Thrash act Havok released their follow-up album to 2011's acclaimed works "Time Is Up" called "Unnatural Selection". With that said and done they have also headed out on the road with relentless touring. Drummer Pete Webber discusses the band's latest efforts and touring activity.
1. Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Havok, and how long the band has been together.
Pete: My name is Pete Webber and I play drums for the band. I joined the band in 2010, but the band has been around since 2004.
2. Where did you record this album and, how was the vibe for everybody throughout the whole process?
Pete: We recorded the drums at The Gothic Theater in Englewood, CO and the rest of the album was recorded at the home studio. The vibe was very good for the album. We had a lot of material but we were really cramped for time, so it got a bit hectic but we were very pleased with the final product.
3. What was it like to work with guitarist David Sanchez, Terry Date, and James Murphy?
Pete: Well I have worked with David for a while now. Him and I are very locked on with each other as musicians and we dabble ideas off each other a lot when we write. The album was mixed by Terry date while we were on tour. So our interaction was over the phone and through email. That goes the same with James Murphy. It can be hard to get all ideas across this way, but we make things work.
4. Is there any story or concept behind the Unnatural Selection title?
Pete: There was no real concept for the album title but it just meant to portray all kinds of messed up things that can happen in this world we live in.
5. Select two songs from Unnatural Selection and what inspired the lyrics.
Pete: David writes most of the lyrics. But “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” is about freedom and “Worse Than War” is about genocide.
6. Who did the cover art for Unnatural Selection and how much input did you have on it?Pete: Raff did the cover artwork from Poland. The piece was actually an already finished product he had in his portfolio and we really liked it. It also fit the album title really well. It all kind of worked out that way for the good!
7. What's your take on Unnatural Selection as a whole?
Pete: I think Unnatural Selection was an album we really wanted to have a big rock and roll and early heavy metal sound. There are not many bands doing this thing in this day in age of metal. We want to bring the old school heavy metal back with chunky guitar riffs, blistering solos, cool slap bass and pounding drums. There are too many bands getting so technical and losing their sense of a good written song.
8. What's your favorite song on the album right now?
Pete: My favorite song on the album would have to be “Worse Than War”. I think it portrays what we were really going for on this album as a whole.
9. Is it important for you to paint visual pictures with the songs?
Pete: Yes, absolutely. We make a big effort into making our songs memorable and catchy. So seeing the visual picture of the whole song definitely comes into play.
10. What would be the cinematic equivalent of Unnatural Selection?
Pete: I would say the new album would go well with an Arnold flick. Terminator has the heavy to match our album for sure!
11. Where is the new material headed?
Pete: We have a lot extra material that did not get used for this latest release. It still has to get put together. But we will continue to write heavy, fast and exciting songs.
12. You are about to go on tour, if you could think of one thing you would like to accomplish the most through that tour what would that be?!
Pete: Hopefully meet some new awesome people. Which has already happened and that is always good to gain new friends! I hope I do not break too many cymbals as well. Which will never happen!
13. What have you done to prepare yourselves for the tour?
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Pete: We were all pretty well ready for tour because we have been on the road for quite awhile now. Our set is really tight at this point in the game.14. What are you looking forward to about this tour?
Pete: I have some met some of the coolest crew and band Soulfly on this tour. Everyone is super cool and easy going. It has been one of the easiest tours thus far. With the exception of some van problems!
15. Once the tour is over what do you have planned afterwards?
Pete: Thank you for coming to the shows and buying merchandise! Keep spreading the word and we will keep bringing the music!
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