Aftertaste (album)
| Aftertaste | ||||
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| Studio album by Helmet | ||||
| Released | 18 March 1997 | |||
| Recorded | July–November 1996 at Capitol and Hollywood Sound in Los Angeles and RPM in New York | |||
| Genre | Alternative metal, post-hardcore | |||
| Length | 40:42 | |||
| Label | Interscope | |||
| Producer | Dave Sardy and Helmet | |||
| Helmet chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Aftertaste | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Rolling Stone |  |
| Pitchfork Media | (8.4/10) |
| Entertainment Weekly | B− |
| Alternative Press | |
Aftertaste is the fourth album by Helmet, released in 1997 on Interscope. This proved to be Helmet's final album with original members John Stanier (drums) and Henry Bogdan (bass). Guitarist Rob Echeverria, who appeared on Helmet's previous outing, Betty, left the group to join Biohazard. Subsequently, the album was recorded as a three-piece, with Page Hamilton covering all the guitar parts. Guitarist Chris Traynor (formerly of Orange 9mm) came on board for the supporting tour.
Aftertaste harkens back to Helmet's earlier sound, omitting some of the experimental/jazz tendencies of Betty. The album met with a mixed critical reaction and poor commercial response and went out of print in 2006.
This album along with Meantime and Betty is considered a definitive text in post-metal.
Hamilton said his goal in writing the album was to create a greater mix between smarts and crunch.
"I don't want to say that I'm sick of the visceral animal response that we get - I'm not, But I need more than that. I need more than seeing a bunch of kids jumping around and breaking each other's noses. I feel like I really need to communicate with an audience who will listen. I'm painted into a corner. Whatever I write in a rock 'n' roll context will elicit a conditioned response, unless I quit rock and make a country record or something."
The album was close to being released in the fall of 1996, with promotional interviews being held (Visions Magazin 09/1996 cover story) and advance tapes being sent to journalists. A 1996 version of the track "Insatiable" featuring the same intro that appeared as the final albums intro to "Pure" was released on the German Metal Hammer's magazine CD "Offroad Tracks Vol4" in the fall of 1996. The album release was withdrawn and the mix duties were handed from Producer Dave Sardy to Terry Date. The version of "Pure" that appeared on the "Exactly What You Wanted" CD single in 1997 appears to be taken from this early version of the album. The track list of the early version wouldve held Insatiable as the opening track and Pure as the album closer. "Renovation" at the time was not included in the album as it was to be contributed exclusively to a Soundtrack compilation album.
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