HAVOK
“V”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

10/10

Havok are a thrash metal band from the USA formed in 2004. Their debut album ‘Burn’ was released in 2009 and quickly placed them in the same thrash metal zone as countrymen Death Angel, Flotsam And Jetsam and Testament. Two more albums followed, ‘Time Is Up’ (2011) and ‘Unnatural Selection’ (2013), cementing their status as a global force in the thrash metal genre. The bands fourth album ‘Conformicide’ was released in 2017, with their fifth album, simply entitled ‘V’, a 2020 release.

There have been some cracking thrash metal albums released already this year – Hazzerd’s ‘Delirium’, Assassin’s ‘Bestia Immundis’, and Testament’s ‘Titans Of Creation’ to name just three. All are worthy of becoming Album Of The Year, but are gonna have to fend off a new challenge, Havok’s latest release ‘V’. With eleven songs over forty five ferocious minutes, ‘V’ is a very strong contender for Album Of The Year. The pace, power and intensity of ‘V’ is incredible, and is gonna mercilessly decimate towns and villages with brute force. Brace your neck muscles for a severe head banging workout, as Havok unleash a furious rage the likes of which I haven’t seen, err heard, for some time… Well, not since the aforementioned albums from Hazzerd, Assassin and Testament.

The rage begins with the pulsating ‘Post-Truth Era’ exploding into life and roaring off at high velocity. Thunderous and loud, and very very proud, Havok set ‘V’ off to a blistering start – the savagery is brutal, and doesn’t let up until the albums end. The pace gets even quicker with the sound barrier breaking ‘Fear Campaign’ flying forth like it’s just been shot from a fifty cal! After just two songs the pace and intensity is incredible, the ferocity overwhelming, and why thrash metal has a reputation for being the loudest and most aggressive metal genre in the world. The much more aggressive and in your face nature of thrash lurches forth with the pounding ‘Betrayed By Technology’. The sound of the shredding guitars is absolute bliss, the bold, blunt and arrogant swagger of ‘Betrayed By Technology’ is simply breath taking.

And if that swagger wasn’t heavy enough to whet your palate, then the doom heavy stomp of ‘Ritual Of The Mind’ will – the crushing guitars and bludgeoning drums are gonna snap bones, making a visit to the local A&E a certainty. Havok are, literally wreaking havoc right through the centre of the thrash metal genre. The varying styles that thrash offers the world, are all on show here. And oh my fucking God, the intensity and heaviness levels just doubled… ‘Interface With The Infinite’ a deafening and skull crushing crescendo of scorching riffs. Just where on Earth do Havok find such riffs? From the fire in hell! Maybe, just maybe… ‘Dab Tsog’ is a one minute eerie and sinister sounding instrumental, building to a crescendo, giving way to the electrifying pace of ‘Phantom Force’. And believe me, there is nothing phantom about the force that ‘Phantom Force’ unleashes. The savage assault is gonna destroy towns and villages, wiping them off the face of the Earth, leaving scorch marks as the only trace.

Increasing the thunder and bringing forth mass destruction, ‘Cosmetic Surgery’ keeps up the lightning pace set by ‘Phantom Force’. Head banging will become violent, with neck muscles stretching past their comfort zones as heads become just a blur as they nod back and forth at an extreme rate. Better place an order for a neck brace now… With an air of menace, ‘Panpsychism’ opens in “chill the bones” style, becoming heavier as it progresses, adopting a mid paced foot stomp. The air of menace does remain though, forcing some listeners to take refuge behind the sofa, their inner voice screaming “you’re not gonna get me”. But get you Havok will – there is no hiding from the bands brutal assault – it’s gonna get you, no matter how far! ‘Merchants Of Death’ is the shortest song on offer, and is an incredibly fast and furious thrash metal assault. The pace and power of ‘Merchants Of Death’ is simply stunning, and if you’ve stopped head banging – why the fuck? Get head banging – now! Forget about sore neck muscles, ‘Merchants Of Death’ deserves your head to be banging. The album comes to a close with the eight minutes long ‘Don’t Do It’. A slow burner that opens with a mellow guitar solo and backing sound effects, leading into heavy guitars that cut and thrust with merciless savagery. Oh fuck me, that guitar sound is superb…it was worth waiting ten songs to hear it. And by the power of Greyskull, where the hell did that turn of pace come from! ‘Don’t Do It’ turns on its heels and hurtles off at maximum velocity, providing one last opportunity to head bang your head right off your shoulders.

Overall, a savage barrage of brutal thrash metal, Havok unleash a ferocious assault on the senses that is nothing short of spectacular.

TRACKLIST

Post-Truth Era
Fear Campaign
Betrayed By Technology
Ritual Of The Mind
Interface With The Infinite
Dab Tsog
Phantom Force
Cosmetic Surgery
Panpsychism
Merchants Of Death
Don’t Do It

http://havokband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HavokOfficial/

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