Release
date: September 02nd 2016. Label: Sargent House. Format:
CD/DD/Vinyl
Stillicide
– Tracklisting
1.More
Weight
2.Untoxicated
3.Tit
to Toe
4.Meats
and Milks
5.Stillicide
6.Galloping
Mind Fuk
7.Creeping
You Company
8.Dream
Long
9.Bullygoat
10.Andromenous
11.Worth
Your Wild
Band
Members:
Ben
Verellen
Dana
James
Hozoji
Matheson-margullis
Review:
After
giving Helms Alee new album Stillicide a couple of listens I realzied
that I couldn't find the appropriate way to describe the band. They
are heavy, but not heavy metal. The music is too well played and
recorded to be punk music. I'm sure there is a post- something tag
that I am no way near hip enough to know that could apply, then it
dawned on me, the way to best describe this record is good....really,
really good!
Helms
Alee is a trio from Seattle. Stillicide is their 4th full length. I
am a fan as I have their first two albums. I somehow slept on their
3rd, Sleepwalking Sailors (sorry!). Perhaps there is something about
that Pacific Northwest region that causes the musicians to blend so
many different styles together so seamlessly. If you break it down to
it's purest/simplest form Grunge music, was basically an amalgamation
of pop, punk, and heavy metal done with an indie mindset. Helms Alee
does a similar sort of thing. I don't want diminish anything on this
fine record, but I was reminded on multiple occasions of a heavier
version of Sonic Youth when listening to some of the songs. Which is
a good thing, I was a big Sonic Youth fan that was heartbroken when
the band broke up and honestly, I haven't the time, energy or money
to follow them on any of their post SY adventures. Helms Alee slides
into that empty void of pounding dissonance and relishes in it.
There
are so many elements to the band's music that you hear something new
on every listen, which to me, is a sign of a great band and a great
record. There are riffs aplenty, an interesting mix of male/female
vocal interplay, some huge driving drums and plenty of low end to
keep fans of any genre happy and listening on.
The
opening, instrumental track More Weight is interesting as it plays an
almost symphonic rock quality, that makes you double check that you
are on the right album, it works and quickly gives way to the
concise, pounding Untoxicated. One of the albums most stellar tracks
is Tit to Toe, one of the many tracks that mixes the often under
appreciated male/female vocal interplay that makes Helms stellar.
Meats and Milks stumbles in and melts your face and leads into the
bass riff of the title track. The band takes you on a ride with
Galloping Mind Fuk and leaves you unsettled on Creeping you Company.
Dream Long is another killer track. Bullygoat and Andromenous
continue to deliver with power and chiming dissonance before the
albums killer final track Worth your Wild, is truly that.
Stillicide
is a beautiful, brutal, multi layered experience that will bring you
back listen after listen. You can peel away layers like an onion and
hear sounds and influences time after time. Check this record out,
you will not be disappointed.
Words
by Todd Stealey
Thanks
to Rachel at Silver PR for the promo. Stillicide will be available to
buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Sargent House from September 2nd
2016.
