Helms Deep - Chasing the Dragon (FULL ALBUM)

Описание: Released on June 20, 2025, by Nameless Grave Records, Chasing the Dragon is the second full-length album by American band Helms Deep, a traditional power metal quartet that captures the raw and fast essence of the 1980s, blending influences from giants like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Riot, and even touches of Savatage and early Metallica. Formed in 2017 by guitarist and vocalist Alex Sciortino in Orlando, Florida, Helms Deep emerged as a visionary project to revive speed/power metal with a touch of progressive and fusion, creating an ambiguous and captivating atmosphere that goes beyond mere revivalism.

The album represents an explosive evolution from their 2023 debut, Treacherous Ways, which already featured heavyweights like drummer Mike Heller (ex-Fear Factory, Raven) and bassist John Gallagher (Raven). For Chasing the Dragon, Sciortino refined his lineup: Heller replaced Hal Aponte (Ice Age) on drums, bringing vicious and creative timing, while Ray DeTone (Paul Di'Anno's Killers) joins as a second guitarist, adding an eclectic, wailing style that elevates the harmonies to another level.

The result is an immersive 3D stereo recording—DeTone on the left channel, Sciortino on the right—capturing the "personality and humanity" of every riff and beat, with crystal-clear production that highlights 12-string guitars and surprise elements. With 11 tracks totaling a roughly 50-minute odyssey, Chasing the Dragon is a rollercoaster of relentless speed, thundering riffs, and punchy choruses, yet without falling into cliché.

The album opens with the exotic "Wing Chun," introduced by Liang Wu's erhu (a Chinese folk instrument evoking ethereal harps), before exploding into "Black Sefirot," a storm of guitars and tense melodies. The eponymous title track gallops like Iron Maiden on steroids, with subtle soprano guitar intros that sound like medieval harps, while "Craze of the Vampire" and "Cursed" inject an old-school thrash, reminiscent of Metallica's Ride the Lightning.

Highlights include "Flight of the Harpy," an epic rollercoaster featuring Sciortino's favorite riffs; "Red Planet," which delves into fast-paced psychedelia with mind-bending arpeggios; and "Shiva's Wrath," closing with Cliff Hackford's tabla for a mystical Indian touch. These guest appearances on unconventional instruments—erhu and tabla—expand the sound into progressive territory, adding exotic layers without losing focus on pure metal.

Sciortino, whose vocals now sound more elevated and refined, describes the track as a coincidence (or fate?) with the Chinese Year of the Dragon, symbolizing the relentless pursuit of metal's ecstasy. Critics praise the album as a denim-and-leather rager with balls-to-the-wall energy and impeccable chemistry, predicting that with a little more discipline, the next one could be an absolute monster. Reviews range from 3.5/5 (Angry Metal Guy, for its raw speed) to a top 10 of the year (New Noise Magazine), highlighting it as a celebration of classic heavy metal, but with a modern freshness.

Available in limited formats such as a double LP with silkscreen, CD, cassette (diehard edition with exclusive flag and patch, limited to 100 copies), and digital, Chasing the Dragon is for those who chase the dragon: a furious journey that leaves fans sweating, headbanging, and craving more. If you enjoy NWOTHM with soul, this is the album that will set your collection on fire. Listen on Bandcamp or YouTube and get ready for the hunt.

MEMBERS
John Gallagher - Bass, Vocals (backing)
Alex Sciortino - Vocals, Guitars
Hal Aponte - Drums, Percussion
Ray DeTone - Guitars

TRACKLIST
1. Wing Chun
2. Black Sefirot
3. Chasing the Dragon
4. Craze of the Vampire
5. Cursed
6. Flight of the Harpy
7. Frozen Solid
8. Necessary Evil
9. Red Planet
10. Seventh Circle
11. Shiva's Wrath

SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook:   / helmsdeep666  
Instagram:   / helms_deep_metal  
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Mxyl...
YouTube:    / @helmsdeep-official  

COPYRIGHT
All music written and produced by Helms Deep. All rights reserved to Helms Deep.

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