Helms Deep is an American-based heavy metal band founded by singer, songwriter and guitarist Alex Sciortino, releasing the band’s debut album ‘Treacherous Ways’ in 2023.
Joining Sciortino, is legendary Raven bass player, vocalist and founder John Gallagher, along with (John’s bandmate) drummer Mike Heller (Raven, Fear Factory, Malignancy) – the band delivering a powerful blend of old school, “foot on the monitor” traditional heavy metal. ‘Treacherous Ways’ features eleven songs across a barnstorming forty-six minutes, all coming to life with the slow-burning ‘Fire Rain’, turning on its heels at around one minute in to become a fast and furious gallop of traditional metal. Traditional as in the sense of British sounding, even though only one-third of the band is British, the other two-thirds flying the American flag! The British sound is reinforced further on the title song ‘Treacherous Ways’, with the unmistakable buzzing guitar tone of the legendary NWOBHM shining very brightly – ‘Treacherous Ways’ (the song) galloping on with purpose and intent.
The opening one-two has been immediate and emphatic, most of the songs on offer clocking in at between four and five minutes in length, the album roaring on with the bustling ‘Fight Or Flight’ forging a savage path across the land. Helms Deep may be a new band, but are not lacking experience in any way shape or form, the trio of musicians on show is very experienced – seasoned you might say (although I did think veteran in the case of John Gallagher – sorry John). As the album moves on with ‘Medusa’s Requiem’, the band keep one foot on the monitor and the other firmly pressing the pedal to the metal. The intensity and headbang ability of the album so far has been top-drawer, every song coming at you directly from the centre of the heavy metal genre – arguably the greatest genre of music ever invented, annihilating the airways for nigh on fifty years. And with bands such as Helms Deep around, the airways are going to be in for some heavy punishment for the next fifty too – ‘Annihilation’ roaring on at full tilt, banging heads faster and more furiously than at any other time on the album so far. Ignoring speed limits and the local traffic police, ‘Annihilation’ is a rabid romp of all-out balls out of heavy metal, and dare I say it, reminiscent of Raven. There, I said it!
And without dropping the incredible intensity level, Helms Deep storms on with another glorious NWOBHM-sounding scorcher – ‘Breaking The Seal’ marching on with amazing majesty and a melodious intent greater than any other song. That’s any other song heard so far, ’cause we’ve only just passed the halfway point! I grew up on a healthy diet of British heavy metal, with bands such as Angel Witch, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon and (of course) Raven regularly on the menu with me doing my best Oliver “I want some more” impression. And I always got more – just like right now, the band giving me more by way of the speedy ‘The Keep’. Blazing a fiery trail across the land, ‘The Keep’ shudders the ground with a ferocity not heard before, walls crumbling and buildings reduced to rubble by the sheer force of ‘The Keep’. A force that’s more powerful than gravity – ‘Sorcery’ a massive bombastic barrage of old school heavy metal to please the older fans out there (me included), younger and newer fans too! And as we all know, heavy metal transcends boundaries, breaking down barriers and demolishing obstacles – metal concerts regularly featuring up to three generations of fans, everyone equally into the music as passionately as everyone else.
And it’s that passion that drives much of the metal community, for heavy metal is much more than just music – it’s a feeling, a way of life, a chance to escape and be free! And I’m gonna stop right there as I feel myself getting ready to stand on a soap box and start preaching – so let’s get straight back to Helms Deep, the band storming on with ‘Mountains Of The Scorpion’ maintaining the phenomenal intensity of the album, vigorously stretching the necks of every single metalhead to breaking point! And beyond most likely – Helms Deep an unforgiving metal machine delivering a fucking great album! An album that suddenly hits the brakes, ‘Headless Horsemen’ all mellow and serene – building to a mid-tempo thunderstorms, continually changing gears and identity as it trots on to a conclusion. And in what seems like no time at all, the final song is upon us – ‘Serpent’s Eye’ a red hot scorcher to test the limits of human head banging! The furious pace is incredible, Helms Deep serving up a frantic yet fantastic final hurrah.
Overall, a barnstorming barrage of all-out heavy metal, immensely infectious and one hundred percent head bang-able.
TRACKLIST
Fire Rain
Treacherous Ways
Fight Or Flight
Medusa’s Requiem
Annihilation
Breaking The Seal
The Keep
Sorcery
Mountains Of The Scorpion
Headless Horseman
Serpent’s Eye
Helms Deep: Facebook
Release Year: 2023
Label: Nameless Grave Records
Category: Album
Country: USA
Reviewed by Iron Mathew for Frenzy Fire and Metal-Roos.
