By Bona Pjarren
Formed in 2010, Helsott, meaning “fatal illness” in Old-Norse, are a pagan death metal band from southern California. The band proudly pay homage to pagan cultures and ancient mythologies while keeping true to their American influences. This latest album is a concept record that tells a fictional story about how Billy The Kid became the fastest gunfighter in the wild west. The album was mixed and mastered by J-F Dagenais and features special guests Tim “Ripper” Owens, Vladamir Reshetnikov (Arkona), Freddie Vidales (Ashes Of Ares), Lethien (Elvenking), Kevin Storm (Kalmah, Shining), Bjorn Friedrichsen, Mikey Muller and Whistlin’ Rick Story. So quite a line up of special guests.
Helsott start with ‘I’ll Make You Famous’. With harmonized guitar and blast beat drums they get straight into it. They mix thrash with pagan death metal and Eric Dow’s grunted vocals are dark and gravelly. It is a descent and very accessible first track that does not particularly do anything different or ground breaking.
Next up is ‘Southern Shine’ which has a jazz swing feel to it. Still staying true to their roots with extreme vocals and blasting drums this track does supply something a bit different. Top it off with a classic rock style guitar solo and you have a real toe tapper of a track. The title track, ‘Will And The Witch’, comes next. There is an intriguing mix of instruments on this one, the guitars and keys work particularly well together and make for an epic sounding track. Add to that some clever harmonized vocals and you have a rather spectacular song. Style wise it mixes death metal with classic metal of an Iron Maiden nature.
‘Independence Night’ features Tim “Ripper” Owens’ classic rock vocals: well, he is ex-Judas Priest. It thrashes along in an entertaining sort of way, but is probably a bit ordinary in comparison to ‘Southern Shine’ or ‘Will And The Witch’. There are some really good guitar riff though, from Mark Dow, which does salvage the song.
‘Skin Out’ is probably the first track which offers an explicitly folk element to the proceedings, the strings certainly add a different element that really help this track to stand out. While unmistakably folk metal, it has an American flavour to the folk part of it. It is also the most ambitious track so far, with a prog-metal feel to its construction. Again there is some phenomenal guitar work from Mark Dow. Cooper Dustman’s drumming and Michael “Doc” Beaulieu’s bass are absolutely locked in when it comes to some of the more technical rhythmic parts of this piece.
‘Babylon, Scarlett’s Saloon’ barges in with extreme chants and is followed by some nice honky-tonk flavour piano. The guitar work is again exemplary and the track blasts along in a pleasant if somewhat predictable way. ‘Everything Hurts’ is next up and has some nice percussion patterns that really lift this track, there are some very clever rhythmic breakdowns high lighted by the impressive tightness of the band. Soaring guitar solos and rock solid riffs are, again, ever present.
Next is ‘Spit Bucket Brawl’ which feels full of fun and is addictive with its jaunty beat while remaining true to its melodic death metal roots. Loved the banjo solo, it made me smile. I think it is the sense of humour that makes this song so addictive. With ‘Navajo Crow’ you have something more laid back and, especially with the flute, something quite tribal and Native American in feel. It feels very evocative of the Billy The Kid concept of the album. The mandolin is a pleasant addition to the proceedings. With only clean singing this also distinguishes this song from what has gone before.
‘Welded As One’ explodes in an epic fashion and again has that very American feel to melodic death metal, mixing as it does blast beats with very tuneful guitar parts. Again there are some clever rhythmic interplays and of course Eric Dow’s extreme vocals are back to the fore. ‘Reap The Whirlwind’ certainly feels like it does what it says on the tin. Fast tempo and heavy it rips into the materiel as well founded guitar riffs entwine with the solidity of the rhythm section. It is straight forward in its construction but quite intriguing nonetheless.
The last track is ‘Regulators’ and it is again a take no prisoners type of track. Fast paced and heavy it blasts along in typical melodic death fashion. It does have a nice breakdown to introduce a new up tempo part of the song before revisiting the chorus. Altogether a strong end to the album.
Helsott’s ‘Will And The Witch’ is an enjoyable album. I would say it is more melodic death metal than pagan death metal. The tracks thrash along in a pleasant, if at times, somewhat predictable way. That doesn’t mean to say that it’s not worth a listen as it has some really good tracks on it. I particularly enjoyed ‘Spit Bucket Brawl’ and the title track.
- ‘Will And The Witch’ is released on Friday (20 May). You can get your copy HERE.
- Helsott will be touring in June and July:
- They will also play HRH Vikings in Sheffield in December.
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