V (Havok album)

V
Studio album by
Havok
ReleasedMay 1, 2020
RecordedJuly–September, 2019
GenreThrash metal
Length45:45
LabelCentury Media
ProducerMark Lewis
Havok chronology
Conformicide
(2017) 		V
(2020)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
LouderSound
Distorted Sound9/10
The Rockpit9/10 [1]
Sonic Perspectives9.0/10 [2]
Metal Gods TV10/10 [3]

V is the fifth studio album by American thrash metal band Havok, released on May 1, 2020.[4][5] This is the band's only release with bassist Brandon Bruce, who would leave Havok in August of the following year.[6] Two music videos were produced for the tracks "Phantom Force" and "Post-Truth Era."

Reception

The album has received both praises from critics and mixed to positive reviews from fans. With many critics calling it a modern metal masterpiece. LouderSound gave a high review and stated that the band has nailed 21st-century thrash with its new album V. "Denver thrashers Havok’s new album V is where old school thrash speed meets new school thrash attitude," they commented. "Although retro-minded, Havok sound sharp and as furiously relevant as ever even as we struggle onward through difficult times."[7] A reviewer of Distorted Sound Magazine praised it as being a modern-day classic that showcases the band’s talent for keeping alive the thrash sound.[8] In Treblezine's review of the album, they also gave it high praise; Namely a switch of targets lyrically away and removing the toxic venom toward efforts of social justice and moving more towards the broader structures that poison and destroy the world. They further added with high regard to the vocals having a uniform of nasally thrashy half-bark, but bearing a surprising elasticity. "Their riffs have the perfect blend of finger-twisting menace and neck-snapping power," they added further "The bass is bright and round here, with plenty of treble and mid-range, cutting through the guitars like butter, having a sound sitting between the iconic spring of a fretless and the earthy growl of a fretted."[9]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by David Sánchez; all music is composed by Havok

No.TitleLength
1."Post-Truth Era"3:53
2."Fear Campaign"3:57
3."Betrayed by Technology"3:44
4."Ritual of the Mind"4:10
5."Interface with the Infinite"4:02
6."Dab Tsog"1:15
7."Phantom Force"2:59
8."Cosmetic Surgery"4:24
9."Panpsychism"6:29
10."Merchants of Death"2:45
11."Don't Do It"8:07
Total length:45:45

Personnel

Havok
  • David Sanchez – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, rain stick on "Dab Tsog"
  • Reece Scruggs – lead guitar
  • Pete Webber – drums
  • Brandon Bruce – bass, goat nails on "Dab Tsog"
Additional personnel
  • Mark Lewis – engineering, mixing, mastering
  • Eliran Kantor – artwork

Charts

Chart performance for V
Chart (2020) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[10] 48
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 73

References

  1. ^ Andrew Massie (April 28, 2020). "ALBUM REVIEW: Havok – V". Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Jonathan Smith (May 1, 2020). "Havok – V (Album Review)". Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ Iron Mathew (May 1, 2020). "HAVOK Album Review: "V"". Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. ^ Hadusek, John. "Havok Announce New Album V, Unveil Artwork and Tracklist". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Havok Detail New Album "V"". The PRP. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Havok - Bassist Quits The Band". Metal Storm. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  7. ^ Tom O' Boyle (May 1, 2020). "Havok have nailed 21st century thrash with new album V". Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  8. ^ Graham Ray (April 27, 2020). "ALBUM REVIEW: V – Havok". Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  9. ^ Langdon Hickman (May 15, 2020). "Havok : V Review". Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  10. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Havok – V" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Havok – V". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 12, 2020.

External links

Official music videos