Helms Alee Premiere First Single from New Album, Stillicide

Helms Alee, the Washington state trio of Ben Verellen (guitar, vocals), Dana James (bass, vocals), and Hozoji Margullis (drums, vocals) have announced their fourth album, Stillcide, which will be released on September 2nd through Sargent House.  Today, the band has premiered the album’s first single “Tit To Toe” which can be heard below, courtesy of Noisey. On Stillicide, Helms Alee continue their sonic tradition of blending heavy riffs, dark guitar pop, and math rock into songs that are at turns brutal, anthemic, and cerebrally engaging.

Helms Alee delivers the kind of expertly crafted, dynamic, nuanced, and diverse songwriting that is both instantly intriguing and—as evidenced by their previous albums Night Terror (2008), Weatherhead (2011), and Sleepwalking Sailors (2014)—increasingly gratifying after repeated listens.  After nearly a decade of existence, one can only assume that a band is either entering their sunset years or striding with such artistic strength and confidence that they are creating a whole new legacy for themselves. With Helms Alee, it is obviously the latter scenario. The band set a high bar for themselves, but every subsequent release has trumped their previous endeavors. Bolstered by the recording and production expertise of Kurt Ballou at God City Studios, Stillicide is not only the group’s strongest collection of songs, it is arguably their best sounding release to date. The heavier moments are that much more oppressive; their melodic angles are that much more beguiling, and the juxtaposition between Verellen’s patriarchal roar and the siren song vocals of James and Margullis is that much more exhilarating. If there was only one band you could listen to for the rest of your life, Helms Alee would satiate most every emotional yearning. And if you could only pick one of their albums, you’d gravitate towards the best document of their textural range and songwriting chops. You’d gravitate towards Stillicide. 

See Helms Alee on tour in support of Stillicide this summer and fall; August 3rd through September 21st supporting Melvins, and September 3rd through October 9th with label mates Russian Circles.

Stillicide is available for pre-order now.

HELMS ALEE, ON TOUR:

Jun 25 Portland, OR – B Side Tavern

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with MELVINS unless noted *

Aug 03 Las Vegas, NV – Backstage Bar & Billiards

Aug 04 Flagstaff, AZ – The Green Room

Aug 06 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre

Aug 07 Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre 

Aug 09 Sioux Falls, SD – The District

Aug 10 Fargo, ND – The Aquarium (Dempsey’s Upstairs)

Aug 12 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen *

Aug 13 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock *

Aug 14 Rock Island – Rock Island Brewing Company

Aug 15 Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s

Aug 16 Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck

Aug 17 St. Louis, MO – The Firebird

Aug 18 Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall

Aug 19 Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue Theatre 

Aug 20 Grand Rapids, MI – The Pyramid Scheme

Aug 22 Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar

Aug 23 Pittsburgh, PA – Rex Theater

Aug 24 Buffalo, NY – Iron Works – 

Aug 26 Syracuse, NY – The Westcott Theater

Aug 27 Northampton, MA – Pearl Street

Aug 28 Hamden, CT – The Ballroom at The Outer Space

Aug 29 Providence, RI – Fete Ballroom

Aug 31 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar

Sep 01 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle 

Sep 02 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter *

Sep 05 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club

Sep 06 Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend

Sep 07 Charleston, SC – Music Farm

Sep 08 Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits

Sep 10 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon

Sep 11 Jackson, MS – Duling Hall

Sep 12 Memphis, TN – Hi-Tone

Sep 13 Little Rock, AR – Metroplex

Sep 14 Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom

Sep 15 Oklahoma City, OK – The ACM @ UCO Performance Lab

Sep 16 Norman, OK – Opolis

Sep 17 Austin, TX – The Sidewinder

Sep 18 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger

Sep 20 El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace

Sep 21 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress

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with RUSSIAN CIRCLES

Sep 23-24 Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Fest 

Sep 25 Detroit, MI – El Club 

Sep 26 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace 

Sep 28 Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair 

Sep 29 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer 

Sep 30 Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw 

Oct 01 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel 

Oct 02 Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall 

Oct 04 Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5 

Oct 05 Birmingham, AL – Saturn 

Oct 06 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon 

Oct 07 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Studio 

Oct 08 Austin, TX – Barracuda 

Oct 09 Dallas, TX – RBC