Left (Helmet album)

Last updated

Left
Helmet - Left.png
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 10, 2023 (2023-11-10)
Recorded2023
Genre Alternative metal
Length31:14
Label earMUSIC
Producer
Helmet chronology
Live and Rare
(2021)
Left
(2023)
Singles from Left
  1. "Holiday"
    Released: August 23, 2023 [1]
  2. "Gun Fluf"
    Released: September 20, 2023 [2]
  3. "Big Shot"
    Released: October 18, 2023 [3]

Left is the ninth studio album by the American alternative metal band Helmet, released on November 10, 2023, through earMUSIC. [4] It is the band's first studio album in seven years, since Dead to the World (2016), the longest gap between albums to date.

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Distorted Sound8/10 [5]
Kerrang! 2/5 [6]
Louder Than War Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Metal.de 6/10 [8]
Metal Hammer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Metal Storm 4.5/10 [10]
Rock Hard 8/10 [11]

Metal Hammer 's Stephen Hill wrote "Helmet are still capable of harnessing all the elements that made them such a brilliantly idiosyncratic band three decades ago. Left contains some of the year’s most instantaneous, memorable, propulsive yet deceptively complex riffs that serve as a base for everything from wild noise freakouts to some truly unexpected vocal hooks." [9]

Distorted Sound writer Gavin Brown wrote that, "With their line-up stable for over a decade, and their ever-present vocalist/guitarist Page Hamilton sounding as good as ever, the band still have those riffs ever present on Left and the grooves are just as irresistible today as they have been all through the band’s history." [5]

Track listing

All songs are written by Page Hamilton and Kyle Stevenson, except where noted. [12]

Left track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Holiday" 3:22
2."Gun Fluf" 3:29
3."NYC Tough Guy" 2:34
4."Make-Up" 2:48
5."Big Shot" 2:43
6."Bombastic" 3:11
7."Reprise" 1:41
8."Dislocated" 3:19
9."Tell Me Again"Page Hamilton2:43
10."Powder Puff" 3:41
11."Resolution" (John Coltrane cover)John Coltrane1:43
Total length:31:14

Personnel

Personnel per liner notes. [12]

Helmet

Additional musicians

Technical

Visuals

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slayer</span> American thrash metal band

Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style made them one of the "big four" bands of thrash metal, alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Slayer's current lineup consists of King, Araya, drummer Paul Bostaph and guitarist Gary Holt, who initially joined as a touring member in 2011 before joining the band permanently after Hanneman's death in 2013. Drummer Jon Dette was also a member of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helmet (band)</span> American alternative metal band

Helmet is an American alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989 by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton. Helmet has had numerous lineup changes with Hamilton as the only constant member. Since 2010, the band has consisted of Hamilton, drummer Kyle Stevenson, guitarist Dan Beeman and bassist Dave Case.

<i>Meantime</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Helmet

Meantime is the second studio album and major label debut by American alternative metal band Helmet. It was released on June 23, 1992, through Interscope Records.

<i>Betty</i> (Helmet album) 1994 studio album by Helmet

Betty is the third studio album by American alternative metal band Helmet, released in 1994 by Interscope Records. It is Helmet's highest charting album in the US.

<i>Aftertaste</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Helmet

Aftertaste is the fourth studio album by American alternative metal band Helmet, released in 1997 on Interscope. It was the band's final album with original members John Stanier (drums) and Henry Bogdan (bass). Guitarist Rob Echeverria, who appeared on Helmet's previous outing, Betty, left the group to join Biohazard. Subsequently, the album was recorded as a three-piece, with Page Hamilton covering all the guitar parts. Guitarist Chris Traynor came on board for the supporting tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morbid Angel</span> American death metal band

Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida, formed in 1983 by guitarist, primary composer and sole remaining original member Trey Azagthoth, vocalist and bassist Dallas Ward, and drummer Mike Browning. Widely considered one of the most influential bands in the genre and important in the transition of death metal from its thrash metal roots, they were one of the first bands to incorporate guttural vocals, up-tempo blast beats, multiple tempo changes and a dark atmosphere. They have been described as one of "the most influential and emulated bands in death metal", alongside Obituary, Death, Cynic, Autopsy and Deicide, and have been cited as an influence by many later bands. They were also the first death metal band to experience mainstream success in connection with being signed to Giant Records in 1992, heavy rotation of their music videos on MTV, and having the music video for the song "God of Emptiness" shown on an episode of Beavis and Butt-Head. Their first three albums – Altars of Madness (1989), Blessed Are the Sick (1991), and Covenant (1993) – are considered classics in the death metal genre.

<i>Strap It On</i> 1990 studio album by Helmet

Strap It On is the debut album by American alternative metal band Helmet. It was first released in October 1990 through Amphetamine Reptile Records, and later reissued through Interscope Records in January 1993.

<i>Size Matters</i> 2004 studio album by Helmet

Size Matters is the fifth album by the American alternative metal band Helmet, released in 2004 on Interscope Records. It is the first new album since the band ended with a bitter break-up in 1998, and it is also their final album to be released through Interscope.

<i>Monochrome</i> (Helmet album) 2006 studio album by Helmet

Monochrome is the sixth album by the American alternative metal band Helmet, released in 2006 through Warcon. It is the third Helmet album in a row to be recorded as a three-piece, with new drummer Mike Jost joining veterans Page Hamilton and Chris Traynor. Bassist Jeremy Chatelain, who replaced Frank Bello on the Size Matters tour, rejoined the band for the 2006 Warped Tour in support of Monochrome. The album received a mixed reception upon release.

<i>Metal</i> (Annihilator album) 2007 studio album by Annihilator

Metal is the twelfth album by Canadian heavy metal band Annihilator, released on April 16, 2007, by SPV/Steamhammer. However, it wasn't released in the United States until January 15, 2008. The album includes several special guests who each contribute to separate tracks. This includes Danko Jones, Angela Gossow, Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Alexi Laiho, Anders Björler, Michael Amott, Jesper Strömblad, Corey Beaulieu, Jacob Lynam and William Adler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warning (British band)</span> British doom metal band

Warning was a British doom metal band from Harlow, Essex. Founded in 1994 by vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Patrick Walker, the band released two albums and is regarded as highly influential on the doom metal sound.

<i>Dead to the World</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Helmet

Dead to the World is the eighth studio album by the American alternative metal band Helmet, released on October 28, 2016. It is the band's first studio album since Seeing Eye Dog (2010), as well as their first release on earMUSIC and their first one with bassist Dave Case.

<i>Madness</i> (All That Remains album) 2017 studio album by All That Remains

Madness is the eighth studio album by American metal band All That Remains. It was released on April 28, 2017, on Razor & Tie Records. Madness is the first studio album produced by Howard Benson, as well as the first album to feature bassist Aaron Patrick. While this is the band's next-to-last album with guitarist Oli Herbert, it is also their last album to be released in his lifetime.

<i>Franckensteina Strataemontanus</i> 2020 studio album by Carach Angren

Franckensteina Strataemontanus is the sixth studio album by Dutch symphonic black metal band Carach Angren. Released on 26 June 2020 through Season of Mist, it is a concept album inspired by the life of late 17th-century/early 18th-century German occultist Johann Konrad Dippel, whose controversial experiments with corpses allegedly inspired Mary Shelley's influential 1818 Gothic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus; its title is a reference to a Latin epithet adopted by Dippel later in life. It is also their final release with long-time drummer and founding member Ivo "Namtar" Wijers, who left the band as soon as the recording sessions ended citing "dissatisfactions with the music industry".

<i>The Long Road North</i> 2022 studio album by Cult of Luna

The Long Road North is the eighth studio album by Swedish post-metal band Cult of Luna. The album was released on 11 February 2022 through Metal Blade Records. It peaked at No. 14 on the German albums chart.

<i>Judgement Day</i> (Lovebites album) 2023 studio album by Lovebites

Judgement Day is the fourth studio album by Japanese power metal band Lovebites. It was released in Japan on February 22, 2023, by Victor Entertainment, and in the United Kingdom two days later by JPU Records. It is the band's first release with Fami, who joined in October 2022 as the replacement for bassist and co-founder Miho. Judgement Day reached number 5 on both the Oricon and Billboard Japan charts, making it the band's highest-charting record to date.

<i>The Surface</i> (album) 2023 studio album by Beartooth

The Surface is the fifth studio album by American rock band Beartooth. The album was released on October 13, 2023, through Red Bull Records and was produced by Caleb Shomo.

<i>Charcoal Grace</i> 2024 studio album by Caligulas Horse

Charcoal Grace is the sixth studio album by Australian progressive metal band Caligula's Horse. It was released on 26 January 2024 through Inside Out Music and was produced by Sam Vallen, the band's guitarist.

<i>The Catalyst</i> (album) 2024 studio album by Amaranthe

The Catalyst is the seventh studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Amaranthe. The album was released on 23 February 2024 through Nuclear Blast and was produced by Jacob Hansen. It is the first album to feature Mikael Sehlin on harsh vocals.

References

  1. "Helmet: Helmet Releases 'Holiday' Single From Upcoming Left Album". Blabbermouth.net . August 23, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  2. Blabbermouth (September 20, 2023). "Helmet Releases 'Gun Fluf' Single From Upcoming 'Left' Album". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  3. Stickler, Jon (October 18, 2023). "Helmet Release New Single Big Shot". Stereoboard. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  4. "Helmet To Release First Album In Seven Years, Left, In November". Blabbermouth.net . July 10, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Album Review: Left – Helmet". Distorted Sound. November 13, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  6. Thomas, Olly (November 6, 2023). "Album review: Helmet – Left". Kerrang! . Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  7. Carey, Wayne (November 5, 2023). "Helmet: Left - Album Review". Louder Than War . Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  8. Di Iorio, Oliver (November 3, 2023). "Helmet - Left Review". metal.de . Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Forget Rage Against The Machine and Faith No More: Helmet are nu metal's unsung architects and Left is the best record they've done in nearly 20 years". Metal Hammer . November 9, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  10. omne metallum (December 3, 2023). "Helmet - Left review". Metal Storm . Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  11. "Left". Rock Hard (Vol. 437) (in German). October 21, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.(subscription required)
  12. 1 2 Helmet (2023). Left (booklet). earMUSIC. 0219035EMU.