Within moments of the furious opener of Havok's second release, it becomes clear that they are going to pose a problem to review. How you take this album is very dependent on whether you miss the American Thrash explosion of the 1980s and wish that leaders of the scene like Megadeth, Metallica and Anthrax still sounded just like they did during that decade. If the new wave of these bands leaves you a little cold however, Havok will freeze the blood in your veins.

This is the sound of very traditional and well-executed Thrash Metal. For those who particularly appreciate clean, technical guitar, the fast and melodic riffs will satisfy immensely. The album is jammed with perfectly delivered solos from the twin guitar attack of Reece Scruggs and vocalist David Sanchez, synchronized well with a powerful rhythm section which drives each song aggressively forwards. Sanchez's vocals are reminiscent of the late and much missed Chuck Schuldiner of Death, which can only be a positive asset and they fit well with the tone of the music as he tears through the lyrics with a raw, defiant tone. He can also produce an intense scream, which elevates his vocal-style pleasingly. Lyrically, the band stays well within the expected subjects of rebellion against oppressors, survival and threats of domination. The lyrics are capable and solid but nothing to rival Mustaine or Hetfield. Ten tidy and tightly crafted songs form a very creditable attempt at re-creating the peak of Thrash, with The Cleric, D.O.A. and the eponymous track stand-out efforts. If you wore out your 80s Thrash cassettes and are desperate for new thrills, Havok will excite you.

This though, is where we come to the problem; for the Colorado thrashers, it may as well still be 1988. Their devotion to the classic Thrash sound is so total that they fail to bring anything new to the genre. There is literally nothing on this album - in the music, lyrics, vocals or production - that you won't have heard a thousand times before. As solid as the record is, it is likely to provoke in most people a feeling of wanting to stop listening and dig out So Far, So Good...So What! or Master of Puppets. That could be taken as a compliment to Havok but it may work against them, as what band wants to merely be a reminder of how the masters originally did it? Even the album cover of Time Is Up evokes Megadeth's Vic Rattlehead more than a little obviously, to the point where Dave Mustaine might chuckle to himself. 

There is certainly a new wave of Thrash rising up and there is nothing wrong with paying tribute to your heroes and the genre. Time Is Up is fun to listen to and shows plenty of skill. However, being quite so immersed in the past and the work of others isn't exactly right either. It's not always easy to see the real point of Havok but time will tell if they can make lasting footprints on a very well-trodden path.

Score - 6.0 out of 10