Review: HELP ‘Courage’ & ‘HELP’

Portland’s excellent musical pedigree consists of names such as Poison Idea, The Wipers, Dead Moon, Elliot Smith and The Dandy Warhols to name a few. HELP, a trio consisting of Ryan Neighbors on guitar and vocals, Morty on bass and Bim Ditson on drums is the latest sensation to emerge from Rose City.

HELP 'Courage' EP Artwork
HELP ‘Courage’ EP Artwork

A relatively new project, HELP‘s members have emerged from experimental, diverse sounding bands such as And And And, Portugal. The Man and Hustle and Drone. Musically the respective members have come full circle, playing harder-hitting material which they’d have engaged with more during their teenage years.

To quote PIL ‘anger is an energy’ with Neighbors himself stating that ‘Everyone is angry’, furthermore the album’s promotional notes describe Courage as ‘the frenzied sound of a broken and collapsing society’. Lastly, it should be noted that the band’s 2019 self-titled release is also included on Side B of the vinyl as well as on bonus tracks for the digital version so that will be covered in this review too.

thrilling post-hardcore…

The Consequence could be ascribed the dreaded ‘screamo’ tag, but one fortunately more in common with bands such as On The Might Of Princes and genre pioneers Heroin than the cringy Hot Topic variety. The vocals may be on the harsher end of the spectrum, but the music is surprisingly melodic and layered. A rewardingly cathartic way to open proceedings.

Black Cloud‘s title appears to reference depression and seeing as the album is primarily centred around breakups and heartbreak, this would make perfect sense. Overall, it is an excellently constructed track that incorporates The Pixies quiet-loud alt-rock dynamic especially Where is My Mind? by said band, while the title track Courage goes down a thrilling post-hardcore avenue with heavy hints of Drive Like Jehu.

Fresh New Hell is for the most part an instrumental piece with exceptional progressive playing not far removed from Don Caballero in their heyday and Claustrophobic Nightmare has a brilliantly post-punk/proto-industrial feel that you’d associate with tracks such as Cables by Big Black. The EP concludes with Feel So Alive (Do You Have To), a classic in the vein of The Jesus Lizard but with touches of Killing Joke and NYHC crossover kings Leeway.

HELP 'HELP' EP Artwork
HELP ‘HELP’ EP Artwork

Now is the turn of the aforementioned 2019 self-titled EP with the opening title track Help demonstrating an early grunge sensibility such as might be found on the legendary Deep Six compilation. In fact, it would have slotted in nicely alongside efforts by The U-Men, Green River and Soundgarden. Devil Is A Snake is a noise-punk belter with some pretty darn infectious choruses that make it a guaranteed audience singalong favourite.

Pennies On The Ground is cool Killdozer worship (check out the Michael Gerrard-esque vocals) albeit one that is more inclined towards social justice than the black surreal humour of that band. Staying Awake nods its head to contemporary bands such as Pissed Jeans as well as alt-rock influenced hardcore mob Gouge Away, so in other words, punchy, abrasive and laden with hooks.

punchy, abrasive and laden with hooks…

Skeletons is a little more restrained, tinged with angular sounding indie that lends proceedings a much-appreciated change in tone and finally Class War Now whose lyrical outlook is self-explanatory and similar to Brit outfits such as McClusky and Cassels while musically it’s too not far removed from those bands either. A giant middle finger to the ruling elites and brings Help to a rambunctious and rebellious conclusion.

If strictly straight-ahead no frills hardcore is what you’re after then HELP‘s brand of angular post-hardcore and noise-rock may not be for you. For the more open-minded listener, however, please feel free to dive on in, you definitely won’t regret it.

Label: Three One G
Band Links: Official | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Scribed by: Reza Mills