Meantime by Helmet (CD, Jun-1992, Interscope Records USA)

Thirty seven minutes. What can you do in thirty seven minutes? Helmet gives us a nonstop barrage of pure plodding rock. Unsung is a classic, whether people know it or not. I hear it played in bars from time to time, but a lot of people don't know the song. Regardless, it's a classic, and the entire album is worthy of being mainstream, but sadly it doesn't get the airplay that it should have. Classic rock stations will play something by them occasionally, but for the most part they are an acquired taste, but they should have been as popular as Alice In Chains or Godsmack.

Helmet were definitely ahead of their time for their groundbreaking guitar riffs and plodding rhythms. Or were they paving the way for other bands? Is it better to be a band that does something groundbreaking when it wasn't as cool, or is it better to be the best at something cool at a time when everybody already thinks it's cool. Moneywise, Helmet would have gotten a lot more out of life if they had come out now, when their style of music would be more popular. But at the same time, they'll be remembered for being the ones who did it first (by the ones who recognize that they were the ones who did it first). Which is better? Money and fame or being the ones who brought this style to mainstream? I'm sure they'd rather have fame and money, but a lot of fans appreciate the groundbreaking efforts that they have given us.

They are a band who didn't care about guitar solos very much, but were a band that cared more about plodding riffs and cool bridges. It's weird listening to this band because they do a lot of things that many band would never even try. They sometimes overdo their cool riffs to the point of being sickening, but after you listen to them for an extended period of time, you wouldn't want them to change a thing as far as the way song was written, you realize that the way it was written is unique and cool, even though maybe at first listen that they could've taken a different path.

That's what's cool about Helmet. They don't care what's come before them, or what'll come after them. They want to do their own thing, which is kind of revolutionary. They kind of sound like the Cult or Misfits (or Danzig, whichever you know better, same singer so who cares?) vocalwise, but their guitar sound is definitely Godsmack. If they came out today, people would say they ripped off Godsmack, but since they didn't make it to Godsmack's level commercially, nobody even notices. Cool riff after cool riff, that's what Helmet is about, even if their riffs sometimes get monotonous it just seems like that the song should be that way. And I wouldn't want them to change a thing. They are truly a unique band with an unusual and original way of doing things. Thirty seven minutes of pure plodding rock. Awesome!