It’s apparent on Seattle trio Helms Alee’s most recent record, 2016’s Stillicide, that the band was intent on continuing to tamper with the trappings of both hard rock and being a three-piece. While its thick sound is still intact, at times coated in sludge and at others dissonantly shoegazing, new approaches to song structure and rhythm have surfaced from the deep. Drummer Hozoji Margullis’ dexterity and the shared vocal dynamics between her and guitarist Ben Verellen are especially striking on tracks like “Tit for Toe” and “Dream Long,” where a vast array of styles blend into one cohesive behemoth. Monday night’s bill is rounded out by heavy locals Motherfucker and Marses.
Helms Alee (Photo by James Rexroad)