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Rating: That Helmet are unanimously recognized as one of the most restless, interesting, thunderous, and appreciated entities extracted from the corrosive, noisy, and decidedly unaligned (noise)rock of the stars and stripes is beyond doubt; the significant initial pair of works published at the beginning of the last decade of the last century, and in particular the unsettling, intense, stratospheric debut (Strap It On - 1990), are there undeniably to remind us and, should someone have missed it at the time, still tangibly testify to it.
That Page Hamilton, after having contributed responsibly to knocking down the cracked if not perilous "Helmet-house" (the insipid “Aftertaste” '97) and two years ago attempting to stand back up the now worn, battered, and piled boards, in light of the present sixth full studio work represents the only remaining relic and solitary guardian of that epochal formation, is not objectively great news.
That through this (given the mediocre reunion predecessor) not-so-awaited Monochromatic-publication, defined by Monsieur Hamilton himself as a (complicated) “return to basics”, it does not call to itself, as might have been expected and perhaps would have been appropriate but not necessarily conclusive, the members of the original noise-crushing band, but only the person who handled the recording sessions, namely the responsible for the “Helmet-sound” (such Mr. Wharton Tiers) of the initial and qualitatively finest outings, leaves us further moderately doubtful.
That the beginning deceives and unexpectedly overwhelms, by virtue of a hopeful, abrasive, squared (nostalgic?) as well as successful second track (“Brand New”) literally vitriolic (it could be an outtake from the debut) but that concurrently and substantially disappoints widely in a good part of the laborious, at times disheartened, listening experience [among frankly embarrassing vocals of a sterilized title-track or the bloated “Almost Out of Sight” (indecent even if they were penned by any Dave Grohl..)] is frankly unacceptable if not concretely masochistic. Energetic shards like "410", "Swallowing Everything", or the concluding "Goodbye", to be counted among the most “joyful” (or least empty: up to you) moments, almost seem like b-sides (perhaps c-sides?) sneaked from the third and fluctuating (though fully well above the decency threshold) “Betty” (’94): it seems like witnessing a sort of not particularly exciting (and not very credible) noise-rock revival, made of sound as sharp as it is agile, “muscular”, at times positively tense, but too often lacking that essential intensity, that fundamental sound-reactionary drive, that necessary, vital, virulence that should substantively embody a work worthy of the transcendental moniker as prominently displayed on the cover.
What the heck.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Brand New (04:11)
They're shaking hands with the unemployed
Can't talk to her, but I keep on trying
All palms up, lift that weight
Gotta get out tonight
Look great, feel great
Lord, I need somebody just like you
Somebody I can talk to
Somebody just like you
03 Bury Me (04:31)
Bury me alive and pretend I'm awake
Like you lost me out somewhere in the highway
I thought you were decent
Everything was easy
Every single word was true
I left all them all
I believe I was right
I might start thinking too much,
When I rather deny it
I thought you were decent
Everything was easy
Every single word was true
I'm alright
I'm alright now
04 Monochrome (03:50)
I CAN FILL IN YOUR BLANKS HERE
JUST LIKE READING YOUR MIND
EVERYBODY'S GOT OPINIONS
WELL I KNOW I'VE GOT MINE
WE'RE RUNNING IN PLACE, AIN'T YOU TIRED?
JUST MAKE UP YOUR MIND THERE
WE'RE ONLY RUNNING IN PLACE
HEY, ARE YOU TIRED?
I KNOW YOU DON'T DRSERVE IT
YOU NEEDED SOMEONE TO LOVE
ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEBODY TO LOVE
WE'RE RUNNING IN PLACE, AIN'T YOU TIRED?
JUST MAKE UP YOUR MIND THERE
WE'RE ONLY RUNNING IN PLACE
HEY, ARE YOU TIRED?
WILL YOU DISAPPEAR WHEN THE WORLD IS HERE?
WILL YOU RUN FOR COVER
HAVE YOU TAKEN AIM, DOUND SOMEONE TO BLAME?
DOES IT MAKE IT FEEL BETTER?
YOU'RE ALRIGHT NOW, YOU'RE BETTER
WHATEVER
WE'RE RUNNING IN PLACE, AIN'T YOU TIRED?
JUST MAKE UP YOUR MIND THERE
WE'RE ONLY RUNNING IN PLACE
HEY, ARE YOU TIRED?
YOU'RE MY MONOCHROME
YES, MY MONOCHROME
05 On Your Way Down (04:16)
You have worked your way up to the top
Thought that you would make the whole world stop
Up to Venus, Mars and Jupiter
Bet your feet don't even touch the Earth
On your way
On your way down
On your way
You're on your way down
Stumbling drunk now with authority
You've taken all that you can take from me
On your way
On your way down
On your way
You're on your way down
Are you lying to yourself?
There's no right or wrong
No heaven and no hell
Now you're losing all your friends
To surround yourself with
All those dull "yes" men
On your way
On your way down
You're on your way
On your way down
You're on your way
11 Goodbye (05:32)
It can't be hard to find a way to make your mark
Just light yourself on fire,
I'll sound a smoke alarm
Still life will pass you by
You're gone without a trace
Might slow down just enough
To spit right in your face
Goodbye and so long
Goodbye
Now it's time to say goodbye
It might be time to say goodbye
That's entertainment son
You know your death aint news
We love an accident
Well I'd love to know it's you
I spent three dollars on
These non-stick garden gloves
So I could bury you without blistering
Goodbye, so long
Goodbye
Now it's time to say goodbye
They don't miss you at all
They think you're an asshole
Goodbye, so long
Goodbye
Now it's time to say goodbye
Might be time to say goodbye
Now it's time to say
Goodbye
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