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The Helm of Awe is the fifth album from Chicago's Thrust, a band that was active back in the '80s but has released far more material in the new millennium. I enjoyed their last album, Harvest of Souls, and have learned to love their debut over the years so I was looking forward to this new one. The band has not wavered from their true metal roots and there is plenty of pummeling drum work, galloping bass and crunchy riffing to be found on The Helm of Awe. It's also got a bit of variety with some songs possessing doom-like choruses ("Killing Bridge") and others coming within a hair of thrash ("Blood in the Sky") but most stick to chugging traditional metal. There are high points such as the chorus on "Killing Bridge" and the bombast of "Battle Flag" but there are also missteps. The vocals are a tad out of tune in a few places, notably but not limited to the chorus of "The Traveler" and the guitar solo on "Battle Flag" is not on the beat at the outset. Thrust is a solid band that writes solid metal tunes, some better than others, and that applies to The Helm of Awe as well. It isn't their best work, but you'll still get more than a little headbanging enjoyment out of it.