Helmet is one of the most singular bands in heavy-metal history. Formed in 1989 by jazz-trained guitarist and composer Page Hamilton, they invented an entirely new sonic language, one that ditched the tropes of classic metal for jarring dissonance, minimalist syncopation, and unusual time signatures, all reflective of their roots in New York City’s underground-rock and avant-garde circles. Every one of their records is packed with bold, maverick ideas, but it’s Meantime, released in 1992, that stands as their finest hour, a cultural landmark that continues to exert a massive impact on alt-metal, nu-metal, metalcore, and beyond.