Havok: Time Is Up METAL MARCH REVIEW

Reviving an older sound that has long been past its prime can be a daunting task, especially in metal, where sounds that die out, usually did so because the best ideas from that genre were eventually driven into the ground. Thrash is a genre that I can honestly say experienced just that, although I'd say that Thrash was also outdone in every way by the likes of Speed metal and Death metal, so in a way Thrash faded because there were faster, meaner, more boundary pushing genres that took its place; however, in the last decade or so, Thrash has been slowly creeping back into the fold, and Havok, especially on their 2011 LP Time Is Up, are a prime example of why that is the case.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say that Time Is Up is a bonafide modern Thrash classic. It not only pays homage to genre pioneers like Slayer and, especially Megadeth, but it has a furiosity and sound that is distinctly modern. Havok is what happens when a group of musicians grow up on the Big Four, but say to themselves, "hey, lets do this, but with even more guts". Because from start to finish, this LP goes for the jugular, almost to an obnoxious degree, with the overall energy of this album being incredibly high and angry from beginning to end. But honestly, that is the LP's single flaw, and for someone who doesn't mind a constant barrage of angry screaming, killer guitar riffs and face melting drum playing, this flaw will simply cease to exist.

Although I consider the album to be one consistent, 42 minute highlight, individual moments of note are "Prepare For Attack", "Fatal Intervention", the title track, and "Covering Fire". And while all of these tracks possess the aforementioned Thrash virtues such, each one takes on a slightly different lyrical approach, from people throwing away their lives ("D.O.A.") to the horrors of war ("Covering Fire"), Havok really lets their Megadeth influence show, especially the track "No Amnesty" which could of easily been on Peace Sells, or Rust In Peace.

Time Is Up is a fantastic LP, but more importantly, it is a great Thrash LP, and I think it is the ideal proof that even a genre like Thrash that has long since been abandoned by its creators, can continue to strive and push forward. Absolutely killer.

9.5/10