509:, which are probably its closest contemporaries, deservedly recognised as classics in their genre. Yet it doesn’t really sound like any of them. Handsome is its own beast entirely." They add that, "On the surface, it’s a fairly relentless listen, but multiple turns reveal variety and gentle exploration. Riding the punk and hardcore influence is a real love of ambient dissonance, where space is earned through patience and repetition. ‘Left of Heaven’ exemplifies this, beginning with a beautifully skewed verse riff that builds atop thick, ascending chords, then concedes ground to a coarse anti-solo. Singer Jeremy Chatelain adds to the murk with opaque lyrics a detached melancholy. The following song, ‘Thrown Away’ is the sort of song for which
422:
384:
334:
329:
417:
412:
407:
402:
379:
374:
369:
364:
324:
319:
314:
452:, wrote that, "like the bands from which it is descended, Handsome's chief strategy is to combine dramatic vocal melodies, chugging, tandem guitar lines, and pounding rhythms into brief, catchy anthems." She claimed, "the powerhouse rhythm section could jackhammer through the strongest bulwark, and any of these songs could turn a crowd of
238:
sold out or something. We knew from the beginning of
Handsome that we didn't want to do the same thing -- Peter was tired of doing the same kinda licks, and I was tired of the thrash thing. We knew that we wanted a melodic singer over really heavy music." In a 1997 review of a Handsome concert with
237:
It has been described as "slightly more cerebral" than Peter
Mengede's previous band Helmet. Drummer Pete Hines, formerly of Cro-Mags, stated in a 1997 interview that, "Because Sony has used our ex-bands as marketing, I think that a lot of people who were into those bands tend to think that we've
29:
460:
stated in his review that, "Handsome delivers a distinctive hybrid that is complex and interesting, particularly when, as in "Eden
Complex," the band shifts effortlessly from one hook filled section to the next." In August 1998,
264:
It was released by Epic on
February 4, 1997, with a black and white music video being made to support the single "Needles". Touring for the album lasted up until late July 1997, and included runs of shows in America with
229:. According to Mengede, Wild at the time was interested in looking up photos of diseased genitalia on the internet, recalling that he'd often show these photos to the band members during the making of the album.
559:
In a 2023 interview, Mengede said there had been interest for the band to officially release some of their live recordings, but that they chose not to due to the poor sound quality of the recordings.
256:-influenced style than the other two acts, and described their sound as "staking its tent in hard-driving rock territory that flirted with, but never completely embraced, metal and hardcore."
548:
was reissued on vinyl in two different editions, through 6131 Records and SRC Vinyl, respectively. 6131 pressed the album on two colors; SRC's version saw the album pressed on 180g
525:
on a 2019 list of "The 12 most underrated albums of the ’90s", claiming "Handsome could boast a frontman with an emotional range to rival the very best rock singers of the decade."
542:
In Europe, the album came with a bonus disc which featured the songs "Closer" and "Spill". "Closer" appears as a hidden track on some versions, and was performed live in 1997.
703:
850:
1042:
269:
and
Silverchair/Local H. Like Mengede, Silverchair also originated from Australia, and the members were fans of Helmet. In June 1997, Handsome played at the
513:
receive all the credit, but which
Handsome perfected first; slashing hardcore spliced to a twinkly chorus, unfamiliar bedfellows only seeking coexistence."
1103:
479:
stated that the band had "incredible potential but did not quite fit anywhere within the worlds of alternative, metal and the nightmarish arrival of
552:
vinyl, mastered for the format with lacquers made by Stan Ricker, inside of a matte gatefold jacket which fits the exclusive 7-inch including the
955:
186:. However, he claimed at the time that the band were "being very cautious to avoid cashing in on this 'hardcore supergroup' label." Vocalist
534:
included
Handsome on their list of the "top 50 cult metal bands", and labelled their sole album as an "overlooked alt-metal gem."
505:
1162:
947:
718:
171:. Mengede had left Helmet in 1993 over disagreements with the songwriting process, and was in debt due to tax issues.
1157:
636:
187:
1111:
973:
491:
wrote in 2018, "this is an album mostly consigned to obscurity. It deserves so much more. It’s just as good as
355:
218:
194:
663:
1133:
266:
1060:
723:
448:
685:
1016:
993:
493:
431:
939:
832:
275:
270:
210:
202:
60:
951:
728:
697:
77:
997:
487:
183:
393:
140:
112:
41:
886:
273:
in Sweden, which coincidentally featured Helmet, who were promoting their recent release
904:
746:
499:
1151:
1086:
931:
627:
343:
175:
168:
164:
160:
73:
1011:
530:
443:
248:
198:
190:
was discovered by the other members during a long auditioning process in New York.
144:
105:
100:
868:
463:
239:
226:
68:
549:
510:
453:
214:
148:
120:
732:
28:
217:. Prior to making the album in Seattle, they had done a small tour of the
909:
556:"Closer" and "Spill". Both reissues were released in mid-September 2013.
517:
480:
457:
306:
222:
179:
789:
243:
206:
943:
553:
279:. However, Helmet performed the day before Handsome at the festival.
253:
193:
The band eventually signed a million dollar multi-record deal with
36:
456:
ne'er do-wells into a writhing mass of moshers." Peter Stepek of
869:"Handsome's Concert & Tour History | Concert Archives"
936:
The
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties
905:"Handsome - Handsome | Songs, Reviews, Credits |"
971:
Mayhew, Malcolm (February 28, 1997). "Capsule
Reviews".
748:
Handsome - Handsome | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic
467:
named it as one of the "top unheard records of '97".
201:. Their eponymous debut was recorded and mastered at
225:. It was mixed by Date and Swiss-American engineer
111:
99:
83:
67:
56:
48:
35:
21:
174:Mengede recruited former members of New York area
790:"Interview: Pete Hines of Handsome, April 1997"
143:. It was released on February 4, 1997, through
139:is the only studio album by American rock band
686:"The 50 greatest cult metal bands of all time"
159:Handsome was founded by Australian guitarist
8:
604:"Multimedia content" – (Enhanced CD version)
399:
361:
311:
1134:"The 12 most underrated albums of the '90s"
898:
896:
702:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
684:June 4, 2021, Metal Hammer (June 4, 2021).
664:"19 Bands Who Only Released One Good Album"
1098:
1096:
990:MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
286:
27:
18:
252:claimed that Handsome had much less of a
1037:
1035:
679:
677:
784:
782:
655:
1020:(Vol. 119) (in German). March 25, 1997
695:
1061:"97s best: Who was that masked band?"
1049:. CMJ Network, Inc. January 23, 1997.
768:
766:
764:
292:
7:
817:
815:
1104:"The Fangasm: Handsome by Handsome"
1087:"Music Fanzine | Jersey Beat"
831:Hill, Stephen (January 21, 2016).
14:
821:Mengede, Peter. V3 podcast, 2023.
401:
363:
313:
16:1997 studio album by Handsome
420:
415:
410:
405:
400:
382:
377:
372:
367:
362:
344:Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
332:
327:
322:
317:
312:
851:"What's that stink at Saltair?"
833:"A Metalhead's Guide To... Emo"
1:
992:. Visible Ink Press. p.
727:(42). CMJ Network, Inc.: 53.
948:Collector's Guide Publishing
163:, an original member of the
1179:
300:
297:
26:
974:Fort Worth Star-Telegram
887:"Chairpage News Archive"
356:Fort Worth Star-Telegram
873:www.concertarchives.org
717:Anon. (February 1997).
583:"Dim the Lights" – 2:54
577:"Left of Heaven" – 3:07
574:"Going to Panic" – 3:13
267:Corrosion of Conformity
1163:Handsome (band) albums
589:"My Mind's Eye" – 3:09
147:, and was produced by
1047:CMJ New Music Monthly
807:CMJ New Music Monthly
724:CMJ New Music Monthly
598:"Eden Complex" – 3:25
586:"Lead Bellied" – 2:46
494:Water & Solutions
449:CMJ New Music Monthly
63:, Seattle, Washington
1140:. September 3, 2019.
633:Tom Capone – guitars
580:"Thrown Away" – 3:37
288:Professional ratings
988:Gulla, Bob (1999).
940:Burlington, Ontario
609:European bonus disc
595:"Quiet Liar" – 4:07
289:
1114:on August 23, 2021
670:. August 20, 2019.
645:Pete Hines – drums
642:Eddie Nappi – bass
571:"Ride Down" – 3:20
287:
271:Hultsfred Festival
203:Bad Animals Studio
1158:1997 debut albums
957:978-1-894959-62-9
601:"Swimming" – 4:06
475:Rich Quinland of
441:
440:
132:
131:
78:alternative metal
1170:
1142:
1141:
1130:
1124:
1123:
1121:
1119:
1110:. Archived from
1100:
1091:
1090:
1083:
1077:
1076:
1074:
1072:
1067:. August 2, 1998
1057:
1051:
1050:
1039:
1030:
1029:
1027:
1025:
1008:
1002:
1001:
998:Internet Archive
985:
979:
978:
968:
962:
961:
928:
922:
921:
919:
917:
900:
891:
890:
883:
877:
876:
865:
859:
858:
847:
841:
840:
828:
822:
819:
810:
804:
798:
797:
786:
777:
772:Mengede, Peter.
770:
759:
758:
757:
755:
743:
737:
736:
714:
708:
707:
701:
693:
681:
672:
671:
660:
637:Jeremy Chatelain
592:"Waiting" – 2:44
568:"Needles" – 3:12
506:Fantastic Planet
488:Drowned in Sound
425:
424:
423:
419:
418:
414:
413:
409:
408:
404:
403:
387:
386:
385:
381:
380:
376:
375:
371:
370:
366:
365:
337:
336:
335:
331:
330:
326:
325:
321:
320:
316:
315:
290:
188:Jeremy Chatelain
95:
94:
90:
52:February 4, 1997
31:
19:
1178:
1177:
1173:
1172:
1171:
1169:
1168:
1167:
1148:
1147:
1146:
1145:
1132:
1131:
1127:
1117:
1115:
1102:
1101:
1094:
1085:
1084:
1080:
1070:
1068:
1059:
1058:
1054:
1041:
1040:
1033:
1023:
1021:
1010:
1009:
1005:
987:
986:
982:
970:
969:
965:
958:
950:. p. 187.
930:
929:
925:
915:
913:
903:Stepek, Peter.
902:
901:
894:
885:
884:
880:
867:
866:
862:
849:
848:
844:
830:
829:
825:
820:
813:
805:
801:
788:
787:
780:
771:
762:
753:
751:
745:
744:
740:
716:
715:
711:
694:
683:
682:
675:
662:
661:
657:
652:
624:
617:"Closer" – 2:58
565:
540:
538:Release history
473:
421:
416:
411:
406:
394:MusicHound Rock
383:
378:
373:
368:
333:
328:
323:
318:
285:
262:
235:
157:
128:
92:
88:
87:
44:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1176:
1174:
1166:
1165:
1160:
1150:
1149:
1144:
1143:
1125:
1108:DrownedInSound
1092:
1078:
1052:
1031:
1003:
980:
963:
956:
932:Popoff, Martin
923:
892:
878:
860:
842:
823:
811:
799:
778:
776:podcast, 2019.
774:BoostingShapes
760:
738:
709:
673:
654:
653:
651:
648:
647:
646:
643:
640:
634:
631:
623:
620:
619:
618:
615:
614:"Spill" – 3:17
611:
610:
606:
605:
602:
599:
596:
593:
590:
587:
584:
581:
578:
575:
572:
569:
564:
561:
539:
536:
500:Around the Fur
472:
469:
439:
438:
435:
427:
426:
397:
389:
388:
359:
351:
350:
347:
339:
338:
309:
303:
302:
299:
295:
294:
284:
281:
261:
258:
234:
231:
156:
153:
130:
129:
127:
126:
123:
117:
115:
109:
108:
103:
97:
96:
85:
81:
80:
71:
65:
64:
58:
54:
53:
50:
46:
45:
40:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1175:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1155:
1153:
1139:
1135:
1129:
1126:
1113:
1109:
1105:
1099:
1097:
1093:
1088:
1082:
1079:
1066:
1062:
1056:
1053:
1048:
1044:
1038:
1036:
1032:
1019:
1018:
1013:
1007:
1004:
999:
995:
991:
984:
981:
977:. p. 14.
976:
975:
967:
964:
959:
953:
949:
945:
941:
937:
933:
927:
924:
912:
911:
906:
899:
897:
893:
888:
882:
879:
874:
870:
864:
861:
856:
852:
846:
843:
838:
834:
827:
824:
818:
816:
812:
808:
803:
800:
795:
791:
785:
783:
779:
775:
769:
767:
765:
761:
750:
749:
742:
739:
734:
730:
726:
725:
720:
713:
710:
705:
699:
691:
687:
680:
678:
674:
669:
665:
659:
656:
649:
644:
641:
638:
635:
632:
629:
628:Peter Mengede
626:
625:
621:
616:
613:
612:
608:
607:
603:
600:
597:
594:
591:
588:
585:
582:
579:
576:
573:
570:
567:
566:
563:Track listing
562:
560:
557:
555:
551:
547:
543:
537:
535:
533:
532:
526:
524:
520:
519:
514:
512:
508:
507:
502:
501:
496:
495:
490:
489:
484:
482:
478:
470:
468:
466:
465:
459:
455:
451:
450:
445:
436:
434:
433:
429:
428:
398:
396:
395:
391:
390:
360:
358:
357:
353:
352:
348:
346:
345:
341:
340:
310:
308:
305:
304:
296:
293:Review scores
291:
282:
280:
278:
277:
272:
268:
259:
257:
255:
251:
250:
245:
241:
233:Musical style
232:
230:
228:
224:
220:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
191:
189:
185:
181:
177:
172:
170:
166:
165:New York City
162:
161:Peter Mengede
154:
152:
150:
146:
142:
138:
137:
124:
122:
119:
118:
116:
114:
110:
107:
104:
102:
98:
86:
82:
79:
75:
74:Post-hardcore
72:
70:
66:
62:
59:
55:
51:
47:
43:
38:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1137:
1128:
1116:. Retrieved
1112:the original
1107:
1081:
1069:. Retrieved
1064:
1055:
1046:
1024:December 29,
1022:. Retrieved
1015:
1006:
996:– via
989:
983:
972:
966:
935:
926:
914:. Retrieved
908:
881:
872:
863:
855:Deseret News
854:
845:
836:
826:
806:
802:
793:
773:
752:, retrieved
747:
741:
722:
712:
689:
667:
658:
558:
545:
544:
541:
531:Louder Sound
529:
527:
522:
516:
515:
504:
498:
492:
486:
485:
476:
474:
462:
447:
444:Jenny Eliscu
442:
430:
392:
354:
342:
274:
263:
249:Deseret News
247:
236:
192:
173:
158:
145:Epic Records
135:
134:
133:
37:Studio album
1065:The Lantern
837:loudersound
754:December 7,
690:loudersound
477:Jersey Beat
464:The Lantern
240:Silverchair
227:Ulrich Wild
61:Bad Animals
1152:Categories
1118:August 23,
1071:August 23,
1012:"Handsome"
916:August 23,
719:"Just Out"
650:References
550:audiophile
454:shoegazing
276:Aftertaste
215:Terry Date
211:Washington
155:Background
149:Terry Date
121:Terry Date
1043:"Reviews"
1017:Rock Hard
809:interview
794:dropd.com
733:1074-6978
630:– guitars
622:Personnel
528:In 2021,
521:included
432:Rock Hard
283:Reception
260:Promotion
184:Quicksand
1138:Kerrang!
934:(2007).
910:AllMusic
698:cite web
668:Kerrang!
639:– vocals
546:Handsome
523:Handsome
518:Kerrang!
481:nu metal
458:AllMusic
307:AllMusic
223:Deftones
180:Cro-Mags
176:hardcore
141:Handsome
136:Handsome
125:Handsome
113:Producer
49:Released
42:Handsome
39: by
22:Handsome
554:B-sides
244:Local H
219:midwest
207:Seattle
954:
944:Canada
731:
471:Legacy
437:8.5/10
301:Rating
298:Source
254:grunge
246:, the
178:bands
169:Helmet
84:Length
57:Studio
446:, in
221:with
213:with
167:band
101:Label
69:Genre
1120:2021
1073:2021
1026:2023
952:ISBN
918:2021
756:2020
729:ISSN
704:link
349:9/10
242:and
199:Epic
195:Sony
182:and
106:Epic
994:522
511:Far
503:or
483:."
205:in
197:'s
1154::
1136:.
1106:.
1095:^
1063:.
1045:.
1034:^
1014:.
946::
942:,
938:.
907:.
895:^
871:.
853:.
835:.
814:^
792:.
781:^
763:^
721:.
700:}}
696:{{
688:.
676:^
666:.
497:,
209:,
151:.
93:41
89:39
76:,
1122:.
1089:.
1075:.
1028:.
1000:.
960:.
920:.
889:.
875:.
857:.
839:.
796:.
735:.
706:)
692:.
91::
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
