Review Summary: Thrash with bash.
Havok is a somewhat bare-bones thrash metal hailing from Denver, Colorado that has been making music since 2004 and was signed into Candlelight records in 2009. This is their 4th album, which musically is present by their very tight and concise musicianship. There are fiery riffs alongside rampant drumming and cackling vocals that are very reminiscent of bands like Overkill.
That being said, Havok's "Conformicide" is raw. It's relentless. It's an aggravating assault that becomes more ferocious with the anti-political venom spit forth from vocalist David Sanchez. It's a more appropriate time then any to release a big "*** you" to politics in light of past events, and Havok does it without beating around the bush in the slightest.
"Political correctness: free speech seized
Political correctness is a social disease
Political correctness: free speech seized
Political correctness is a social disease"
Lyrically, this record is raw and unhinged (although perhaps a bit immature), and is a blatant attack on the biased and crumbling media and news outlets that surround us. There is no time wasted on pretty analogies or pretensions metaphors-Havok burst down the walls with their middle fingers up and tell you then and there what they think. The aforementioned "F.P.C" is the first track and it tells you concisely exactly what it's message was meant to convey. Anger. An absolute rage that permeates this record both lyrically and sonically.
In terms of sound, "Conformicide" is basically your typical thrash, just simply done with a bit more finesse and power. There are crunchy, mean-sounding riffs, blazing solos and blistering drum patterns and fills constantly present off this record, all topped off by the ear splitting shrieks performed by David. Thrash metal vocals are generally gruff as to be expected, but David takes this to the next level. His voice sounds like he lined the inside of his throat with sandpaper, creating a sound that could only best be described as Overkill-meets-Motorhead. His voice is simply beaten to hell and rough as could be, which only makes Havok sound that much more infuriated and pummeling.
The best part about this record however, perhaps the defining features of "Conformicide" is that funky bass. There are some serious grooves laid down through the entirety off this record, and while somewhat off putting and perhaps a tad bit shoehorned in, they, for lack of a beatter phrase, rule hard. There are simply too many great bass hooks to simply pick out one, and while some thrash elitists my sneer, it's rare you get to hear such sweet bass in something like thrash metal, where the guitar reigns supreme. Of course aside from this, "Conformicide" IS pretty typical thrash. However when the solos run ablaze like wildfire alongside ripping drum work and vocals that sound like a wailing banshee, what can you be dissapointed with? You cannot ask for more bash in your thrash then this record, and sometimes that's all a metal fan wants to hear.
