Traditional/power metal torchbearers HELMS DEEP are charging back into the spotlight with their thunderous new single “Chasing The Dragon”, now streaming exclusively via Decibel Magazine. This track is the title cut from the band’s upcoming second full-length, which drops June 20th through Nameless Grave Records. You can stream the track here
Originally formed in 2017 by guitarist/vocalist Alex Sciortino, HELMS DEEP was born from a love of raw, old-school 1980s speed and power metal—but with a unique twist. Sciortino always had a vision that pulled in the atmosphere of prog and fusion, giving the band a slightly off-center identity from the jump. The group took its time getting off the ground—five years, in fact—before Sciortino joined forces with Mike Heller (Raven, Malignancy, ex-Fear Factory) and John Gallagher (legendary Raven bassist/vocalist). That lineup gave birth to their debut album, Treacherous Ways, which was briefly self-released on Bandcamp before catching the attention of Nameless Grave Records. The label gave the album a proper release in 2023, instantly growing HELMS DEEP’s reach across the global metal underground. Midway through tracking Treacherous Ways, inspiration hit hard—and by the time the dust settled, eleven brand-new tracks were already written for a follow-up. That spark has now evolved into the band’s ambitious new album: Chasing The Dragon.
To preview what’s to come, Chasing The Dragon shows HELMS DEEP spreading its wings. Sciortino brought in drummer Hal Aponte (Ice Age) for a looser, more natural rhythmic feel and tapped longtime mentor and guitar teacher Ray DeTone (Paul Di’Anno’s Killers) to handle second guitar duties. The result is a record that breathes—it’s tighter, more cohesive, and deliberately more human.
The album was recorded in true stereo: DeTone’s guitars are panned left, Sciortino’s right, and the Aponte-Gallagher rhythm section serves as the seismic backbone tying it all together. What makes Chasing The Dragon truly stand out is its raw, organic vibe—minimal editing, no artificial polish, just musicians locked in and letting the music speak. The band even brings in outside textures with guest performances from Liang Wu on erhu and Cliff Hackford on tabla, injecting traditional folk elements that deepen the album’s atmosphere without compromising its metal core.
According to Sciortino, the title track felt like the natural centerpiece—not only was the album wrapped during the Chinese Year of the Dragon, but the song encapsulates HELMS DEEP’s balance of speed, melody, and experimentation. “Chasing The Dragon opens with this soprano guitar part that almost sounds like a harp—something you rarely hear in metal—and it just felt like the most concise representation of what we were trying to do with the whole record,” he explains.
Decibel raves that the track “offers a speedy power metal punch, with guitar acrobatics, a punchy chorus and relentless energy,” also noting that Gallagher’s involvement alone is enough to turn heads—and they’re not wrong.
Chasing The Dragon was co-produced by DeTone and Sciortino, with mixing handled at Dancetone Music Studio and re-amping courtesy of Lasse Lammert. The final master was done by Andy Van Dette (Deep Purple, Bruce Dickinson, Fates Warning, Girlschool, Rush), ensuring the album sounds as massive and cinematic as its vision demands. The cover artwork comes courtesy of Bob Eggleton, a nine-time Hugo Award winner whose work adds the perfect fantastical edge.
Fans of classic metal with a twist—think Savatage, Raven, Crimson Glory, Satan—will find a lot to love here.
Release Details:
HELMS DEEP’s Chasing The Dragon lands June 20th on 2xLP vinyl (featuring a silkscreened D-side), CD, and digital formats.
📀 Pre-order now via the Nameless Grave Records webshop
🎵 Stream “Flight Of The Harpy” and preorder on Bandcamp
📽️ Stream the title track “Chasing The Dragon” exclusively at Decibel Magazine.
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