Album Review: Havoc by Sudden Deaf (Self Released)

Hard rock and heavy metal ensemble Sudden Deaf are preparing to release the powerful new album Havoc on October 7th.  Drawing upon traditional metal, classic rock, hard rock and more, Sudden Deaf produce a thundering, guitar driven sound.

The 4 piece from Austin, Texas are Drew Potter on lead vocals and bass, Dylan Bigelow and Alex Turner on guitars and Max Cortez on drums. With two singles released from Havoc throughout this year, in Headhunter and Mind Control, those who have listened will have taken note of the style of music Sudden Deaf bring. High energy, guitar driven and rowdy hard rock and metal- with traditional vibes. All that good stuff.

Havoc opens with Goin Down, a rowdy and raucous number with catchy rocking riffs and hard lead melodies. The drums are frenetic and the energy is high – I feel like I need a beer in hand for this. The vocals are clean, traditional hard rock/metal in style with plenty of power and passion in them. The vocals bed into the music to create a punchy wall of sound that has real impact. Its a fast and energetic rocking number that puts a smile on your face.

Mind Control shows the band have more to offer than straight up thrashy rock songs with a much deeper,  longer and expansive song. The guitar games in the beginning build the song in mysteriously before a thick and chunky rhythm takes over. Thumping drums and crunchy riffs get your head moving while the lead guitars blaze out over the top. The vocals are strong, sitting in nicely with the crunchy rhythm. They have power and pitch but they don’t overpower. Its all very nicely balanced and the 8 minute track flies by in a flurry of riffs and blazing solos.

Raging Storm build sup nicely with bassy tones and slow drum thumps. The melodic style has a bit of an ominous tone to it helped by the atmosphere created by the echoing vocals. The power and force builds nicely as more layers of instrumentation join in. I really enjoy the overall darker tone to this one. Head Hunter keeps that darker tone running through its intro and then jumps into a nice rocking rhythm with a strong bass line and chunky riff.

The drums are brilliant in this track, well across the whole of Havoc but they really stood out for me in the massive instrumental section with the huge harmonising guitars and those crushing drums blasting out underneath it. I could listen to that for days. We move on to Dusk next which is just a short instrumental intermission with some nice guitar melodies.

It lead sus nicely into Havoc’s closer, City in the Sea. Closing a strong album, Sudden Deaf bring another top quality old school track here. There is plenty of depth to it, a strong and passionate start with glorious vocals. The song builds in power until we head into an insane instrumental section half way through that has more energy than a nuclear power station. Its rocking, its fun, its memorable. And its only half way through so there is plenty of time for more headbanging and dancing as the riffs and rhythms keep on coming at you.

It is a strong way to close out a very strong album. Sudden Deaf bring an unrelenting energy that bleeds through their music. Crafting their compositions and instruments carefully to construct an unbreakable wall of sound, with each element balanced for maximum impact. Traditional, hard rock, metal and all those other labels but at its heart, Havoc is just entertaining, fun and involving music that you can let loose to. Music that leaves you with a smile on your face and surely that’s the point.

Grab yourself a copy of Sudden Deaf’s Havoc, from the band, here.

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