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Floridian Alex Sciortino had a dream – to play metal like they did in the 80’s. Thus, HELMS DEEP was born. Formed in 2017, Sciortino teamed up with drummer Mike Heller and bassist John Gallagher for the recording and release of debut album Treacherous Ways; an independent release caught the attention of Nameless Grave Records, who quickly signed the trio up and gave the record a new release under their name in 2023. Now, with guitarist Ray DeTone and new drummer Hal Aponte on board, HELMS DEEP are ready for the follow up, Chasing The Dragon.
Credit where it’s due, Sciortino has followed his dream to the letter. Chasing The Dragon is stuffed full of riffs, solos and passages where you can almost hear how big the band’s hair is. It’s a love letter to the bands who made metal what it is today, and you don’t have to wait long before the tributes begin – Black Sefirot opens with wailing, dual lead guitars and chugs along well, hints of early power metal in the mix too. There’s also a touch of MEGADETH-style thrash in the guitars tones as well, indicative of what’s to come as the title track is a harder sound, combining the faster elements of PRIEST with the more European strains of HELLOWEEN.
Sciortino‘s high pitched vocals cut through like a knife, piercing and adding to the ambience. Craze Of The Vampire drifts into neo-classical territory, with a tough of YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN in the intro and then a more progressive middle eight, hinting at early MAIDEN as it goes; the final third, however, is straight out of the Dio-era BLACK SABBATH playbook, yet thanks to the fantastical writings of the legendary singer, remains fully within HELMS DEEP‘s wheelhouse. And yet, after such a promising start, it then begins to get bogged down.
There was an early warning sign in Black Sefirot where the final solo, even though technically sound, outstayed its welcome, but one doesn’t take that as a foreshadow for the rest of the record. However, as the PRIEST-worshipping Cursed comes to an end and Flight Of The Harpy begins, tracks begin to blur, sequences feel repetitive and, worst of all, it gets boring. There is a fine balance when it comes to wearing your influences on your sleeve – yes, you want fans of those bands to listen to you, of course, but you still have to produce enough of your own identity to ensure you don’t pale in comparison.
This is where HELMS DEEP need to strengthen – the longer Chasing… progresses, the more they fade until you’re left wondering why you’re still listening to this and not, for example, Blizzard of Ozz. There’s no doubt that the quartet are excellent musicians, but that one dimension isn’t being equally matched by their character, thus leaving the album okay, but never able to go beyond that. Chasing The Dragon is an apt title, because HELMS DEEP are still a fair way off reaching their goal. There is potential here, but until they can stamp more of their own personality over their music, they’re not going to get much further than backyard shows and small bars. A case of ‘what could have been’.
Rating: 5/10
Chasing The Dragon is out now via Nameless Grave Records.
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The post ALBUM REVIEW: Chasing The Dragon – Helms Deep appeared first on Distorted Sound Magazine.
