Red Helen has been one of the mainstays of the South African metal scene with their progressive metalcore sound showcasing their songwriting and musical talents to the full.
The pure ferocity and intensity of this band are enough to let you sit up and take notice. They have the ability to create melodic material with meaningful lyrics that depict society and the human condition at its core.
Their highly-anticipated, brand new album, Trading Past For Pathways was released last week to thunderous applause and head banging acclaim. It comes after years of hard work in the local and international live circuits and is a definite must listen to.
Red Helen consists of Brandon Pratt (vocals), Erick Gerber (guitar/lead clean vocals), Greg van Kerkhof (bass/backing vocals) and Matt Sletcher (drums).
Honourable mentions: ‘In Memorium’, ‘The Watchmaker’s Key’, ‘Home’.
5. Trading Past For Pathways
The title track of this album begins with stellar guitar work that really gets the song off to an epic start. The intricacy of the guitar riffs from Gerber and lead patterns is something to cherish.
The slow ‘acoustic like’ sections are also beautifully crafted and create a break from Pratt’s thunderous vocals that continue to amaze throughout the song. The song has a positive nature and focuses on knowing that everyone has a role to play on earth and that hate and injustice will not be tolerated. Pratt’s growl at the end of the song is also majestic: ‘I will no longer be a slave to this machine, I’m trading past for pathways.’
4. Solace in Suffocation
One of the reasons why I like this song is that it features clean guitar and vocals in the intro and first verse, and is a pleasant change from the rest of Trading Past For Pathways, which starts off with distorted guitar.
The song has a deeper, more emotional component as well, as it focuses on love, relationships and the darker side of relationships. Pratt’s scream of ‘You are everything to me’ is just majestic, to say the least, as instrumental sections take the song into the second verse where he delivers some of his best vocal lines on the album.
The balance between clean and unclean vocals – between Gerber and Pratt – is also done with precision as they harmonise perfectly together here. When the breakdown hits mid-song, musical chaos ensues – expect this to be one of their live staples this coming tour.
3. The Collapse
The opening track of Trading Past For Pathways is as beautiful as it is vicious and is the perfect way to start an album, in my opinion. Van Kerkhof and Sletcher start the track with a unique drum and bass riff that draws the listeners attention before Pratt announces his presence with the following ferocious and clinically delivered lyrics: ‘I stood and watched as the world I knew fell into this collapse.’ The song paints a dark picture about humans’ ability to destroy everything on the earth and humans’ ability to destroy themselves instead of living in harmony with each other and planet earth, in general.
The song also has a positive tone in the chorus as Red Helen aims to inspire society to stop limiting themselves and to ‘become more than we are’. Naturally, the musical elements in this song are, once again, top-notch and just set the tone for the rest of the album.
Van Kerkhof also really shines in this track with classy bass slapping and depicts the amazing talent that this quartet has.
2. Suicide Notes and Bloodshot Eyes
This is definitely one of the most meaningful and haunting songs that Red Helen has written with a piano intro before Gerber adds a short guitar melody followed by Pratt screaming ‘you will never get it back!’ This musical juxtaposition works brilliantly and sets the song into motion with numerous softer and harder parts that blend together beautifully. Gerber’s guitar-tapping is music to any metalhead’s ears and this track truly justifies him as one of SA’s most talented guitarists and vocalists. Period.
The unique and progressive breakdowns are what set Red Helen’s music apart and some of the guitar, drum and bass work are the next level. The chorus ‘They are calling my name, over and over,’ is one of the best choruses that the band has written and just jumps out at you after a good dose of amazing musicianship in the verses. The main themes of this song are based on redemption, hope and holding on to life, even though dark times may come.
1. Ode to the Corrupt
There is no doubt that music has the ability to convey a powerful message and this track does just this as it targets the sickening nature of South African politics.
This is an open, metalcore ‘letter’ to South African president, Jacob Zuma, that criticises numerous aspects of his presidency, such as Nkandla, his claims on HIV/Aids and his lust for power. The lyrics are powerful, on point and something that any South African can relate to. A really brilliant song, both musically and lyrically. The variety of musical sections in this song is a perfect example of Red Helen’s ability to mix melodic and hardcore parts to perfection.
The music video is also a must watch. ‘Ignorance will no longer disguise, disease curing showers won’t work in our eyes,’ and ‘You worship the man who fought for your freedom. Actions speak louder than words, you might as well spit on his grave!’ are some of my favourite lyrics from this song that Pratt screams with extreme velocity. The breakdown in the bridge is also one of the many highlights
