50 Best Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Albums Of 2017
28. Havok – Conformicide
The fourth album from Denver, Colorado’s resident speed demons Havok, Conformicide, is an hour of angry thrash perfectly tailored for the “post-truth” political generation.
With such burning lyrics as “Political correctness is a social disease”, “The enemy is not coming from overseas”, “Why do people bother praying / If He’s got a master plan?” and “Opposing independent thought / With an intention to deceive”, it goes without saying that Conformicide takes nothing but sheer joy in ripping a bite out of Havok’s home nation.
Whether it’s religion, politics, the military or any form of corruption or indoctrination, nothing is safe from this quartet’s satirical crosshairs.
But Conformicide is also so much more than just fiery tirades directed at authority. The album is pure thrash metal through and through, rapid and filled to the brim with vitriolic yells from frontman David Sanchez. The bass of newcomer Nick Schendzielos steals the show on multiple occasions, especially the haunting opening of the massive “Dogmaniacal” and the single “Intention to Deceive”.
The instrumental genius of Conformicide then hits a zenith on “Ingsoc”, a groove-laden, eight-minute giant filled with avant-garde riffing and a slowly exciting introduction.
Subversive, methodically crafted and providing shedloads of anarchic goodness, Havok’s latest disc is truly their magnum opus: focused, embittered and purposeful.