50 Unheralded Albums from 2011

50 Unheralded Albums from 2011

In just one more trip around the sun, another swarm of immensely talented but under-recognized musicians has harnessed its collective talents and discharged its creations into the void. This list is but one fraction of those dedicated individuals who caught our ears with some serious jams.

Helms Alee

Helms Alee: Unapologetic, Unwieldy Post-Rock

Led by guitarist/vocalist Ben Verellen, Seattle-based post-punk band Helms Alee makes melodic heaviness that evokes grunge and post-metal — but with harmonized moments of clean-channel clarity.

Helms Alee touring with Young Widows, to record with Matt Bayles

Ex-members of Harkonen and These Arms Are Snakes compose the rock trio Helms Alee. Since its 2008 Hydra Head album Night Terror, front man Ben Verellen has reunited Harkonen while launching his own Verellen Amplifiers.

Helms Alee will take its seamless male-female vocal blends and thrashing rock melodies to the stage with the impressive likes of Boris, Red Sparowes, and Young Widows for a fall tour.

The band will wrap up the tour with a live performance that it’s calling Verellen Amplifiers Night in its hometown of Seattle. Helms Alee will then be back in the studio preparing a currently untitled and new album for Hydra Head, expected in 2011 and produced by Matt Bayles.