HELIX – Bastard Of The Blues (2014)

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Canadian Hard Rock icons HELIX have just released their 13th brand new full length studio record entitled “Bastard Of The Blues” through Perris Records.The new material was written by singer Brian Vollmer and his long time collaborator composer Sean Kelly during the last year.
Helix 2014 includes original members Greg “Fritz” Hinz (drums) and Daryl Gray (bass), and filling out the lineup are guitarists Kaleb Duck (who has been with the band for six years) and newcomer Chris Julke. Original guitarist Paul Hackman died in a car accident in 1993 while returning from tour, and Brent Doerner retired last year. He is still involved with the band in a video making capacity.

It’s now been six years since Kelly and Vollmer combined writing forces, and it shows on “Bastard Of The Blues”. The new songs are focused and big sounding, the lyrics more concise and catchy.
The CD opens with the title track, a good midtempo rocker with a bluesy/classic rock feel. It’s a solid composition, but I am not sure if it was the right choice to start the record. The song itself is long, running over 5 minutes, which will probably prevent it from getting airplay in some markets. However, it’s Vollmer’s favorite song from the disc, so in his own words; “I’m going with my heart and gut on this one. Guesting on background vocals is Cheryl Lescom, the best female blues singer in Canada.”

Track 2 it’s the one I have chosen as opener; “Even Jesus (Wasn’t Loved in His Home Town)” is a kicking rocker with a marching rhythm and all the Helix trademark hooks. The lyrics describes how the band can play all over the world – this year they have dates in Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland & the U.S. and are already booked on 2015’s Monsters Of Rock Boat Cruise with some of the biggest and brightest metal/hard rock stars of the ’80s – but can’t get a gig or any respect in their hometown of London, Ontario. Go figure!

Another potential single is track 3 “Winning Is the Best Revenge”, a commercial classic rock song with some honky tonk in it.
But my favorite cuts from the album arrives with “Screaming At The Moon” and “Metal At Midnight”, both true ’80s Helix melodic hard rockers. The first features Nick Walsh of Slic Toxic (a platinum selling Canadian metal band) on back-up vocals, while the latter has that unmistakable Helix riff and backing vocals which made this band so big.
Yes, “Metal At Midnight” is the highlight of the album for me, and sits amongst the best songs the band has produced in their long career.

Track 6 “Hell Bound For A Heartbreak” is a very melodic tune (love the guitar work) which talks of an addicted gambler, something Brian should know about, having lived many years with a bookie.
Then the ballad arrives with “When All The Love Is Gone”, sang and written by long-time bass player and member of the band Daryl Gray. It’s a power ballad type of song yet with a more classic rock sense, with an ’80s Gary Moore vibe.
“Axe to Grind” returns to hard rock with an angry Alice Cooper feel on the vocals and strong riffs, followed by “Skin In The Game” and “The Bitch is A Bullet”, both from the EP released three years ago. Both fun rockers in the typical Helix style; crunchy melodious Hard Rock with some Blues and some Boogie influences, an overall feel-good atmosphere and the in-your-face attitude that we’ve all known Helix for for so long.
The last track on the CD, “Sticks & Stones” is reminiscent of early Aerosmith, and talks about those individuals who take dangerous chances thinking they are invincible and end up killing themselves or quadriplegic in a wheelchair.

“Bastard Of The Blues” is better than I expected.
Brian Vollmer’s voice still has the edge to carry the songs and leave his stamp on them, the guitars are energetic but clean and melodic, while the rhythm section is solid as usual, specially the drum sound. With Gregory “Fritz” Hinz behind the drum kit you have a solid backbone assured.
More Melodic Hard Rock oriented with a Classic Rock feel on some tracks than rather simply ‘Hard Rock’, “Bastard Of The Blues” shows that these old gentlemen still have the grip and it has turned out to be a really good, fun listen.
Strongly Recommended.

01. Bastard of the Blues
02. Even Jesus (Wasn’t Loved In His Hometown)
03. Winning is the Best Revenge
04. Screaming at the Moon
05. Metal at Midnight
06. Hellbound for a Heartbreak
07. When All the Love is Gone
08. Axe to Grind
09. Skin in the Game
10. The Bitch is a Bullet
11. Sticks & Stones

Brian Vollmer – lead vocals
Kaleb Duck – guitar, vocals
Chris Julke – guitar, vocals
Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, lead vocals on 7
Gregory “Fritz” Hinz – drums
Nick Walsh (ex-Slik Toxik) – backing vocals
Jeff Stan Fountain (ex-Helix) – backing vocals

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Bastard-Blues-Helix/dp/B00JPFTTYO
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