Hirax

Hirax

Hirax is an American thrash metal band from Cypress, California. Starting in 1984 under the leadership of vocalist Katon W. De Pena (their most distinctive character and the band's only original member part of the current line-up), 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/crossover genre.

History

After releasing some demos, Hirax signed with Metal Blade and debuted with their first full-length, Raging Violence in 1985. 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 Erick 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, Katon 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 tracks 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 Katon left Hirax, they took Paul Baloff (former Exodus frontman) to sing in Hirax, but soon after, they disbanded too.

Reunion

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.

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 the album Barrage of Noise in 2001 with instrumentalists James Joseph Hubler, Justin Lent (Clusterfux), and Nick Sellinger. This line-up was brief as well.

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 (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. The band is in the process of writing a fourth studio album. This album will be titled 'El Rostro de la Muerte' (Spanish for "The Face of Death"). It is due for release during the spring of 2009.

On August 27th, 2009 the entire band saw the film Inglorious Basterds at the Angelika Theatre in Houston, TX. It was awesome.

Members

According to the official website, the current line-up is as follows:

• Katon W. De Pena - vocals (1984-1988, 2000-)
• Glenn Rogers - lead guitar
• Lance Harrison - lead guitar
• Steve Harrison - bass
• Jorge Iacobellis - drums

Former members

• Glenn Rogers - lead guitar (2003-2005, 2006-2007, 2008-present)
• Jorge Iacobellis - drums (2004-2005, 2008 - present)
• Dave Watson - lead guitar (2004-2005)
• Angelo Espino - bass (2004-2005)
• Bob Savage - guitar (1984)
• Scott Owen - guitar (1984-1989, 2000)
• James Joseph Hubler - guitar (2001)
• Gary Monardo - bass (1984-1989, 2000)
• Justin Lent - bass (2001)
• Brian Keith - drums (1984)
• John Tabares - drums (1984-1989, 2000)
• Dan Bellinger - drums (2001)
• Paul Baloff - vocals (1989)
• Eric Brecht - drums (1986)

Discography

• Hirax Demo - 1984 (Demo)
• Metal Massacre VI - 1984 (Compilation)
• Best of Metal Blade, Vol. 1 - 1987 (Compilation)
• Angelican Scrape Attic - 1985 (Compilation)
• Rehearsal 1 - 1985 (Demo)
• Rehearsal 2 - 1985 (Demo)
• Raging Violence - 1985 (LP)
• Hate, Fear and Power - 1986 (LP)
• Blasted in Bangkok - 1987 (Single)
• Blasted in Bangkok - 1987 (Demo)
• Not Dead Yet/Not The End - 1987 (Compilation)
• Dying World (Shock) - 1997 (Single)
• Hirax/Spazz split 7"-1997 (Split EP)
• El Diablo Negro - 2000 (EP)
• Barrage of Noise - 2001 (EP)
• New Age of Terror - 2004 (LP)
• Louder Than Hell - 2005 (Split)
• Thrash 'til Death - 2006 (DVD)
• Assassins of War - 2007 (EP)
• Chaos and Brutality - 2007 (EP)
• Levil Uniform Vol. II - 2008 (Compilation)
• Thrash and Destroy - 2008 (DVD/Live)
• Hirax/F.K.Ü. - 2008 (Split EP)

References

External links HIRAX Official Website [1] HIRAX MY SPACE [2] HIRAX ITUNES [3]