[rating=3.00]
Though the landscape of rock music has changed drastically since Helmet’s founding in 1989, Helmet has never worried about what music is popular. With Seeing Eye Dog, Page Hamilton and company offer their most experimental set yet, but it is still undeniably Helmet.
Since their breakthrough in 1992, Helmet has always been too metal for the grunge fans and too grunge for the metal fans. Those turned off by that mix won’t be won over with this release, but existing fans should appreciate the new artistic direction.
All of the Helmet trademarks are there, from the ridiculously catchy power chord riffs to the pounding drums to the fuzzed-out open notes. However, Seeing Eye Dog has a new focus on melody; the choruses are catchier and the vocals are better. Hamilton’s monotone drone has long been the weak point of Helmet releases, but with this effort his voice is more eclectic and emotional.
“So Long,” the mosh-friendly opening track, features gravelly vocals. On the title track, Hamilton’s voice is an appropriately throaty growl. On tracks like the mid-tempo rock of “She’s Lost” and the high octane “Welcome to Algiers,” Hamilton’s singing – including his own backing vocals – is soft and melodic. On the self-released album, Hamilton felt freer to experiment and as a result, released the band’s best album since Meantime.
Hamilton’s improved singing aside, a Helmet album is all about rocking out. 21 years after their founding, Helmet still does dropped-D riffing better than anyone. Whether it’s the stomping bassline of “LA Water” or the start-stop dynamics of “Seeing Eye Dog,” Hamilton shows that Helmet can still bludgeon eardrums with the best of them.
