Magnolia Thunderpussy

Reviews:

Heavy metallers from Pantera to System of a Down claim to have worshiped at the altar of Helmet's punishing, stop-start attack, but if this NYC noise rock machine really were one of the most influential metal bands of the last decade, how come no one sounds anything like them? Turns out, Helmet's greatest contribution to popular metal was simply their presentation. The introduction of a shorthaired, well-kempt group that could grab you by your flowing locks and proceed to kick your furry ass, might not seem too important now, but in a scene that equated brutality exclusively with BC Rich Warlocks, Helmet were a welcome anomaly.

No matter how white your hi-tops were in the early '90s, it was impossible to deny the rhythmic power of frontman Page Hamilton's riffs, or the airtight bottom of bassist Henry Bogdan and drummer John Stanier, which translated the atonal flailing of bands such as the Jesus Lizard and Cop Shoot Cop into precise, three-minute beatings. Too bad the folks behind Unsung: The Best of Helmet 1991-1997 weren't as progressive. Let's be clear: if you expect people to purchase a "greatest hits" collection these days, you'd better load it with DVD material or some rare goodies. Sadly, Interscope simply culls 19 tracks from the band's four studio LPs, including only the "Just Another Victim" collaboration with House of Pain and "Disagreeable," a B-side from 1997's disappointing swansong Aftertaste, as "rare material." In light of Helmet's recent reformation, Unsung just reeks of a label cash-in. The band's impending new LP may be worthy, but-ahem-in the meantime, just stick with the studio records.