HELIX - NO REST FOR THE WICKED 12" Vinyl LP Album

- ON TOUR WITH KISS

The year is 1983. Heavy metal is king, ruling the charts and the hearts of a generation hungry for rebellion, leather, and guitar solos that could melt faces. In this whirlwind of sound, a Canadian band named Helix was steadily carving their niche. Their weapon of choice: "No Rest for the Wicked", a slab of vinyl on Capitol Records that was as unsubtle as a tank, and twice as loud.

Helix wasn't reinventing the wheel. They were taking that wheel, strapping a rocket to it, and driving it straight down the highway to hell. Their sound was pure, unadulterated hard rock, a potent cocktail of AC/DC's swagger, Kiss's showmanship, and a sprinkle of their own homegrown grit.

The opening track, "Rock You," is a declaration of intent. It's a fist-pumping anthem that doesn't bother with subtlety, hitting you with a riff that's as irresistible as it is predictable. But that's the point. Helix wasn't here to challenge your intellect, they were here to make you bang your head.

And bang your head you will, through tracks like "Heavy Metal Love," a shameless ode to the genre that spawned them, and "Don't Get Mad, Get Even," a rallying cry for the underdogs and the outcasts. But it's not all testosterone-fueled anthems. "Never Want to Lose You" is a surprisingly tender ballad, proving that even the hardest rockers have a soft spot.

Notably, the album's title track, "No Rest for the Wicked," became one of Helix's most recognizable songs. Its infectious energy and sing-along chorus made it a staple at their live shows, and the music video, featuring the band performing in a graveyard, further cemented its place in rock history.

"No Rest for the Wicked" wasn't just an album, it was a statement. It was a middle finger to the establishment, a declaration of independence from the constraints of good taste. It was loud, it was brash, and it was exactly what the kids wanted.

Produced by the legendary Tom Treumuth, who had previously worked with the likes of Triumph and Rush, the album was recorded at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, a studio that had seen its fair share of rock and roll debauchery. This atmosphere of controlled chaos is evident in the album's raw energy, the feeling that these songs were captured live, sweat and all.

Of course, Helix wasn't without its critics. Some dismissed them as a Kiss knock-off, while others accused them of pandering to the lowest common denominator. But Helix didn't care. They were too busy touring, playing to sold-out crowds across North America, often opening for the very band they were accused of imitating. The tour with Kiss, in particular, became a turning point for Helix, exposing them to a wider audience and solidifying their status as a major force in the Canadian rock scene.

In the end, "No Rest for the Wicked" is a product of its time. It's a snapshot of an era when heavy metal was more than just music, it was a way of life. It's not a perfect album, but it's a damn good one, a testament to the power of rock and roll to make you feel alive. So crank it up, let your hair down, and remember a time when music was loud, proud, and unapologetically wild.