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Helmet
((Whisky; 400 capacity; $ 12 top))
Band: Page Hamilton, Peter Mengede, Henry Bogdan, John Stanier.
On stage, this quartet delivers mega-groove and mega-attitude, tight enough to be technically pleasing yet with enough raging intensity to keep the stagedivers in the pit happy.
Band's hourlong set sampled much of their current Interscope Records release "Meantime" as well as cuts from their 1990 indie release. The almost melodic "Turned Out" was one of the evening's best, showing off the six-string skills of guitarist Peter Mengede. Band's sound and delivery is close to Pantera or fellow New Yorkers Prong; not a lot of nuance or subtlety, just unadulterated, growling grunge metal.
Other memorable songs included the musically tricky "Better," the lyrically bizarre "In the Meantime" and, in spite of blowing an amp midway through the cut , "Your Head," a B-side from a 1991 single.
It's no secret in the industry that Interscope has poured a lot of money into making Helmet a success. But in spite of the popularity of Nirvana (which can be attributed to the undeniable appeal ofone song) the band's style of rage-filled, post-punk, Black Sabbath grunge has yet to prove itself as a consistent money maker. Soundgarden and Alice in Chains have come close, but until we see bands like them and Helmet in rotation on MTV, the genre will most likely remain an underground phenom.
As for now, for Helmet, they've made an exciting and impressive album which they back up with a powerfully solid stage show. Interscope may take a bath on this one, but the band has certainly delivered on their end of the bargain.
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