Though some diehard fans would scoff at the present-day, ever-rotating lineup known as Helmet, the veterans made like a G ‘N R reunion tour and inspired droves to flock into the Double Door last night (July 24) in support of their highbrow headbangery.
Always one to be praised for careening through strident, staccato guitar exchanges whilst still cookie-monstering actual lyrical wit, Page Hamilton was visibly wowing himself with tunes pulled from the band’s 19-year catalog, as bandmates literally never missed a note; rockery that equally pleased the mostly 30-year-old dudes blessed with a chance to relive times of metal’s recent past.
Tales about mastering ones angst (“Ironhead”) and deteriorating envy (“Blacktop”) from the group’s first two LPs invoked mass hair-whips, with fans in the front row clutching the stage like a bench-press, pumping out emotions with every furious rhythmic syncopation.
Hamilton closed the evening with a joke: “It starts off in 5/4. Is that confusing?” asked the brain of the New York outfit before capping with their monster one-time single “In The Meantime,” pausing with a smirk before readdressing the crowd’s “hell no,” by responding, “Good, ’cause we’re math rock.”
Tags: Helmet