John Gallagher may be the bassist and vocalist of classic New Wave of British Heavy Metal band Raven, but he’s best known across the metal universe for crafting one of the most legendary comments in Angry Metal Guy history. In his response to Huck ‘n’ Roll‘s (R.I.P.) middling review of Raven’s 2020 album Metal City, with just a few dozen keystrokes, Gallagher demostrated complete mastery over the art of the internet comment by simultaneously describing Huck‘s mom’s unorthodox dental practices and coining what has become the traditional AMG farewell phrase, “Off you fuck, chief!” I took so much delight in this single solitary comment that I was disappointed when Gallagher remained tragically quiet on Steel‘s more positive take on Raven’s newest release this past summer. It wasn’t until I was well invested into listening to Treacherous Ways, the debut album from Helms Deep—a band I checked out solely because of the name—that I discovered Gallagher’s involvement in the project. So, please, John, if you’re out there, please talk dirty to me.
But enough about John Gallagher for the moment—Helms Deep is the brainchild of vocalist and guitarist Alex Sciortino, and the project is his personal love letter to classic heavy metal. Helms Deep recalls the olden NWoBHM majesty of bands like Angel Witch and Satan while simultaneously channeling the epic power of early Savatage. At the time of this writing, I have all of the tracks contained within Treacherous Ways at my disposal for embedding, and it’s nearly impossible to choose because there are so many excellent possibilities. I’ve opted for my personal favorite, “Mountains of the Scorpion,” a power/speed anthem that verges on thrash at times with its galloping riffs and fabulous solo sections. But the world-class chorus is what really sells the track for me; it’s pure heavy metal perfection.
The Helms Deep sound is cohesive and unified, but that sound is expressed in a wonderfully diverse way across Treacherous Ways. Opening barnburner “Fire Rain” is NWoBHM-tinged power metal, the title track is snarling heavy/speed, while “Sorcery” is pure epic traditional metal. “Medusa’s Requiem” is another album highlight that has groove for days and attitude for years. Sciortino’s vocals are so old-school, sounding like they came straight out of the era that inspired his music, and his near-growled vocals on the chorus of the aforementioned track are convincing as hell. Incredibly, his vocal performance is matched, and perhaps surpassed, by his guitar prowess throughout the record.
Treacherous Ways is superbly produced and is best enjoyed at maximum volume. This is a guitar-driven album, and the production allows that six-string engine to purr. The riffs are sharp, the leads are molten, and the underlying spirit of groove is palpable. Gallagher’s bass is given ample room to run, and his Raven bandmate Mike Heller lays down a solid drum performance. The album is a tad long at 50 minutes, but the material contained within is so strong that it’s hardly an issue. If I had to cut a song, I’d probably axe the penultimate “Headless Horseman,” a song that is good on its own but gets forgotten between its stronger neighbors. Classic metalheads should enjoy this whole thing, but “Fire Rain,” “Treacherous Ways,” “Medusa’s Requiem,” “Sorcery,” and “Mountains of the Scorpion” are just fantastic and could easily hold their own against the genre’s all-time best cuts.
Treacherous Ways ultimately falls a smidge short of greatness, but that doesn’t keep it from blowing my personal Horn of Helm Hammerhand. Fell deeds awake, Helms Deep have quickly established themselves as a traditional metal band to watch with such a promising debut.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 10 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Nameless Grave Records
Website: helmsdeep666.bandcamp.com
Releases Worldwide: November 3rd, 2023
