HELIX - review added 17th December 2009
Album Review: Vagabond Bones (2009)
For fans of: Heavy Rock... and music stripped back to its rockin' roots
With 5 gold and 2 platinum albums already in the bag, Helix are one of the bigger bands you've possibly never heard of. They hail from Canada, have millions of worldwide record sales spread over more than 30 years, have several big videos and a checkered history worthy of any decent metal band.
Vagabond Bones is the band's 15th studio release and features a mostly original line-up including Brian Vollmer on lead vocals, Brent Doerner on guitar, Greg 'Fritz' Hinz on drums, and Daryl Gray on bass and keyboards. Bass player Sean Kelly helped with the material on the CD too, and it was mixed by engineer Aaron Murray.
The album is full of gritty, rough and ready music sitting somewhere between hard rock and heavy metal. There isn't a lot of refinement to the Helix sound, but if there was it wouldn't work anywhere near as well as it does. This is meaty man music for playing loud in fast cars, gnarly clubs and smoke-filled gentlemen's establishments. Vagabond Bones has plenty of depth but it's stripped of excess. This is music in it's purest, most unadulterated form. If it was any more back to basics it would hit you on the head with a spiked club.
Opening track 'The Animal Inside (Won't Be Denied)' is classic example of what this band does. It's almost simplistic, but it's also strangely contagious. It's not a song you listen to with an ear on its technical nuances, but in the right mood at the right time it's an awesome effort. Same goes for the aggressive take on AC/DC, 'Go Hard Or Go Home'. There are some great lyrics going on, and you can't help but have a smile on your face whilst listening.
The title track is one of the weaker entries for me, although it still has it's moments. 'Monday Morning Meltdown' is in a completely different league. It's one of the album's biggest songs and has a surprisingly chilled and catchy chorus. The amusingly titled 'Bitter's Got The Better Of You' is a fast paced track with more adrenaline than an excited cheetah. 'Hung Over But Still Hangin' In' is, as the title suggests...and following a theme across the album....another song about the perils of excess alcohol. It's back to basics, slightly theatrical, but cool.
'Best Mistake I Never Made' is almost like a rock take on a folk song. There are some definite country roots lurking in there, and again the lyrics are memorable. 'Make 'Em Dance' is a thumping track that's up there with the best on the album. There's a great party vibe to the song that makes you want to dance around like an agitated chimp. Final entry 'Jack It Up' should be sponsored by a certain drinks manufacturer. I refer you back to 'Hung Over But Still Hangin'!
Vagabond Bones is a good fun album. It isn't classically brilliant, but it does have oodles of charm. Helix have done well to be making music this good after 30-odd years. They sound like they've got lots of life left in them yet too!
Check out... All the booze references!
Track List:
1. The Animal Inside (Won't Be Denied)
2. Go Hard Or Go Home
3. Vagabond Bones
4. Monday Morning Meltdown
5. Bitter's Got The Better Of You
6. Hung Over But Still Hangin' In
7. Best Mistake I Never Made
8. Make 'Em Dance
9. Jack It Up
Artist's website(s): Helix , MySpace
