Helmet shredded at The Gov on Wednesday, treating us Adelaide fans to a mid-week gig, for their 2026 Australia tour. Smashing out 9 shows around the country in 10 days, the 90’s heavy alt-rock pioneers flew in from New York for the first time since their Best of Helmet tour in 2023.
Opening the show was Adelaide band, The Unset. The alternative progressive rock trio captured my attention from the very start. Singer and lead guitarist Elian Hamilton has the most soulful melodic voice which he could quickly turn into scream vocals at any given point throughout a song.
Their set started off with a slower vibe but with super heavy bass distortion pummelling through each track, hitting you right in the chest. Hamilton also showed off his guitar skills, effortlessly picking riffs and licks, adding texture and different twists to each song. Though the crowd was a bit stiff, Hamilton ordered everyone to “dance!” which gave them the push they needed to loosen up.
Without introduction Helmet stormed the stage, immediately diving into their 1994 hit “Wilma’s Rainbow”. The crowd quickly found their groove, headbanging in unison to the tight beat of each song.
Smashing out songs back-to-back, after “Iron Head” was played, lead singer and guitarist Page Hamilton, finally addressed the crowd, sharing how happy he and the band were to be back in our “beautiful city”. Few words were spoken, however, he mentioned the ongoing problems occurring in their home country, America, and how the place is being run by a “big fat moron”, which was met with an agreeing cheer from the audience.
In true Helmet style the band pumped out an extensive setlist with little to no breaks or talking in between. The band are known for their no-frills attitude, and tonight they simply let their music speak for itself.
With an extensive catalogue of songs to choose from, Helmet treated us to familiar tunes of new and old. Playing tracks from Meantime (1992) and Betty (1994) to later releases like “Bad News” (2016) the riffs were unrelentingly heavy and played with such tight precision.
Hamilton was also set up with a Shure Green Bullet mic adjacent to his regular mic, allowing him to swap between the two during the set. Most recognisably, for “Biscuits For Smut”, the Green Bullet mic was used to achieve that distorted, thinned out vocal sound. Hamilton’s deep growling vocals were on point all night, never missing a beat.
I peered over to see a mosh pit had opened up at the front and people could just not contain their excitement or energy. There was beer thrown, shirts being ripped off and whipped around in the air, some brave crowd surfers, and some worried security guards.
For the bands mighty encore, they returned to the stage to play undoubtedly their biggest track “Unsung”. The energy in the room had peaked and the crowd was getting rowdier with the growing intensity of the song.
Hamilton teased more… “do you want one more song? I was going to do two”. The crowd roared while attempting to catch their breath after chanting back those lyrics they know so well.
“We’ll do two more, only because you all are so good looking”, Hamilton assured us before playing the opening chords to “Just Another Victim”, which was originally released in collaboration with House of Pain for the Judgement Night motion picture in 1993. It was at this very moment we decided that we needed to get ourselves into the mosh pit. I pushed my way through the crowd to join in with the pushing and shoving of patrons young and old, located front and centre of The Gov’s main stage. While it was fun and everyone was considerate, I am glad I only made it in there for the last songs of the set because I was being thrown around like a 5”2 ragdoll.
To end the incredible night Helmet sent us off with their final song of the set “In The Meantime”, the opening track of their debut 1992 album Meantime, for some nostalgia. The crowd left full and happy with the entertainment from the night, no doubt tired from throwing hands, and maybe sore from headbanging.
Helmet have only two more shows left of their Australia tour, both at Northcote Theatre in Melbourne on the 25th and 26th of April. Though the Saturday night has sold out, a special Sunday show, now named “Betty Fest”, has been added due to overwhelming demand. The band will be celebrating their 1994 album Betty, playing it live in full for the last time ever. They will also be joined by CIVIC, Chimers, Lothario, Dead, and Snake Thighs.
Get in fast – you won’t want to miss it, grab your tickets HERE.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Reviewer attended 22.04.26
