Hirax

Hirax is an American thrash metal band from Cypress, California. Starting in 1984[1] under the leadership of vocalist Katon W. De Pena (the band's only original member left in the current line-up), the band played in Los Angeles and San Francisco with several of their thrash metal peers such as Metallica, Exodus, and Slayer. The band was an early example of thrash metal, speed metal and crossover thrash.[2][3]

This article is about the band Hirax. For the HIRAX telescope, see Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment. For the animal, see Hyrax.

HIRAX
HIRAX in Pereira, Colombia, July 20, 2013
Background information
OriginCypress, California, U.S.
GenresThrash metal
Years active1984–1989, 2000–present [1]
LabelsBlack Devil, Deep Six¸ Metal Blade, Mausoleum, Season of Mist, SPV GmbH
Associated actsPhantasm, Heretic, House of Suffering
MembersKaton W. De Pena
Lance Harrison
Steve Harrison
Mike Vega
Past membersJohn Tabares

History

After releasing some demos, Hirax signed with Metal Blade and debuted with their first full-length, Raging Violence in 1985.[1] The band was composed of Katon W. De Pena (vocals), Scott Owen (guitar), Gary Monardo (bass) and John Tabares (drums).

In 1986, John Tabares left the band and Eric Brecht (brother of D.R.I.'s vocalist Kurt Brecht) joined. After the change, they released their second album, called Hate, Fear and Power under pressure of the label (only having 16 minutes of length for 8 songs). After this release, the band quit the label and independently released a demo called Blasted In Bangkok in 1987.

But with tensions and disillusions in the band, De Pena decided to leave and form a new band with Gene Hoglan (former Dark Angel drummer), and Ron McGovney (former Metallica bassist). They called themselves Phantasm and released a six-track demo in 1988 (re-issued in 2002 as a CD with the demo and live tracks). After a brief tour with Nuclear Assault, they broke up. In 1989, after De Pena left, the replacement was Paul Baloff (former Exodus frontman). But soon after the band broke up.

Reunion

De Pena stayed involved in the regional underground music scene and took a job working at a local music store. In 1997, he featured one of his old songs on a split 7" with Spazz, the band of one of his friends. By 1998 De Pena had received enough fan mail and interest which encouraged him to reunite Hirax in 2000. De Pena reunited the band with the original lineup of Scott Owen, Gary Monardo, and John Tabares, releasing the El Diablo Negro EP in 2000. In 2002, the band played in Abrasive Rock Fest.[4] In 2003, the band played in Bang Your Head Festival, in Germany.[5] The lineup completely changed, and Hirax released the album Barrage of Noise in 2001 with James Joseph Hubler, Justin Lent (Clusterfux), and Nick Sellinger. This line-up was brief as well.

In 2003, De Pena recruited an entirely new lineup again, and released the album The New Age of Terror in 2004 with guitarists Dave Watson and Glenn Rogers (Deliverance former), bassist Angelo Espino, and drummer Jorge Iacobellis. That line-up, due to irreconcilable differences, followed in the trend of the other line-ups and broke up. The band released their fourth studio album El Rostro de la Muerte in the spring of 2009.[6] On July 20, 2013 Hirax performed at the International Festival Convivencia Rock 2013 that took place in Pereira, Risaralda. 36 bands played in the 3 days festival and 10.000 people gathered each day of the event.[7] On February 24, 2014, the band released their latest album titled Immortal Legacy, courtesy of Steamhammer Records.

March 2015 saw the band play in the UK for the first time in their history, beginning with an appearance at Hammerfest in Gwynedd, Wales. Hirax still performs regularly to this day, and they are currently working on a new album, which is due for release in 2020 or 2021.[8]

Members
Current
  • Katon W. De Pena (Bobby Johnson) – vocals (1984–1988, 2000–present)
  • Steve Harrison – bass (2005–present)
  • Lance Harrison – guitars (2006–present)
  • Mike Vega – drums (2014–present)
Former members
  • Scott Owen – guitars (1984–1989, 2000)
  • Gary Monardo – bass (1984–1989, 2000)
  • Brian Keith – drums (1984)
  • John Tabares – drums (1984–1986, 2000)
  • Bob Savage – guitars (1984)
  • Eric Brecht – drums (1986)
  • Paul Baloff – vocals (1989)
  • James Joseph Hubler – guitars (2001)
  • Justin Lent – guitars, bass (2001)
  • Shaun Ross – bass (2001)
  • Dan Bellinger – drums (2001)
  • Mike Brickman – bass (2001–2003)
  • Dave Watson – guitars (2004–2005)
  • Angelo Espino – bass (2004–2005)
  • Fabricio Ravelli – drums (2005–2008)
  • Glenn Rogers – guitars (2003–2005, 2006–2007, 2008–2010)
  • Mike Guerrero – guitars (2011–2013)
  • Jorge Iacobellis – drums (2004–2005, 2008–2013)

Timeline

Discography
Studio albums
Split albums
  • Spazz/Hirax (1997)
  • Louder than Hell (2005)
  • HIRAX/F.K.Ü.(Sweden) (2008)
  • HIRAX/Violator (Brazil) "Raging Thrash" (2010)
  • "HIRAX / Sodom – split 7" SPV Records "Hellion Rising" (2013)[10]
EPs
  • El Diablo Negro (2000)
  • Barrage of Noise (2001)
  • Assassins of War] (2006)
  • Chaos and Brutality (2007)
Demos
  • Demo 1984 (1984)
  • Demo Rehearsal 1 (1985)
  • Demo Rehearsal 2 (1985)
  • Blasted In Bangkok (1987)
Compilation albums
  • Anglican Scrape Attic Earache Records (1985) flexi 7" V/A - HIRAX, Lp Cream, Execute, Sacrilege, Concrete Sox [11]
  • Not Dead Yet (1987)
  • The Best of Metal Blade Records, Vol. 1 V/A (1987) [12]
  • Thrash of the Titans (1999)
  • Thrash Metal Warriors (2007) HIRAX, Toxic Holocaust, Sabat, Kat, etc.[13]
  • Thrash Metal Assassins (2008)
  • Noise Chaos War (2010)
DVDs
  • Thrash 'til Death (2006)
  • Thrash and Destroy (2008)
  • True Thrash Fest (2010) Live in Japan
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References
  1. "Hirax Biography". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  2. "Hirax - "The New Age of Terror"". Blabbermouth.net.
  3. "Hirax | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  4. "Hirax Confirmed For Abrasive Rock Fest". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on November 2, 2003. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  5. "Hirax Confirmed For Germany's Bang Your Head 2003 Festival". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on January 20, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  6. "HIRAX: New Album Update". blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on December 27, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
  7. "Convivencia Rock 2013 - Día 2". Pereira a la carta - Encuentra bares, discotecas, restaurantes, hoteles, almacenes y entretenimiento en la ciudad de Pereira. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  8. "D.R.I. And HIRAX Announce Co-Headlining Australian Tour". metaladdicts.com. April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  9. "Hirax: Complete 'Immortal Legacy' Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  10. "Sodom / Hirax – Hellion Rising / Water Boarding – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  11. "7inchcrust: V/A-Anglican scrape attic 7" (flexi)". 7inchcrust.blogspot.com. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  12. "HIRAX DISCOGRAPHY". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  13. "Various - Thrash Metal Warriors - Compilation". Discogs. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
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