The Wholly Other – Tracklisting
1. Hippie On A Slab 07:12
2.Two Masters 05:05
3.Death Station Of The Goddess 10:03
4.One Way Trip 05:02
5.Pink Bolt 10:27
6.Teetering On The Edge 04:03
Members
Beck Harvey: Bass/Vocals
Stuart Gray: Guitar/Vocals
Davey Mulka: Guitar Vocals
Diogo Gomez: Drums
Review
Black Helium return with their new album The Wholly Other which follows their blistering debut album Primitive Fuck back in 2018. The band impressed me with their crazy and unique free-form style of wild sounding Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, Noise Rock and Doomed Out Theatrics which was quite original in places. Well, the band return with a more focused, demented and heavier new offering that’s vastly different to their debut album.
Opening song – Hippie On A Slab – offers a Psychedelic and Hallucinogenic nightmare of Psych Rock, Doom Metal and Stoner Rock with a gloomy Noise Rock focus that allows the band to fully get into their stride at the earliest opportunity. This song reminds me of Japanese Avant-Garde Legends BORIS with their crazed style of music embracing many different styles of music. Black Helium offer a similar style of music here with frantic guitars, intense drumming and superb vocals that all make a for a wickedly entertaining dark ride.
Second song – Two Masters – opens with an eerie 60's sounding style of music before moving right on into the 70's with another slice of hap-hazard style of Psychedelic Rock that airs on the right caution of Doom/Stoner Rock with Black Helium adding a grizzled Heavy Metal attitude to this song. The dual vocals are excellent offering a more layered approach but the music is what impresses the most with Black Helium not only throwing the rulebook out of the window but re-writing at the same time.
Third song – Death Station Of The Goddess – starts with vocals that wouldn’t go amiss from the legendary “Madchester” scene. You’ll know when you hear it. Slow based chants and riffs soon take a step back in time with a 1960’s sounding atmosphere that allows Black Helium much needed time and space to change the whole tone and direction of this song. It’s very cool to hear as the band build up to a fine heavy rhythm where all hell breaks loose with heavy Psychedelic Rock riffs finally taking over. Though, it’s the journey and evolution of this song that make this perhaps the standout song on the album.
Three songs down and three to go with Black Helium going into even more crazed Psychedelic Rock territory with another 10 minute plus song to fry your fragile little minds with. Pink Bolt is another standout track on the album for Black Helium to change your musical perspective with sonic experimentation being layered against Heavy Doom/Stoner Rock with a slightly distorted approach that the band are absolute masters at.
The Wholly Other is a different sounding album to Primitive Fuck and it’s good to see Black Helium not afraid to try something new whilst remaining true to the spirit of their debut album. I think this is a much better album and I loved their debut record. This is a much braver, bolder, darker and daring album that puts Black Helium firmly on the map to becoming one of the best Psychedelic Rock bands the UK has to offer at the moment.
It’s good to see Black Helium continue their relationship with Riot Season Records who are releasing a string of great albums this year. Though, this is Black Helium’s show and it’s time for folks to get with the program and check out this great album and band out now...
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Black Helium for the promo. The Wholly Other will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Riot Season Records from July 24th 2020.
Links:
Facebook | BandCamp
