It is safe to say that the Pacific Northwest is known for many types of music, but metal is not necessarily at the top of the list of genres when folks think of Oregon and Washington (sorry Idaho, but no one can name the last great band to come from you – [editor’s note: Built To Spill]).
Seattle’s Helms Alee is one such band, and they are doing their best to forge a name for themselves in the Northwest’s metal community. Their third album is entitled Sleepwalking Sailors and at first glance you might be inclined to listen to it just because of how cool the album cover is. It has what many would call an ‘under-produced’ sound that adds to these guys’ underground metal vibe. But it does work with their sound. In fact, it is a big part of what makes up their sound.
Sleepwalking Sailors opens with the pummeling “Pleasure Center” and then proceeds into the crunchy guitar riff-driven “Tumescence”, which features dual vocals by lead singer/guitarist Ben Verellen and bassist/vocalist Dana James. Other standout tracks are “Dangling Modifiers” with its memorable and bouncy opening guitar riff and “Slow Beef” with its lengthy instrumental opening.
Helms Alee fits in nicely with the likes of Mastodon, The Sword, Red Fang and Baroness. So if you enjoy those bands then you’re sure to find something to like with these guys. Overall, Sleepwalking Sailors isn’t overly memorable but it remains easy to see what they were going for, which is a sludgy romp into the belly of the beast (shown on the album cover).
Helms Alee – Dangling Modifiers
