Denver based thrash metal act Havok is back with their fifth studio album simply titled V. The album, due to be released on May 1st, showcases some of the quartet’s best work to date which is saying a lot from a band that’s been a part of the thrash metal scene since 2004.
The boys kick the album off with the first single from V titled “Post-Truth Era.” Opening with a slow, menacing guitar intro, the song wastes little time turning up the energy level with double bass drums and blistering guitar solos. Vocalist David Sanchez’s vocals pack the intensity of a young Tom Araya while the clean production makes them come through crisp and clear. With the second track “Fear Campaign” the intensity level rises even more. This politically driven track boasts some of the best guitar work in the band’s career. However, listen at your own risk as this song is sure to cause involuntary headbanging which could lead to whiplash.
The next song “Betrayed by Technology” begins with some playful back and forth between the two guitars and the bass before getting into one of the catchiest riffs on the album. This riff is perfect for Sanchez to deliver some of the most vicious vocals on the album. While this is likely the most bass driven song on the album, guitarist Reece Scruggs dishes out one hell of a guitar solo at the midpoint. Track four, “Ritual of the Mind,” slows down the pace a bit without sacrificing the intensity. This track also incorporates more melody than what Havok is typically known for. The song structure is so tight, however, that it blends perfectly with the heavier elements of the song. It all culminates in one the heaviest moments of the album: Sanchez’s visceral screaming marrying perfectly with Scrugg’s scorching guitar riff.
“Interface With the Infinite,” the fifth track on the album, really showcases new bassist, Brandon Bruce’s abilities. His crunchy slap bass adds an extra layer of texture and, as a result, the song packs a very powerful punch. From here, we get a short chance to catch our breath with the interlude “Dab Tsog” before jumping right back in to the absolutely brutal “Phantom Force.” As one of the fastest tracks on the album, this one is sure to start circle pits all over the country. It’s on the next track, however, where the band shine brightest of all. The song, titled “Cosmetic Surgery” showcases all the best elements that each band member brings to the table. The slap bass is very prevalent in this track which also contains the fastest drumming and guitar solos alongside chanting vocals reminiscent of Suicidal Tendencies.
If you’re not too exhausted yet, the band still have three more songs remaining. The song “Panpsychism” contains some of the most complex musical patterns that Havoc have ever produced. The guys perfectly tread the line between thrash metal and progressive metal here. Also featuring some clean, melodic vocals, this track is certainly one of the most experimental in the band’s expansive catalog. After the less than three-minute banger “Merchants of Death,” the band bring it all home with the astonishingly epic song “Don’t Do It.” If you’re still questioning the band’s heavy metal chops at this point, you absolutely won’t be after this eight-minute monster of a track. This track could easily be sandwiched in between “One” and “The Shortest Straw” on Metallica’s …And Justice for All and would fit perfectly. The music is just that tight and the classic thrash metal vibe is just that strong.
Overall, V is a collective effort from a very mature Havok who have really honed their song writing and shredding skills. Havok combines all of the best elements of classic thrash metal and brought them back. These boys are poised to spearhead a full-on thrash metal revival and I’m here for it.
I’m Music Magazine Writer Jason Jarvis
Pre-order your copy of V at HAVOKband.com
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