That's What Heavy Metal Means To Me: Helms Deep's Alex Sciortino

In which, using an unlikely Nick Cave paraphrase as a starting point, we ask various prominent heavy metal people precisely that question… This time it’s Alex Sciortino, prime moving vocalist and guitarist of your new fave metal band, Helms Deep…

Welcome to Sentinel Daily, Mr Sciortino! What initially drew you to heavy metal music, and how has your relationship with it evolved over time? “I got very into music around thirteen where I explored lots of different kinds of rock, prog and fusion. The first three bands that got me playing guitar were Zeppelin, Sabbath, and Purple so those bands drew me in, especially Sabbath. My relationship has only grown; by now I’ve discovered so much music I can hardly keep track”.

Tell me about it! Can you describe a pivotal moment or experience that solidified your passion for heavy metal? What was the first heavy metal song or album that blew your mind, and why? “It depends how heavy we’re talking. Morbid Angel’s Altars of Madness was the first extreme metal that blew my mind, but it was a process to get to that level. I believe it was Sabbath’s Masters of Reality that started the trajectory, as that was the first album I heard with darker imagery”.

How do you think heavy metal culture and music have influenced your identity or personal beliefs? How has heavy metal influenced your personal style, or the way you see the world? “It’s influenced my identity in so many ways – definitely instilled a sense of confidence and probably had something to do with me going against the grain, although I’m not sure which came first the chicken or egg with that one. I’ve always sort of rejected social norms and the roboticness of people in how they all just get in line, and do as they’re told, pretty clichéd, but that’s likely why I was drawn to metal. It’s abrasive music that causes trouble, does what it wants, shakes the fish tank. Style? Well, I wear black and red a lot…”

Ha ha me too! Although as I get older I do inject a little more colour into my wardrobe… Do you have any rituals or traditions related to heavy metal? “For me the best way to listen to metal is to get a few beers with some friends and play pool and just talk about the bands, but I also listen to records on my own so I can really focus on the details. There’s nothing like hearing it on vinyl exactly the way everyone heard it when it first came out”.

What aspects of heavy metal do you find most captivating or resonant, whether it be the music itself, the lyrics, or the community surrounding it? “For me it’s the abrasiveness and danger like I mentioned before. I also love the imagery, whether it be horror, fantasy, melancholy or whatever. Another thing that sets metal apart from other music to me is how powerful the vocals are, especially in power metal. something you can’t find anywhere else”.

How does heavy metal serve as a form of self-expression for you, either through listening to it or creating your own music? “Whether listening or writing it enables me to just focus and zone out, almost like meditation. Especially when writing. It gets me to a point where I really have to tap into my subconscious and let the good stuff flow out”.

Are there particular themes or messages within heavy metal that you find especially meaningful or empowering? “I like so many different kinds of metal and respect them all for what they are. I love Judas Priest‘s Delivering The Goods just as much as Sodom‘s Agent Orange or Necrophiliac by Slayer – It just depends on my mood. But yeah, Judas Priest has a handful of songs that just lift your spirit to the max and no one else does it like them”.

In what ways do you think heavy metal contributes to broader cultural conversations or movements? “I think it’s always been and always will be a counter culture and attracts types who think a bit more outside the box and find beauty in the dark and uncomfortable”.

What are some of the misconceptions you encounter about heavy metal fans? “Something I realised growing up is that metal fans are nice people pretending to be mean and hippies are assholes pretending to be nice as I knew both”.

That’s so true. Across decades and continents we somehow knew the same sort of people in our formative years! Looking towards the future, how do you envision the role of heavy metal evolving, both for yourself personally and within the larger music landscape? Are you optimistic about what the future holds? “Sure, I’m optimistic. I will always be writing more music, and I think current bands are keeping the torch lit. I’m intrigued to see where it all leads culturally”.

We couldn’t let this interview pass without mentioning Chasing The Dragon, your splendid new album. It’s definitely the best ‘true’ metal album we’ve heard in quite some while. Tell us a bit more about your vision for Helms Deep, and just how hard is it in the current environment (financial, fiscal, cultural) to realise that vision? “Thank you. I’m really happy you feel that way. We’re really proud of this one. My vision was exactly what we accomplished with this album honestly. Creating raw classic metal with interesting prog elements that check all my boxes taste wise. I live in the U.S. where metal isn’t exactly pop culture. When people hear I like metal they usually say, “like Marilyn Manson?” So it does tend to feel a bit isolating in my immediate vicinity, sort of like swimming upstream as no one’s skipping and dancing with excitement when a new Helms Deep album comes out here in South Florida, but it’s still a fun place to live and I like it here and life isn’t all about what kind of music people like. I reserve talking about metal with people I know are into it. But regardless I do it because I love it and don’t care what others think but it’s nice to see positive feedback on social media and that there are so many kindred spirits out there from all over the globe. I don’t think any of that affects my ability to bring the vision to reality as the music is so ingrained in me writing songs is like an itch that needs to be scratched”.

And finally, here’s your chance to say, in one sentence, “That’s what heavy metal means to me”… “Heavy metal means… everything to me”.

Thanks for taking part!