Daniel Robert Epstein: Page Hamilton of Helmet

He's got to be one of the most underrated musicians ever. Meantime was such a great album. I had the good fortune to see them twice last year, they're still as brutal as when they first appeared. Even if he does look a bit like an my ex girlfriend's dad!

I'd have been interested to see what he would have done with Mastodon.

Meantime is a great album - Betty is about 1/2 good and 1/2 shite. Since then it has just been going downhill. I haven't heard the newest album, but on their last one I thought it sounded like a really bad Helmet cover band. It's time to quit when you become a mockery of yourself.
On the other hand, I've always found Hamilton to be an interesting person in interviews; perhaps a bit self-deluded, but he has a unique perspective.
I can still remember when Helmet was supposed to be the next big thing, with a fat contract from Interscope after a bidding war over who they would sign with.

Actually after listening to samples of the first 6 tracks on Amazon, I can now see that all he's doing is ripping riffs off Black Sabbath and Pantera and the old "good" Helmet. The downward trend continues...

i love me some Helmet. that's all i have to say

Rock!

But that new single "Gone" is uh....I dunno. He's singing it weird. But, i'll still buy the album.

I'm not too happy about the vocals at all.

They sound really nasal. I love the delivery on Betty, a weird cross between deadpan and an incredible sense of rage. It was a really great dynamic. The deadpan over the wall of guitars on tracks like Overrated sounds inexplicably emotional and intense and I Know sounds like one of the most uncontrived "angry" vocal parts of heard, almost manic.

I have to say I fucking love Betty, and wish they'd taken those ideas and ran with them. There is no other record that sounds like it, it's a total one off. And that is a near impossible achievement for a group of musicians, and I do mean group. Stanier's drumming on that record is one of the great rock performances, Page's frankly surreal lyrics and vocal delivery is "Helmet" and Henry's loose bass playing adds up to my favorite rock record - Well it's a first place tie with Killjoy by Shihad. - . Plus the production is fantastic. the loudest kick drum ever recorded vs the highest pitched snare!!!

Aftertaste was really great as a "back basics" record, but I just love Stanier's playing so much I found Size Matters impossible to listen to after a while. No one, but no one can play a snare fill like Stanier.

Fingers cross for Monochrome, and toes.

I think Page Hamilton should be recognized as one of the most influential musicians of our generation. I have no issues with comparing his talent to musicians like Maynard, Mike Patton, Dimebag, and Les Claypool. He is amazing.

I've loved helmet since there second albulm and have seen em more times than I can count including there tour last year and the Warped tour this year. So many of the bands from the 90's have faded away, I think Helmet's ability to stay just enough above the radar without become some trendy one hit wonder band has helped them maintain a long time dedicated following. Yall also gave the older guys at the Warped tour a band that was for us. As the WT changes with the trends and has become less pop-punk orientated and more of that scremo shit, a band that's never quite fit in or out of a trends is a breath of fresh air. If your read this, Page, thanks, keep up the good work.
Mike

I guess this article is a little dated, but WTF, I'm going to write a comment anyway.

One of my skateboard buddies introduced me to Helmet when I was twelve. Unsung was huge at that time. I continued to buy Helmet records throughout my teen years and I saw them for the last time as what I considered the original lineup in '96. I ate mescaline and the Melvins opened. It was amazing. Then nothing, for 8 years.

In 2004, I saw them in Philly shortly after I moved here. John Tempesta from White/Rob Zombie was playing the old and new on a Tama Starclassic, which I have a heavy bias for. It was a great show.

I got the opportunity to bullshit with them after the show and they are just a bunch of regular dudes.

Helmet reminds me of a simpler time in my life, before working a full-time job and paying fucking taxes.

Monochrome is pretty shitty though, I must say.

Ah, Helmet... takes me back...
*buys Monochrome*