Hirax

Hirax is a thrash metal band from Orange County, California. Starting in 1984 under the leadership of vocalist Katon W. De Pena, their most distinctive characteristic and the band's only original member as of 2004, the band played in Los Angeles and San Francisco with the other new thrash metal bands of the area such as Metallica, Exodus, and Slayer. The band was a clear example of the thrash/speed metal genre, with the unique vocal style of Katon. Unlike many thrash singers, Katon used a clean style that makes their sound distinctive.

Related Topics:
Thrash metal - Orange County, California - 1984 - Metallica - Exodus - Slayer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After vinyl demo releases in 1984, Hirax debuted with their first full-length, Raging Violence, in 1985 and followed up with their second release Hate, Fear, And Power, after which the band came under pressure from the record company. This record was their last release for their label, Metal Blade records.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hirax continued with no label support, releasing their independent Blasted in Bangkok demo in 1987. Then in 1988 Katon participated in the Phantasm project along with famous drummer Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, later of Death, Testament, and Strapping Young Lad) and original Metallica bassist Ron McGovney. The band recorded a six song demo, toured briefly with thrash band Nuclear Assault, and then broke up because of record label problems and conflicts within the band. Katon then became fed up with the music industry, and left Hirax. He was replaced very briefly by Exodus singer Paul Baloff, and by early 1989 Hirax was disbanded.

Related Topics:
Dark Angel - Death - Testament - Strapping Young Lad - Nuclear Assault - Paul Baloff

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Katon stayed in the music scene, being involved in the underground and working at record stores. In 1997, he featured one of his old songs on a compilation demo with the band of one of his friends, and in 1998 Katon received fan mail and acclaim by fans of thrash metal which ultimately caused him to reunite the band in 2000. Hirax had gained fans because of their exciting, high-energy thrash metal, their dedication to their music, and their "trueness" to the scene. Katon reunited the band with the original lineup of Scott Owen, Gary Monardo, and John Tabares, releasing the El Diablo Negro EP in 2000. However, the lineup completely changed with the exception of Katon and Hirax released another EP, Barrage of Noise, in 2001 with instrumentalists James Joseph Hubler, Justin Lent, and Dan Bellinger. This too was brief.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2003, Katon recruited an entirely new lineup again, and released the album New Age of Terror in 2004 with guitarists Dave Watson and Glenn Rogers, bassist Angelo Espino, and drummer Jorge Iacobellis. A cult band reunited with a larger and more dedicated fan base than ever, the future looks bright for Hirax.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~