Helmet discography explained

Artist:Helmet
Studio:8
Live:2
Singles:16
Music Videos:14
Compilation:2

The discography of Helmet, a New York–based alternative metal band formed in 1989, consists of nine full-length studio albums, two compilation albums, 15 singles, and 14 music videos. This list does not include material performed by members or former members of Helmet that was recorded with Adair, Anthrax, Band of Susans, Biohazard, The Cult, Disturbing the Peace, Exodus, Norma Jean, Testament, Tomahawk and White Zombie.

Biography

Helmet appeared on the New York underground scene in 1989 after vocalist/guitarist Page Hamilton had left Band of Susans. They were spotted by Tom Hazelmyer and signed to his Amphetamine Reptile Records label, releasing their debut 7 inch single, "Born Annoying", later that year. The label then released their first album, Strap It On, in 1990. After touring in support of that album, Helmet signed to Interscope Records in 1991 and started recording their second album, Meantime, which was released a year later. Meantime was far more successful, peaking at number one on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and in 68th position on Billboard 200. The critically acclaimed album also provided their first ever charting single "Unsung", which remains one of Helmet's live staples the album has sold over 2 million copies worldwide, and later became the band's only album to achieve Gold status in the United States.[1]

After the release of Meantime, original guitarist Peter Mengede left Helmet on bad terms and was replaced by Rob Echeverria. The band returned to the studio with co-producer T-Ray in the fall of 1993, to record their third album. Betty, released in June 1994, earned the band its highest chart position, debuting at #45 on the Billboard 200 chart, with "Milquetoast", "Biscuits for Smut" and "Wilma's Rainbow" in particular becoming major rock radio hits at the time. Despite this, the album was not as successful as Meantime, and Echeverria soon left Helmet to join Biohazard. The band continued as a three-piece while recording their next album, Aftertaste, which was released in 1997. After recording was complete, guitarist Chris Traynor (formerly of Orange 9mm) was recruited for the supporting tour. Although "Exactly What You Wanted" became a moderate radio hit, the album spent only a few weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. In 1998, Helmet decided to break up after "9 years, 1600 shows" and 5 albums.

A long period of inactivity ended in early 2004 when Hamilton decided to resurrect Helmet, with a new lineup of John Tempesta on drums and Chris Traynor (guitarist on the Aftertaste tour) on bass. This lineup recorded the band's first post-reunion album Size Matters, which was released in September 2004. After recording was done, bassist Frank Bello was brought in so Traynor could return to guitar. However, Bello left before its conclusion to reunite with Anthrax, who was then reuniting with the "classic" Among the Living lineup. Jeremy Chatelain replaced Bello for the duration of the tour. Tempesta also left band in early 2006 to join the reunited Cult.

In late 2005, Helmet abandoned their fourteen-year relationship with Interscope and signed with Warcon Enterprises. The band had also announced that a new album was in the works for an early summer 2006 release. Helmet performed at the 2006 South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, with a temporary lineup consisting of Charlie Walker on drums, Chris Traynor on bass, and Anthony Truglio (formerly of Gandhi) on guitar. The new album, Monochrome, released in July 2006, was recorded and co-produced by Wharton Tiers, who recorded Helmet's first two albums. For the album, Hamilton and Traynor returned to the studio with newly recruited drummer, Mike Jost (formerly of Adair). Helmet headlined the 2006 Warped Tour in support of Monochrome, with Jeremy Chatelain reprising his role from the 2005 Size Matters tour.

Helmet's seventh studio album, Seeing Eye Dog, was released on September 7, 2010, via Work Song, the label imprint shared by singer/songwriter Joe Henry and Helmet mainman Page Hamilton's manager. The band did not release their next studio album, Dead to the World, until 2016.

On November 10, 2023, the band released their ninth album Left.

Albums

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsSalesCertifications
US
[2] [3]
AUS
[4]
AUT
[5]
FIN
[6]
GER
[7]
NLD
[8]
NZ
[9]
SWE
[10]
SWI
[11]
UK
[12]
Strap It On
Meantime
  • Released: June 23, 1992
  • Label: Interscope (92162-2)
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
6888

Gold

Betty
  • Released: June 21, 1994
  • Label: Interscope (92404-2)
  • Format: CD, CS, LP, DI
452318167143133238
  • US: 252,000
  • WW: 500,000[16]
Aftertaste
  • Released: March 18, 1997
  • Label: Interscope (INTD-90073)
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
472030524522139
Size Matters
  • Released: October 5, 2004
  • Label: Interscope (B0002968-02)
  • Format: CD
12197
Monochrome
  • Released: July 18, 2006
  • Label: Warcon (WRCN11)
  • Format: CD, LP
159
Seeing Eye Dog
  • Released: September 7, 2010
  • Label: Work Song (001)
  • Format: CD, LP, DI
Dead to the World
  • Released: October 28, 2016[18]
  • Label: earMUSIC
  • Format: CD, LP
85
Left
  • Released: November 10, 2023
  • Label: earMUSIC
  • Format: CD, LP
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Compilation albums

YearAlbum details
1995Born Annoying
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Amphetamine Reptile (AMREP 036)
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
2003The Instrumental Music of Helmet (1992–1997)
2004
  • Released: January 27, 2004
  • Label: Interscope (000056002)
  • Format: CD

Live albums

YearAlbum details
2014Live at Warped Tour San Francisco July 8, 2006
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Not On Label, Self released
  • Format: MP3
2021Live and Rare
  • Released: November 26, 2021
  • Label: earMUSIC (0215643EMU)
  • Format: CD, LP

Singles

YearSongPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
Alt.

[19]
US
Main.

[20]
NZ
UK
1989"Born Annoying"Non-album single
1991[21] "Unsung"2932Meantime
1992"In the Meantime"[22]
"Give It"[23]
1993"Just Another Victim" (with House of Pain)28Judgment Night soundtrack
"Primitive/Born Annoying (1993)"[24] Born Annoying
1994"Milquetoast"39Betty
"Biscuits for Smut"78
"Wilma's Rainbow"[25]
1997"Exactly What You Wanted"19Aftertaste
"Like I Care"[26]
2004"See You Dead"29Size Matters
"Unwound"
2005"Smart"
2006"Gone"[27] Monochrome
"Monochrome"[28]
2007"Money Shot"
2021"In the Ditch"[29] Non-album singles
"Move On"[30]
2023"Holiday"LEFT
"Gun Fluf"
"Big Shot"
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Music videos

Other appearances

YearTitleAlbum
1990"Impressionable"Dope, Guns 'n' Fucking in the Street Vol. 5
1993"Just Another Victim" with House of PainJudgment Night: Music from the Motion Picture
1994"Milktoast"The Crow Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
1994"Turned Out (Live)"Jabberjaw No. 1
1994"Lord of This World"Volume Eleven: Reading Special
1995"Custard Pie" with David Yow
1995"Symptom of the Universe"The Jerky Boys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
1995"Complete"Johnny Mnemonic soundtrack
1995"Gigantor"
1996"Disagreeable"Feeling Minnesota soundtrack
1996"Army of Me"MOM: Music for Our Mother Ocean
2005"Unsung"
2005"Out of Nowhere"Chrysalis Music 2005 Sundance Film Festival Promo Sampler
2006"Bury Me"Warped Tour 2006 Tour Compilation
2007"Revenge Destroys Everything"Tatua Soundtrack
2011"Crazy Nights"Guilt by Association Vol. 3
2013"Anything and Everything"2013 Invasion (split with Melvins)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RIAA Gold and Platinum searchable database . Search for artist "Helmet" . September 18, 2008 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH . June 26, 2007 .
  2. Web site: Helmet > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums. AllMusic. September 27, 2010.
  3. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=helmet|chart=Billboard 200}} Helmet Chart History: ''Billboard'' 200]. Billboard. January 26, 2011.
  4. Peaks in Australia:
    • All except noted: Web site: Discography Helmet. Hung Medien. September 18, 2008.
    • Dead to the World: Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #393. auspOp. November 5, 2016. November 5, 2016. December 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204231316/https://www.auspop.com.au/2016/11/aria-chart-watch-393/. dead.
  5. Web site: Discographie Helmet. Das Österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal. German. September 18, 2008.
  6. Web site: Discography Helmet. Hung Medien. Finnish. September 18, 2008.
  7. Web site: Chartverfolgung / HELMET / Longplay. PhonoNet. German. September 27, 2010.
  8. Web site: Discografie Helmet. Hung Medien. Dutch. September 18, 2008.
  9. Web site: Discography Helmet. Hung Medien. September 18, 2008.
  10. Web site: Diskografi Helmet. Hung Medien. Swedish. September 18, 2008.
  11. Web site: Discographie Helmet. Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade. German. September 18, 2008.
  12. Web site: Tobias . Zywietz . Chart Log UK: H & Claire – Hysterix . Zobbel . September 27, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100529223937/http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_H.HTM . May 29, 2010 .
  13. Clark . Rick . Give Them One Good Region: Local Labels Congregate In Cities Where Talent Gathers . February 25, 1995 . . 107 . 8 . 114.
  14. Rosen . Craig . September 13, 1997 . Interscope Reaches Crossroads With Trauma Split, Death Row Uncertainty . . 109 . 37 . 10, 104 . 0006-2510.
  15. Web site: Terich . Jeff . 2012-06-18 . In the Meantime: Helmet's landmark album at 20 . 2023-03-07 . Treble . en-US.
  16. Book: Arnold, Gina . Gina Arnold . Kiss This : Punk in the Present Tense . . 1997 . 0-312-15521-2 . 41 . Whither Rock? . https://archive.org/details/kissthispunkinpr00arno/page/40/ . Internet Archive.
  17. Billboard Staff . 2004-08-23 . Injury Forces Helmet To Revise Tour . 2023-03-07 . Billboard . en-US.
  18. Web site: Helmet | CD Dead to the World | Musicrecords .
  19. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=helmet|chart=Alternative Songs}} Helmet Chart History: Alternative Songs]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. January 26, 2011.
  20. Web site: Helmet > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. September 27, 2010.
  21. Web site: Discogs. Helmet (2) - Unsung. September 4, 2014.
  22. Web site: Discogs. Helmet (2) - In The Meantime. September 4, 2014.
  23. Web site: Discogs. Helmet (2) - Give It (CD). September 4, 2014.
  24. Web site: Discogs. Helmet (2) - Primitve (Vinyl). September 4, 2014.
  25. Web site: Discogs. Helmet (2) - Wilma's Rainbow EP. September 4, 2014.
  26. Web site: Discogs. Helmet (2) - Like I Care (CD). September 4, 2014.
  27. Web site: Spirit of Metal. Helmet Gone (Single). September 4, 2014.
  28. Web site: Spirit of Metal. Helmet Monochrome (Single). September 4, 2014.
  29. Web site: Yahoo.com. Helmet In the Ditch (Single). April 21, 2021.
  30. Move On Credits . November 28, 2021 . liner notes . Ear Music . 0215636EMU.
  31. Web site: BLABBERMOUTH.NET - HELMET: 'So Long' Video Released . Roadrunnerrecords.com . December 19, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111225143941/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=164639 . December 25, 2011 .