Havok

Biography

Havok is an American thrash metal band formed Denver, Colorado, in 2004. As of 2024, their lineup consists of frontman David Sanchez, drummer Pete Webber, and bassist Nick Schendzielos. They have gone through several personnel changes. Each album has featured a different lineup. Sanchez is the only remaining original member.
Havok has released five studio albums as of 2026: Burn (2009), Time Is Up×Time Is Up29 March 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Prepare for Attack3:572Fatal Intervention4:283No Amnesty3:304D.O.A.3:435Covering Fire4:156Killing Tendencies5:327Scumbag in Disguise4:348The Cleric4:469Out of My Way3:2010Time Is Up4:02 (2011), Unnatural Selection×Unnatural Selection25 June 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1I Am the State4:072Give Me Liberty… or Give Me Death4:443It Is True4:514Under the Gun4:205Waste of Life6:226Living Nightmare5:007Chasing the Edge5:068Worse Than War5:079Children of the Grave4:3910Unnatural Selection4:17 (2013), Conformicide (2017) and V (2020). Along with Bonded by Blood, Evile, Hatchet, Municipal Waste and Warbringer, the band has been credited for leading the so-called "thrash metal revival" of the late 2000s and early 2010s. Their music has been influenced by 1980s thrash metal and the New wave of British heavy metal, death metal, hardcore punk and progressive rock/metal.

History

David Sanchez formed Havok with drummer Haakon Sjoegren. The duo put up fliers around Denver looking for a guitar player. Guitarist Shawn Chavez joined the band. Bassist Marcus Corich rounded up the lineup. In 2004, Havok recorded the demo Thrash Can. In 2005, they self-released the EP Murder by Metal×Murder by Metal2006 · EP · DemoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Category of the Dead5:522The Disease5:333Die Young4:414Do or Die3:36. By 2007, bassist Tyler Cantrell and drummer Rich Tice joined the band. On September 19, this line-up self-released the EP Pwn 'Em All. Cantrell's brother Justin replaced him on several tours in support of the EP.
In December 2007, Havok, having just hired drummer Ryan Bloom that fall, sent a copy of their EP and a press kit to any metal label they could find. The EP caught the ear of English extreme metal label, Candlelight Records, and soon after the band agreed to join them. Havok hired new bassist, Jesse De Los Santos, in the fall of 2008. On June 2, 2009, Havok released their full-length debut, Burn. However, Ryan Bloom left the band in April before the release of "Burn". To replace him, they briefly went on the road with Scott Fuller, but they eventually hired Pete Webber as the full-time drummer. Burn was received quite well in the metal community, but it did not yet break them into the global metal scene. The band was set to begin touring with Primal Fear on May 20, 2010, at New York's Gramercy Theater, but guitarist Shawn Chavez quit the band the same day. Instead of jumping ship, Sanchez took up learning all the solos, and Havok toured as a trio. In September 2010, Winchester, VA shredder Reece Scruggs joined the band as their new lead guitarist. Havok then returned to the studio to record their sophomore effort. On March 29, 2011, Havok released Time Is Up. This spread through the metal community, receiving strong reviews from critics and fans alike. It became a defining album in what has come to be known as the New Wave of Thrash Metal scene. The success of Time Is Up has led the band to major tours opening for bands like thrash metal veterans Forbidden, alongside Revocation and White Wizzard; as well as tours opening for Sepultura, Death Angel, Anthrax, The English Dogs, the Casualties, Goatwhore, 3 Inches of Blood, Skeletonwitch, and Exhumed. 2012 was wrapped up for the band by playing the first Barge to Hell cruise featuring bands At the Gates, Behemoth, Mayhem, Possessed, Exodus, and Sacred Reich to name a few.
After over a year of heavy touring, Havok returned home to Denver with plans to record their next album. Havok was invited to open for Testament's 'Dark Roots of Thrash' tour at their Denver show after Overkill was forced to drop from the tour due to singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth falling ill. Fans were introduced to Havok's new bassist, Mike Leon (previously of Tampa, Florida metallers the Absence), after Jesse left the band to spend time with family. Havok began recording their newest album in the spring of 2013. Unnatural Selection was released on June 25, 2013, and in its first week charted on the Billboard top 200 at No. 154 selling over 2,500 copies. Shortly after the release, the band went to Bogota, Colombia to play the Rock Al Parque festival, playing to an estimated 45,000 people. The festival also included Cannibal Corpse and Symphony X. The band set out on a 50 plus day headline tour to support "Unnatural Selection×Unnatural Selection25 June 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1I Am the State4:072Give Me Liberty… or Give Me Death4:443It Is True4:514Under the Gun4:205Waste of Life6:226Living Nightmare5:007Chasing the Edge5:068Worse Than War5:079Children of the Grave4:3910Unnatural Selection4:17" with dates that lead up to the Montreal, Canada festival Heavy MTL on August 11. Unnatural Selection was the band's last release on Candlelight Records and on July 11, the band signed with Century Media Records.
On April 30, 2015, founding lead guitarist Shawn Chavez died at age 30.
On September 22, 2015, the band announced that they had parted ways with bassist Mike Leon (who had joined Soulfly), and had replaced him with Nick Schendzielos from Cephalic Carnage and Job for a Cowboy. That same month, it was announced that Havok had been working on their fourth studio album, Conformicide×Conformicide10 March 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1F.P.C.5:202Hang ’em High4:503Dogmaniacal5:554Intention to Deceive5:435Ingsoc7:416Masterplan6:257Peace Is in Pieces5:178Claiming Certainty3:439Wake Up5:4110Circling the Drain7:1711String Break0:4412Slaughtered3:56, which was released on March 10, 2017.
On May 17, 2018, the band announced the dates for the North American tour beginning on July 13 and ending on August 5. Jungle Rot and Extinction A.D. were also seen along.
In a July 2018 interview with Sonic Perspectives, Sanchez stated that Havok was going to "stop touring soon" and begin writing a new album, which he had hoped would be released by the summer of 2019. The album, titled V, was released on May 1, 2020, and is their only release with new bassist Brandon Bruce. On August 2, 2021, Bruce announced via Instagram account that he had left Havok, explaining: "As of a couple weeks ago I have officially left Havok. This is something I thought a lot about and is what I believe is the best decision for myself and the band. I wish them all the best both professionally and personally in the future. I would like to thank everyone that enjoyed what I was able to do with them musically."
On August 3, 2021, Metal Storm reported that Havok had "reportedly" been working on new material. The band embarked on its first U.S. tour in four years during the summer of 2023, and by this time, bassist Nick Schendzielos had rejoined. Miami New Times reported in July 2023 that new music from Havok would be released in 2024.
On July 30, 2024, Reece Scruggs announced that he had left Havok after fourteen years as the band's lead guitarist, citing scheduling conflicts. Brett Rechtfertig of Psychosomatic will be filling in for Scruggs on the band's summer and fall 2024 tour dates.
The band performed at Milwaukee Metal Fest in June 2026. They also be toured the U.S. during the summer alongside Killswitch Engage, Machine Head and Iron Reagan.