Meantime is the second album and major-label debut by Helmet, released in 1992 on Interscope Records.

Meantime has continued to sell consistently well in the sixteen years since its release, and in 1994 was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Helmet released one single from Meantime, "Unsung", which was a charting success on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart, and remains their best-known song. The album itself reached #68 on Billboard's Top 200; an unexpected success for the band. Music videos were also made for "Give It" and "In the Meantime".

Musical style

The sound of Meantime, with Page Hamilton's staccato riffs, jazz-influenced chords and solos, and dual-voice singing style, proved influential to both post-grunge bands and later alternative metal bands such as Deftones.

Recording and production

After signing to Interscope for a reported budget of US$1 million, Helmet entered a studio in New York City in December 1991, booking two months of studio time in which to record the album.

The song "In the Meantime" was recorded by Steve Albini and later remixed by Andy Wallace. The contrast between Wallace's style of mixing, which involves (among other things) triggered samples (leading to the album's distinctive half wood, half metal snare drum sound), and Albini's style of recording, irritated Albini. Later, when in negotiations to record Nirvana's In Utero, he stipulated a clause be added to his contract stating that Wallace would not be allowed to remix the album, although he had mixed Nevermind, which came out a year before Meantime's release.

Release and reception

Meantime was Helmet's first breakthrough album. Upon its release in June 1992, Meantime peaked at number 68 on the Billboard's Top 200 album chart and number one Top Heatseekers chart. The album granted Helmet international recognition. To date, Meantime is the only Helmet album to go Gold in the United States.

The album received positive reviews, John Franck of Allmusic.com labeled Meantime "arguably one of the most influential and overlooked rock records of the '90s". He praised the music "colored by Teutonic riffs, with only "Unsung" hinting at a gasp of commercial accessibility". In regards to the album's success, he also claims that Helmet "were curiously touted as the next big thing". Meantime received a rating of four out of five stars, while "Unsung", "Give It" and "In the Meantime" earned Helmet its heaviest airplay on MTV and radio stations.

Album cover

The album cover features an image of a man in a white protective suit shoveling some substance on the ground.

The album has been initially available with one of two reversely-colored covers; one has a blue background with a white-on-red Helmet logo, and the other has a red background with a white-on-blue Helmet logo (pictured at right).

Track listing

(All songs written by Page Hamilton)

1. "In the Meantime" – 3:08
2. "Ironhead" – 3:22
3. "Give It" – 4:17
4. "Unsung" – 3:57
5. "Turned Out" – 4:14
6. "He Feels Bad" – 4:03
7. "Better" – 3:10
8. "You Borrowed" – 3:45
9. "FBLA II" – 3:22
10. "Role Model" – 3:35

Chart positions

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1992	The Billboard 200	68
1992	Top Heatseekers	1

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1992	"Unsung"	Modern Rock Tracks	29
1992	"Unsung"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	32

Personnel

• Peter Mengede - Guitar
• Henry Bogdan - Bass
• Page Hamilton - Guitar, Vocals
• John Stanier - Drums
• Steve Sisco - Assistant Mix Engineer
• Steve Albini - Recording, "In The Meantime"
• Wharton Tiers - Engineer
• Andy Wallace - Mixing
• Howie Weinberg - Mastering

Trivia

• "Unsung" was featured on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, as well as the PlayStation 2 game Guitar Hero.
• "Unsung" was also featured on The Wildhearts covers album Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before Vol 1.. Music videos were also made for "Give It" and "In the Meantime".

References