Monochrome

[eht13]

Go away, troll.

[Biscuits_for_Aftertaste]

I just saw helmet in calgary and they are the worst band i have ever seen
every song sounds the same and the tone they had on their guitars were terrible.
if someone ever said ''wanna go see helmet'' i would say yes just so i could throw food at them and tell them never to play there instruments again

I wish someone would take your keyboard so you could never post again.

[eht13]

I wish someone would take your keyboard so you could never post again.

... and maybe while they were at it they could smack him in the head with it. : )

[knightsy]

I actually liked Size Matters.

I used to champion Helmet to whoever was in earshot.

Played the main riff from Meantime whenever there was a guitar and amp handy.

But this new album has left me stunned. It is without a shred of a doubt Page's "Saint Anger".

I mean listen to the Ghandi demo of "Money Shot" against the new version and tell me which one sounds better.

Monochrome: sloppy playing, bad production, bad recording and bad mixes. As for mastering.... well Size Matters was smashed to within -7.5dB and still managed to rock, so mastering ain't the problem.

I dunno what to say.... I am dismayed. Sorry Page.

[El Pastuso]

But this new album has left me stunned. It is without a shred of a doubt Page's "Saint Anger".

I mean listen to the Ghandi demo of "Money Shot" against the new version and tell me which one sounds better.

Monochrome: sloppy playing, bad production, bad recording and bad mixes. As for mastering.... well Size Matters was smashed to within -7.5dB and still managed to rock, so mastering ain't the problem.

I dunno what to say.... I am dismayed. Sorry Page.

Yeah, I liked Size Matters too, most of it anyway. Just happy Helmet had a new album out, which meant a tour and another chance to see them live be it in a different line-up.

But Monchrome... I couldnt agree more with knightsy. I really did my best to like it, gave it enough time, but it is just the worst record under the name of Helmet. I even thought that this was done as a joke, a statement or something. But everyone is too damn serious about it for that.

Let's just forget about Monochrome, about it's poor recording, it's poor mix, about the boring tunes, about the flat lyrics, about the riffs that appear to have been copied here and there from earlier material (which would be okay, if done right), let's just forget about it.

And hope that the next one (because there HAS to be a next one) is much much better, or at least very different than this.

[eht13]

Let's just forget about Monochrome

Not all of us think it's forgettable. I, and others here I think, liked it better than Size Matters. It may not be as good as the original line-up albums, but it's still pretty damn good anyway... I actually think it gives Aftertaste a run for its money (not production-wise, but overall).

[Grayman]

Helmet is the name of Page Hamilton's music.

What he puts forth is what you get, take it or leave it.

I think the title track could be interpreted as Page's response to Helmet fans stuck in the past and feedback like: "it's not the same Helmet".

Loosen up, let it expand, see what's there.

Try listening to the solo's on the album again, they're fucking awesome.

[markofcain]

ive expanded until ive nearly fucking burst, and im sorry to say that there isnt a great deal there. not that it is a stinker of an album, compared to what new music is out there at the moment its an opus, but it just isnt the same. i think the expansion was there with ghandi, but as soon as those songs were converted to helmet, that expansion shrunk.

[lamb_of_gods]

i think the expansion was there with ghandi, but as soon as those songs were converted to helmet, that expansion shrunk.

Helmet 2.0 should have kept the name ghandi and signed to a smaller label like Warcon in the first place.

[markofcain]

amen lamb....

[ghandi_metal]

I just wish Page never kept the name Helmet. I mean, he's such a talented musician that even if he went in a different direction, he'd still make cool albums that people would buy. But keeping the Helmet name and trying to make records that sound like Helmet is tarnishing the name badly.
I think that there was hope Size Matters, but with Monochrome, its all over. I think I've listened to it about 10 times and I don't know how many times I will again. I agree with much of the criticism a few posters have already written, so I dont need to repeat it other than that the problems with the new album are many and far reaching - song structure, lyrics, vocal sound, mix, mastering, cohesiveness, etc...
Page is still one of my musical idols and I'll probably continue to check out anything he releases, and the 1st 3 Helmet records will undoubtably be the most creative, thoughtful hard rock/emo/metal/whatever ever to grace magnetic tape, compact disc, or vinyl...but, at this point Helmet has become like the Brett Farve of the alternative music world...please hang up the cleats.
I'm sure there are a whole new generation of Helmet fans out there and Helmet was Page's from the beginning as he's said in the past so he can keep the name and put out music under it forever...but I just think a new band with new name would have made us long-time die-hards appreciate his music even more.
Helmet is playing tonight in Chicago, and 5-10 years ago I would have had tickets 2 months ago. But I dont think I'll be there tonight. I was in a Helmet cover band in college and I bet the show tonight will feel a bit like watching a Helmet cover band.

[nataskaos]

But I dont think I'll be there tonight. I was in a Helmet cover band in college and I bet the show tonight will feel a bit like watching a Helmet cover band.

Then you sir, are missing out.
when I saw them thursday night, they sounded as good or better than I had ever heard them before. And I have seen them in pretty much every incarnation.

go see the show and tell me that Kyle doesn't fill Stanier's shoes perfectly. Plus, and I have heard this from everyone that has seen Helmet thus far this year, Page is happier than he's been in a while. That makes for a great show.

don't cheat yourself by not going.

[couch X slouch]

You know, that's what I thought too but the new guys are great and the songs off of Monochrome sound absolutely punishing live. There is no bad production in a live setting and the new drummer is a heavy hitter and WAY better than Jost (who played on Monochrome).

I actually like Monochrome a lot despite the not-so-great production. I listen to the SONGS, not the way they're recorded. Sure there are a few songs I'm not crazy about but that also goes for EVERY helmet record.

[markofcain]

amen to that...these guys have gelled really well....

[21st Century Jesus]

if i take a very negative version of my opinion on monochrome, then I have to say that half of the songs suck. even then I still find the other half as great as the 5 best songs on betty meantime or aftertaste. i dunno, to me theres just nothing specially bad about SM and mono