Browse by Artist: HELMS ALEE

Artist:	HELMS ALEE
Title:	Weatherhead
Label:	HYDRA HEAD
Format:	CD
Price:	$16.50
Catalog #:	HH666 216CD

"In the alternate reality, a band like Helms Alee reigns above all. Here, no one seeks to tame guitar squall to fit in a radio format or, inversely, needlessly dirty up a good hook to provide an air of authenticity. Here, Helms Alee's balance is the archetype-masterful and enthralling. Given the history of the last two decades and the deepening sense that melody and muscle compromise one another, Weatherhead becomes heroic. It's not just gallant in intent, but in sound. Granted, heroism is subjective; listeners are bound to have their own preferred reverberations to conjure an inspired rallying cry. But Helms Alee's gamut of timbres--from the most guttural blown-out roar to the most graceful lilting melody- -summon a sense of triumph, empowerment, and conquest. The relentless chugging fuzz and vocal harmonies of 'Elbow Grease', the concrete thrust of the central riff of '8/16', the thunderstruck arpeggio of 'Pretty As Pie', the siren song of 'Pig Pile', the unbridled scuzz of 'Ripper No Lube', and the alternating agit-punk and anthemic approach of the title track all reinforces Helms Alee's position as masters of diametrically opposed tactics."

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