I can’t help but think it’s got to be pretty easy to write an indignant thrash album in this day and age. Inspiration can’t be hard to find. HAVOK’s release last month, “Conformicide”, covers all your typical themes; war, religion, corruption, lies, fear, ignorance… but somehow these seem more relevant today than they ever did. It’s a Monday night, never an ideal day for a messy thrash gig, but there is a very decent crowd of people and they’re raring to go.
First on tonight’s agenda is Californian shredders EXMORTUS (8). The band appears to be a wall of swirling hair; a superb mix of fast and hard riffs and gruff vocals. Vocalist/guitarist Conan Gonzalez receives a lukewarm reception when he asks “Do you like Beethoven?!” but their rendition of “Moonlight Sonata (Act 3)” succeeds in totally converting the sweaty thrashers to classical music… the original speed metal. Other highlights from the set included “Death to Tyrants” and “Speed of the Strike”, both from their 2016 album “Ride Forth”.
France’s GOROD (8) is a little bit different! A mad mix of progressive technical wizardry, guttural death metal vocals and copious blast beats. I personally delighted in the sheer insanity of their sound and the entertaining performance (and some mad faces). I would probably have given the set a higher score if it wasn’t for the issues that saw the band constantly having to ask to have the drums turned down. Great moments included the thrashy new number “Being A Jerk” and set closer “Disavow Your God” from 2009’s “Process Of A New Decline”.
WARBRINGER (9) bring us the most furious set of the evening with their balls-to-the-wall Californian thrash. “We came here to blow your fucking heads off!”, exclaims grimacing vocalist John Kevill, and the crowd goes wild throughout the set; seemingly never ending circle pits, walls of death and even some stage diving (albeit from Mama’s very stumpy stage).
Kevill puts the boot in to the older generation of thrash bands who no longer deliver the ferocious live shows that WARBRINGER is delivering tonight. However, he paid tribute to Tony Iommi, here in his hometown, “the factory worker who cut off his fingers and was too stubborn to quit”. Particularly strong songs from the set included the anthemic “Right To Remain Violent”, “Shellfire” and title track “Woe To The Vanquished”, all from the album released just days before the show.
Like Mama’s concrete floor, the crowd is drenched in sweat and beer when our headliners HAVOK (9) take to the stage. The Colorado foursome deliver a brilliant show; crushing riffs and howling thrash screams. A particular high point for me was “Hang Em High” from the recent “Conformicide”; as vocalist/guitarist David Sanchez explains, the track is a tirade against “dirty rotten corrupt politicians who fuck over people as long as they can profit from it”… I think we all know which politician they’re referring to.
HAVOK provides a high energy ear-bashing and food for thought throughout the set, beseeching the crowd to “question everything and have a sceptical mind” before launching into “Intention To Deceive”. Other highlights from this set include the 1984 inspired “IngSock”, and set closer “Give Me Liberty… Or Give Me Death” from 2013’s “Unnatural Selection”.
What an incredible Monday night! I, and everyone else in attendance, will feel the effects for the rest of the week. These revivalist thrash bands proved tonight, firstly, that the genre is a never ending source of fun but also that it can still be relevant in a world where there is a lot to be pissed off about.
