MV MEETS: HAVOK

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Havok main man David Sanchez on politics, thrash and pop music 

It’s strange how you think you know a musician based on the songs that you love.

MV has been a fan of Havok for a few years. In the spirit of full disclosure, since around the time we hated Megadeth’s Supercollider and decided to look for new thrash bands since the old ones couldn’t do it anymore.

In the four years since, the world has changed, behemoths of thrash – both in the big four and outside it – have remembered how to make good music (Megadeth included) and as a consequence there has been a resurgence.

But listening to Havok , you- aren’t quite prepared for their frontman to be studious and understated. On record, David Sanchez is loud, brash and a million miles an hour, but sitting quietly backstage in Birmingham – where his band are due to play their third UK show in a little under three hours – he is a million miles away from the stereotype.

He and his bandmates are back in the UK to promote their new “Conformicide” record.  As a piece of social commentary then it is amongst the best thrash records you will hear this year, a fact that Sanchez is happy to discuss: “It is my belief,” he muses, “that too much power is still in the hands of corrupt politicians and something needs to be done about it.”

There’s a song on “Conformicide” that explains exactly what he’d do too. “Yeah ‘Hang ‘Em High” he laughs. “We put that song out on inauguration day to make a point, but I would love to see those politicians pay for what they are doing to the people they are supposed to represent.”

Ahhh, yes, the US Election. There’s the elephant in the room in all of this. It is interesting, though that as politically charged as the songs on “Conformicide” are, they were all written before Trump and his wall and his executive orders became a grim reality. “Oh yeah,” David nods in agreement, “these tracks were all in the can before all that, but yeah I guess they can’t hurt the relevance of it all.”

If Havok’s new album is a plea for people to be more aware of the world and they are manipulated, MV puts it to Sanchez – and these are not words we thought we would ever say –  that Trump might be a good thing? “Well, about the only upside I can see to that guy being in the White House is that people might begin thinking about why these things are happening and why they are allowing these things to happen.”

A central theme of the brilliant new record is the media and its control over the population. This is perhaps most explicit on “Intention To Deceive” which begins with the line: “it’s five o’clock and here’s what we want you to think…” and Sanchez is keen to elaborate. “Somehow we’ve got to get people to question what they hear, what they read, to not be so accepting of everything, to be sceptical,” he says. “There’s a song on the album called ‘Ingsoc’ which is inspired by the book 1984 and really, are we too far away from that Orwellian situation now?”

There is another track that MV wants to discuss too. “FPC” – fuck political correctness – for the avoidance of any debate – and that one was personal to Sanchez too: “Definitely,” he smiles. “I grew up with The Simpson’s, Mel Brooks movies, I don’t understand this desire for political correctness and for everything to be sanitised. Call it my take on that if you like.”

“Conformicide” feels like a giant leap forward for the band. The frontman suggests that he’s happy that it is and adds: “We’ve been playing the new songs live back home [they’ve been on tour – as they are here –  with Warbringer and Exmortus] and they’ve been going down really well. People seem to be really into the album and we couldn’t be happier with how it’s all going so far.”

The new album sees the latest line up of the band. The key change this time saw Cephalic Carnage and Job for a Cowboy bassist Nick Schendzielos join the ranks. Even with his more death metal background, the four stringer has fitted in like a glove and Sanchez is unequivocal about what he’s brought to the band: “Having Nick on board has been brilliant,” he offers. “He’s so skilled that we can finally go and do anything we want. He’s made us all better.”

Some eight years have passed since Havok’s debut was released and this might feel like a watershed moment for them. Sanchez isn’t quite ready to go that far, but is happy to discuss how difficult it is to be in a band: “We are lucky to be able to do what we do. It’s hard, you don’t get in the music business to make money these days!” But it’s great that we can come back here every year – especially this time with the new record – and people respond to it. We’ve just been out in the US and after this Euro trek is done we will be back out in the summer. There’s a good scene in Denver, where we are from and other bands look forward to playing there, so it’s all good.”

As a touring band they’ve been to many places. But David is in no doubt about the one he wants to go to most. “India, that would be amazing. I would love us to tour there.”

A steadily growing fanbase here as pleased him too. The show tonight is the second proper headlining show that Havok are playing on this run (there was also a date at the Heavy Scotland festival) and it is the start of a punishing schedule that sees them playing nearly every night right up until it finishes at the very end of April. Ask Sanchez if he enjoys it and the answer you get isn’t quite what you expected: “Yeah, I mean, I love playing live, why would you do this if you didn’t? But as for the logistics, well we try and keep days days to a minimum. It’s simple. If we aren’t playing then we don’t get paid.”

Just like you think you know an artist solely based on their music, then equally you never think of it being a job for the bands you love. Except it’s not, not really and the music fan in Sanchez has some interesting thoughts as to why music is struggling to have the same mainstream impact that it once did. “It’s like what I was saying before about the media telling people what to think, they also try and tell you what to like. Everyone would be happy if all the kids liked Justin Beiber, or whatever. I don’t, the kids here tonight don’t, you don’t. That’s the point.”

He warms to his theme and adds. “There’s no pop bands anymore. Queen were a pop band, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, all popular, mainstream acts. If we could get that back, then that’s cool, people are receptive to thrash again, so that’s good for us.”

Which almost brings us back full circle. The bog beasts of thrash. Metallica are charging £100 for tickets in the autumn and sold every show out in minutes, Anthrax too, just sold out in Brum a few weeks before, a fact David says is good: “I look at it like this,” he admits. “Those bands will not be around forever and we have to be ready to step up and fill the void.”

Watching them onstage put those into life and there is only one conclusion. Whenever that day comes then they won’t be found wanting. But don’t take our word for it. Havok would want you to find out for yourselves.

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