Review: Black Helium ‘The Animals Are Coming’

Even back in my craziest party days during the hedonistic late ‘80s and early to mid ‘90s, I was never one to partake in the illegal substances that were floating around the common room or student union bars that I frequented. I visited lots of dance clubs like Ministry of Sound and Cream, and yet never felt tempted, but after listening to the latest release from London based Black Helium, I can now imagine what taking hallucinogenic drugs must have been like.

It’s an extraordinary journey into mind-bending psychosis, and I advise you to sit down and enjoy this from start to finish, as I have several times. The ride begins with a simple drum beat from Diogo Gomes introducing Return The Curse, and it meanders along gently with a soft vocal before Stuart Gray ramps up his guitar, and the detonator is firmly pressed down to ignite the song. It’s over eleven minutes long, but has so many curves and turns, up and downs, that it feels like you are playing a game of Twister.

The trio have clearly experimented with and explored many different sounds to create these six new songs, and the effort should be applauded, as the composition is accomplished and heavenly. Saviour Destroyer has that one instrument intro, before the drums take control, allowing the hypnotic riff to float in the background. The bass from Beck Harvey announces itself and combines well to give an effective rhythm that loops back around and takes you into the realms of fuzzed out psych rock heaven.

Worm Vision is where the bass sound comes alive. They do the simple things well, which allows the explosive, more complex soundscapes to shine. Throughout the instrumental track, the audible psychedelic ambience created is both soothing and entrancing in equal measure and it leads perfectly into They Have Bodies.

It’s an extraordinary journey into mind-bending psychosis…

It’s another song full of captivating notes that, when put together with the softer, gentler vocals, makes your tiresome troubles float away into the ether. The drums have a go at bursting through about halfway in, but then reigns back in to kick out a pulsating beat that helps keep everything focused. This is my favourite song on the album as it’s got so much happening.

There’s a corking introductory riff that welcomes you like a lost friend for On A Hill, and the groove swims across the notes with a decadent swagger, just before they hit you with a deeper, more ferocious sound that energises the song. It feels self-indulgent and alters the dynamic before the earlier, sedentary pace, swings back round to finish you off.

The album ends with another huge song, that’s bursting with trance-inducing and bewitching rhythms that you’ll simply never get tired of listening to. There’s no way you’d think that Inside The Horror Mask is a shade over ten minutes long, as you get to enjoy the trio showcase their individual talents, whilst eulogising over their combined skill that manifests itself into these beautiful arrangements. I can only imagine what I’d be like if I did take drugs to listen to this, but when the music is this good, there’s simply no need.

Label: Riot Season
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Scribed by: Matthew Williams