After three years, Rocky Mountain thrashers Havok are back with their fifth album appropriately titled V. Featuring 11 tracks of terrifically terrifying metal, V is a monster album. Strap on your helmet and lets charge headlong in to oblivion.

The classically influenced guitar arrangement swells in volume as Havok kickoff V with “Post-Truth Era”. The intro gives way to a bludgeoning gallop of guitars, bass, and drums. David Sanchez (vocals/guitars) spits with a venomous voice about the need for vigilance and critical thinking in a world collapsing under the weight of government and corporate lies. Particularly in light of AI capable of literally putting words into someone’s mouth, the lyrics “Don’t trust your eyes, Unlearn what you think you know” ring with alarming truth.

Joining David Sanchez, Reece Scruggs (guitar), Pete Webber (drums) is new bass player, Brandon Bruce. Have no fear Havok fans, Brandon has the same shoe size as former bassist Nick Schendzielos. As with prior Havok albums, there is great tonal separation allowing you to hear each musician with clarity. Brandon’s bass work is stellar. Take a listen to “Fear Campaign” as Brandon and Pete rocket this tune down the track at a breakneck pace. While Reece’s leads are spinning out in a sideways scream, the muscular punch of the bass and drums fuel the song with ferocity. For another great drum and bass showcase, check out “Interface with the Infinite”. You can see the pit full of high knee stompers raging to a story about blurring the lines of reality as we become one with the internet.

The backstory to “Dab Tsog” and “Phantom Force” adds to the dramatic and compelling nature of the music. In the Hmoog culture, dab tsog or night hag attacks men in their sleep by sitting on their chests and strangling them. Hmoog refugees from the killing fields of Laos in 1975 were dying in their sleep. The Hmoog assumed that dab tsog was angry that they had left their homeland and their traditions behind as they escaped to the U.S. In the song “Phantom Force”, Havok create a blistering onslaught of panic inducing riffs as they tell the story of a people who were killed by their nightmares. This song features just one of the many brilliant solos from Reece Scruggs. Here he captures the emotional intensity within a display of guitar wizardry.

Not only is metal entertaining and inspiring, it can give knowledge. On the song “Panpsychism”, Havok provide a learning opportunity in addition to a dazzling display of technical musicianship and alluring songwriting. I’m not going to take you down the rabbit hole on what panpsychism means, but the basic principle is that everything mental and physical are one. The mind and the physical world exist together in all things. When you listen to the interweaving guitars, bass, drum and vocals, your experience of banging your head, grasping at invisible oranges, and your blood raging in your veins is one with the physical sounds being played. Try not to let that trip you out for a few days.

V by Havok is a massive dose of unrelenting and devastating thrash metal. This album is a metal masterpiece. On V, Havok retain all the crushing heaviness and addictive riffs that has lifted them up as one of the premiere metal bands while continuing to explore their ingenious creativity. Each song on V is compelling and crushing. Be sure to add this one to your collection as V by Havok is destine to become a thrash metal classic.