‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #29: Havok – Unnatural Selection

By Andrew Bansal

Denver thrashers Havok have been around since 2004, and released their third full-length album ‘Unnatural Selection’ via Candlelight Records earlier this year. Led by guitarist/vocalist David Sanchez, Havok have not only strived to play and revive the old-school thrash that they clearly love, but have also attempted to throw in some un-thrash elements to diversify their sound and make it more interesting than that of a generic thrash band. On this latest album, they’ve done that to a greater degree than on the previous two. Starting out all guns blazing with furious thrash tunes like ‘I Am The State’ and ‘Give Me Liberty… Or Give Me Death’, this 10-track album offers plenty of speed and aggression but the slower parts and guitar melodies lend an excellent balance, and the production values are simply outstanding, highlighting each and every aspect of the music. Besides taking a forward leap with his guitar playing, David Sanchez has developed as a vocalist as well, with a voice that’s in some ways reminiscent of Death Angel singer Mark Osegueda. His bandmates Pete Webber on drums, Reece Scruggs on guitar and Michael Leon on bass do their respective jobs to perfection, making ‘Unnatural Selection’ an extremely well-rounded and in-your-face thrash album. Their cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Children Of The Grave’ is a pleasant bonus throwback and provides the icing on the cake. Havok’s ‘Unnatural Selection’ is without doubt one of the finest albums of the year.

Track Listing:
1. I Am The State
2. Give Me Liberty… Or Give Me Death
3. It Is True
4. Under the Gun
5. Waste of Life
6. Untitled
7. Chasing the Edge
8. Worse Than War
9. Children of the Grave
10. Unnatural Selection

Duration: 47.9 minutes

Related: Interview With Havok Frontman David Sanchez

Visit Havok on the web:
HavokBand.com
facebook.com/HavokOfficial
twitter.com/HavokThrash

The countdown so far …
#50. Nails – Abandon All Life
#49. American Sharks – Self-Titled
#48. Hatebreed – The Divinity Of Purpose
#47. Helen Money – Arriving Angels
#46. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Mind Control
#45. Ihsahn – Das Seelenbrechen
#44. Church Of Misery – Thy Kingdom Scum
#43. Wolvserpent – Perigaea Antahkarana
#42 . Djinn And Miskatonic – Forever In The Realm
#41. Czar – No One Is Alone If No One Is Alive 
#40. Against The Grain – Surrounded By Snakes
#39. Nekrofilth – Devil’s Breath
#38. Kylesa – Ultraviolet
#37. The Devil’s Blood – III: Tabula Rasa or Death and the Seven Pillars
#36. Kadavar – Abra Kadavar
#35. Purson – The Circle And The Blue Door
#34. Carousel – Jeweler’s Daughter
#33. Kvelertak – Meir
#32. SpiralArms – Freedom
#31. Satan – Life Sentence
#30. Exhumed – Necrocracy
#29. Havok – Unnatural Selection 

Check out #28 here.

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