Helix's First, Helix's Finest
Sampson Simpson | Canada | 07/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Breaking Loose, Helix's debut album, stands today as one of the finest albums they've done, if not their very best.
In 1976, original band members Brian Vollmer and Keith Zurbrigg were joined by the Doerner brothers, Brent and Brian (lead guitar and drums respectively) and Paul Hackman (lead guitar) and toured extensively. This album collects many of the songs they wrote during those early days.
Kicking it off with the mid-tempo "I Could Never Leave", Helix right away hit you with one of their best songs. They keep building it until you get to "Billy Oxygen", one of their first hits, with lead vocals courtesy of Brent Doerner. "Billy Oxygen" is still a favourite to this day, a short fast rocker about a guy named Billy Oxygen, captain of a starship called an ES-335, looking to meet some aliens to party with.
There isn't a weak song on this album, but two other highlights are definitely "You're A Woman Now", featuring female backing vocals and a structure that builds into something dramatic, as if it's Helix's own "Stairway To Heaven". "Wish I Could Be There" brings back the outer space theme, and has acoustic and heavy sections, sort of Helix's foray into prog rock.
This lineup only lasted for one album, both Brian Doerner and Keith Zurbrigg departed shortly after this, leaving Vollmer the sole original member. Their legacy is this debut album, something for any band to be proud of."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1