Artist - HavocHate
Album - Cycle of Pain
Label - Indecent Media
Reviewer - Robin Steeley
Havochate is a New York based metal outfit that recently secured a deal with Indecent media to release their sophomore effort Cycle Of Pain that is slated for release on March 15th. The band features former Testament bassist Greg Christian and Cycle is the follow up to their debut “This Violent Earth” which was released through Root of All Evil records. Cycle was recorded at Pyramid Sound Recording Studios in Ithaca with producer Alex Perialas (TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX, OVERKILL).
The opening track, “Cycle of Pain”, is also the title track and gets things started out nice and heavy, easing into the growling vocals and driving percussion, before leading into “Tentacle” which if you can believe it is even heavier. The guitars are absolutely furious and compliment the sick bass lines. This song has a clean melodic chorus that comes out unexpectedly part way into the song, a formula that is repeated again in the song “Friction”.
Other standout tracks off of Cycle are “Wicked” which really reached out and grabbed me, and the slower starting “Alone” that has a ballad feel to it interspersed with faster tempo’s and heavy breakdowns. There is a serious level of musicianship evident here and some excellent guitar work as well. The band shows a new focus on growth in songwriting and instrumentation. They are staying with a traditional metal formula while incorporating unique elements to make their own sound. The songs are powerfully delivered and contain the elemental hooks that make Cycle of Pain a memorable record.
Tracklisting
1. Cold Embrace
2. Cycle of Pain
3. Fiction
4. Alone
5. Speak No More
6. Rotting Hour
7. Crack in the Sky
8. Tentacle
9. Still Alive
10. Wicked
11. Buried in Lies
Havochate is:
Freddy Ordine – Guitars, engineer, producer
Mario Rodriguez – Guitars
Tim Bouchee – Vocals
Greg Christian – Bass
Ovie Rodriguez – Drums
