the fickle approval of the metal and post-hardcore scene, yet melodic enough to fit in with Seattle’s grunge rockers. Though Helmet’s most prominent lineup broke up in 1999, front man Paige Hamilton reformed the band in 2004 with a completely new roster. The current incarnation’s newest release, Seeing Eye Dog, stays true to the sound that made Helmet a hit. Unfortunately, it does little to move the band forward.
Helmet’s early work drew acclaim because of the unique instrumental work. They were among the first to use drop-D guitar tuning, a technique which helped many contemporary bands, such as Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Quicksand, achieve the famous heavy Seattle grunge sound. Their jarring stop-and-start riffs were complimented by Hamilton’s gravelly vocals. On Seeing Eye Dog, Helmet uses this time-tested formula to create an album that works, but is far from their best.
Tracks like “LA Water” and “White City” utilize the classic over-fuzzed droning guitars that made Helmet famous. Unfortunately, the recipe is almost tasteless at this point. The songs lack focus, and are much more spacey than their predecesors, verging on psychedelic. Perhaps the most interesting song on the record is a cover of The Beatles’ “And Your Bird Can Sing” from Revolver. Although it’s refreshing to hear Helmet step out of their comfort zone, it’s unfortunate that they’re only willing to make great creative leaps with covers and not in their original material. However, since Seeing Eye Dog is only a brisk ten tracks that never drag, it’s still a listenable album.
Helmet’s sound is very much a time and a place. It’s difficult to transpose that sound into a modern studio setting, and achieve a result that is still both musically interesting and culturally relevant. The raw energy and power of Helmet’s Meantime is missing on Seeing Eye Dog, instead replaced by Pro Tools-filtered feedback that somehow feels cheapened. Helmet was best left broken up 1999. As Kurt Cobain wrote, “It’s better to burn out than to fade away.”
Voice’s Choices: “And Your Bird Can Sing,” “White City,” “LA Water”
