Every week in March we’re doing themes (he randomly decided this morning), and this week we’re going with my weirdly growing and evolving cassette collection. Similar to my collection as a kid, it’s largely made up of smaller metal releases, filled with killer cover art and tiny inserts almost impossible to read, often imprinted with color on the cassette itself. I’m not going to advocate for its fidelity or superiority over other formats: the truth is I love the nostalgia it brings, and if I’m ordering something from a band on bandcamp and the price difference isn’t massive, I’d rather spring for physical media when I can. And so we begin with some fantastic trad metal from Florida’s Helms Deep, and their debut Treacherous Ways.

I can’t remember where I discovered Helms Deep; I was combing through a lot of the year-end lists looking for gaps as I put together my 2023 Best Of for Nine Circles. The band is the result of Raven bassist/vocalist John Gallagher teaming up with vocalist/guitarist Alex Sciortino to craft some of the most enjoyable NWOBHM revivalism I’d heard in some time. Treacherous Ways hits on a lot of different styles, but the focus is always on Sciortino’s guitar skills and his ridiculously versatile voice. Opener “Fire Rain” feels all intro until the primary riff comes in, Sciortino operating in gravel mode until the chorus, his voice suddenly rising in keeping with the track’s speedy power approach. The title track is more deceptive and indicative of the album title: what starts off as a slightly sleazy LA glam riff soon transforms into straight Mercyful Fate worship, with Sciortino’s voice hitting some Diamond falsetto levels, his riffs all twisted harmonized leads and minor 2nd jumps. The solo hits Yngwie neo-classical territory before settling back into its punishing main riff.

The production is fantastic, done by the band’s drummer Mike Heller who also knows exactly how to mix this trio to take advantage of each member’s strengths. We’re going to get to Raven shortly in another theme this month, but Gallagher’s bass is low and mean, preferring to lock in the rhythm rather than show off, and after more than 40 years the man knows metal inside and out, and knows exactly the support role he needs to be in Helms Deep. They provide the platform for Sciortino to explore different vibes throughout Treacherous ways, from the more spacious, epic trad sound of “Medusa’s Requiem” to the fretboard workout of “Breaking The Seal” and the wicked sleaze of closer “Serpent’s Eye.” In between everyone has moments to shine: Gallagher’s bass rises from the deep on late album highlight “Mountain Of The Scorpion” and Heller gives his kit a serious workout throughout, with special mention to his Nicko McBrain style fills on “Fight Or Flight”.

This is the kind of metal that keeps my heart full. I was looking at the 2025 metal that I’ve listened to so far and it’s no surprise that my top albums are all in the trad/speed/stoner metal categories. Give me guitars that shred, choruses that lift, and gritty down to earth production in my metal and I’m happy. That’s pretty much exactly what Helms Deep bring on their debut, and I can’t wait to hear what they do next.