Helms Alee
Sleepwalking Sailors
Sargent House (2014)
Helms Alee’s Sleepwalking Sailors is a ferocious asteroid of post-hardcore, doom metal, and noise rock. The Seattle-based trio’s third album, released on Sargent House Records, hurls you through a deathly metal ocean, into the Earth’s burning core, and back out again; it’s Michael Bay making rock music.“Pleasure Center” puts the 11-song fireball into motion. Starting with synchronized guitars and drums, it spontaneously becomes a thunderstorm of bombastic, majestic energy, which lasts throughout the entire album. “Heavy Worm Burden” begins with a short, calm guitar intro, then launches into an awesome doom metal explosion, and ends with a Swans-like breakdown of drone and cymbal crashes.Guitarist Ben Verellen’s operatic singing style adds a real grandness to the album. Almost like a sludgy Freddie Mercury, his vocals are a rare find in modern underground metal. Along with Verellen, his harmonies with bassist Dana James are great, especially on “Dodge The Lightning” (I’d be damned if this wasn’t some reference to Metallica’s “Ride The Lightning”).Energy-wise, I know metal isn’t about having rests or breaks, but Sleepwalking Sailors is way too epic, with barely any breathing room; ironically, its constant power bored me a little bit.Also, I feel that Helms Alee really have the capability … Read more
Various Artists
Capitalist Kids/Tight Bros. - split 7"
Toxic Pop (2013)
If sweet and easy pop punk is your thing, this is the split for you. Capitalist Kids take Side A, … Read more
