Helmet

Helmet: Seeing Eye DogSeeing Eye Dog (2010)
Work Song

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

Contributed by: thepopeofchili-townthepopeofchili-town
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on February 1st 2011Things looked promising when Page Hamilton attempted to resurrect Helmet as a supergroup of sorts in 2004 with members of Anthrax and White Zombie, but the results were underwhelming. Of their comeback album Size Matters, the single "See You Dead" was the only real standout. The group's next effort,.

Things looked promising when Page Hamilton attempted to resurrect Helmet as a supergroup of sorts in 2004 with members of Anthrax and White Zombie, but the results were underwhelming. Of their comeback album Size Matters, the single "See You Dead" was the only real standout. The group's next effort, 2006's Monochrome, was an improvement, but it still failed to capture the magic of the Meantime/Betty golden years (1992-1994). They still might not be quite at that level yet, but Seeing Eye Dog is closer than they've been in a long, long time.

Hamilton's voice isn't what it once was, but at least he's trying. "LA Water" could be the catchiest song the band's written in over a decade. Even when he's singing in his "rough" voice, Hamilton manages to craft huge vocal hooks-the chorus of the title track, for example. Helmet is and always has been an extremely poppy band underneath all the distortion.

For the most part, this is classic Helmet, but there are a few curveballs. "And Your Bird Can Sing" sounds like it could be a lost Thin Lizzy B-side, and "Morphing" is a weird, ambient, experimental noise piece not a million miles away from the weird ambient, experimental noise pieces on Paint It Black's New Lexicon.

Every record Helmet has released since their "reunion" more than half a decade ago has been better than the last, and this is another step in the right direction. While maybe not the best introduction to the band, if you're already on the Helmet train, you'd do well to give Seeing Eye Dog a spin.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

tenwestchaser (February 4, 2011)

I love Aftertaste, too. My favorite Helmet album. Certainly the most solid from front to back. Betty is spotty and I'm not a fan of Hamilton's "screaming" voice which hinders parts of Meantime as well. That said, still really like all 3. Also, haven't heard much being said here about Strap It On.

Chadreligion (February 1, 2011)

Just gave it another listen, and I still don't like it. In fact, I the only keepers for me were "In Person" and "Welcome to Algiers". It almost doesn't even sound like a Helmet record. That said, I think Hamilton could have just released this as a solo effort or entirely different band, and would have been more acceptable.
IN THE MEANTIME, I'm gonna go listen to the b-sides between Betty and Aftertaste. And in case you haven't, try and find their cover of Sabbath's "Lord Of This World".
Decent review though.

Chadreligion (February 1, 2011)

I've been a Helmet fan for years, seen them a few times back in the nineties with Primus, Melvins, Nine Inch Nails, etc... anf were always great live, as were their records, including aftertaste. However, I feel the exact opposite.... I think since their reunion, the records have gotten progressively worse, and kind of generic, despite Hamilton being such an accomplished guitarist, I did only listen to it once, but I guess I'll give it another spin.
Betty was always my favorite record, and their best song, to me, will always be Milquetoast.

overdefined (February 1, 2011)

I agree with Scott. Aftertaste is a great record and my favorite of theirs.

Thepopeofchili-town (February 1, 2011)

I realized that right after I submitted this. I feel dumb. I still think their version sounds like Thin Lizzy, though.

stephenpercent (February 1, 2011)

"And Your Bird Can Sing" shouldn't sound like Thin Lizzy. It should sound like the Beatles... because it is.

Maverick (February 1, 2011)

Worst cover art and layout of 2010.

The music itself is pretty solid, though.

In related news, "Aftertaste" is a super-underrated record that deserves more love.

-Scott