Unsung: The Best Of Helmet (1991-1997) CD

This is a Hyper CD, which contains regular audio tracks and also provides a link to the artist's website with the help of a web browser.

Recorded between 1991 & 1997. Includes liner notes by Jason Pettigrew.

If you were to trace the branches of alternative metal down to its trunk, you would find the name Helmet carved deep into its timber. It's only slightly ironic that the kings-to-be of this ferocious sub-genre came in the shape of four clean-cut guys, led by classically trained guitarist/vocalist Page Hamilton. Following the footsteps of bands like Big Black and Killing Joke, Helmet stripped down its songs to their core, eliminating all frills and theatrics. In the early 1990s, while the Northwest began brewing grunge, Helmet assaulted the Northeast with primal reductionist rock.

UNSUNG collects the essentials from the influential New York City quartet's career in chronological order, beginning with its aggro-rock debut, STRAP IT ON, and continuing through to '97's bass-driven, jazz/metal outing, AFTERTASTE. Helmet's landmark release, MEANTIME, and its follow-up, BETTY, are equally represented and generally regarded as band's most solid material. As a bonus, "Just Another Victim," the band's collaboration with House of Pain for the JUDGMENT NIGHT soundtrack makes an appearance, as well as "Disagreeable" from the '96 film FEELING MINNESOTA.

21 Tracks From Their 4 Albums + 2 Soundtrack Cuts.

Helmet: Page Hamilton (vocals, guitar); Peter Mengede, Rob Echeverria (guitar); Henry Bogdan (bass); John Stanier (drums).

Producers include: Helmet, House Of Pain, T-Ray, Wharton Tiers, D. Sardy.

Compilation producers: Helmet, Lee Lodyga, Mike Ragogna.

Personnel: Page Hamilton (vocals, guitar); Rob Echeverria, Peter Mengede (guitar); John Stanier (drums).

Audio Mixers: DJ Lethal; Andy Wallace; Terry Date; Wharton Tiers; Jason Roberts .

Liner Note Author: Jason Pettigrew.

Photographers: Abigayle Tarsches; Chris Cuffaro; Kevin Estrada; Jesse Peretz; Danny Clinch.

Additional personnel: House Of Pain.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.Entertainment Weekly (3/5/04, p.68) - "Without this underground metal-punk quartet, we wouldn't have the subterranean guitar chunk and drum thunder of nu-metal superstars like Linkin Park." - Rating: A-