Hirax
Encyclopedia
Hirax is an American thrash metal
band from Cypress, California
. Starting in 1984 under the leadership of vocalist Katon W. De Pena (the band's only original member 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 an early example of the thrash metal
, speed metal
and crossover thrash
genres.
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 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 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 De Pena left, the replacement was Paul Baloff
(former Exodus
frontman). But soon after the band broke up.
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.
In 2003, the band played in Bang Your Head Festival, in Germany
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 Chaos and Goodluck in the spring of 2009.
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band from Cypress, California
Cypress, California
Cypress is a suburban city located in the northern region of Orange County within Southern California. Its population was 47,802 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. Starting in 1984 under the leadership of vocalist Katon W. De Pena (the band's only original member 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
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
, and Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
. The band was an early example of the thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
, speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
and crossover thrash
Crossover thrash
__FORCETOC__Crossover thrash, often abbreviated to crossover, is a form of thrash metal that contains more hardcore punk elements than standard thrash. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock...
genres.
History
After releasing some demos, Hirax signed with Metal Blade and debuted with their first full-length, Raging ViolenceRaging Violence
-Track listing:# "Demons - Evil Forces" - 03:25# "Blitzkrieg Air Attack" - 02:08# "Guardian Protector" - 01:37# "Bombs of Death" - 01:47# "Defeat of Amalek" - 03:08# "Raging Violence" - 02:53# "Call of the Gods" - 01:20# "Warlords Command" - 02:39...
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 Eric Brecht (brother of D.R.I.
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles is a thrash metal/crossover thrash band from the United States that formed in Houston, in 1982. The band currently comprises founding members, vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Spike Cassidy, as well as drummer Rob Rampy and bassist Harald Oimoen.D.R.I...
's vocalist Kurt Brecht) joined. After the change, they released their second album, called Hate, Fear and Power
Hate, Fear and Power
-Track listing:# "Hate, Fear and Power" - 0:32# "Blind Faith" - 2:55# "Unholy Sacrifice" - 2:03# "Lightning Thunder" - 2:05# "The Last War" - 2:33# "The Plague" - 1:55# "Imprisoned by Ignorance" - 1:57# "Criminal Punishment" - 2:00-Line-up:...
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
Gene Hoglan
Eugene "Gene" Victor Hoglan II is an American drummer. He is acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including usage of odd devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms...
(former Dark Angel
Dark Angel (band)
Dark Angel was an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Their over-the-top style earned them the nickname "the L.A...
drummer), and Ron McGovney
Ron McGovney
Ron McGovney is a former American musician, best known as the original bassist in the heavy metal band Metallica.-Leather Charm and Metallica:...
(former Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
bassist). They called themselves Phantasm
Phantasm (band)
Phantasm was an American thrash metal band based in Los Angeles, California and active from 1986–1988. Something of a supergroup, the band is notable for including bassist Ron McGovney, the original bassist in the highly successful heavy metal band Metallica, as well as Hirax singer Katon W...
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
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal/crossover thrash band formed in 1984.-History:After the release of Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band...
, they broke up.
In 1989, after De Pena left, the replacement was Paul Baloff
Paul Baloff
Paul Baloff was an American singer, most notable for his time in thrash metal band Exodus.Paul was the second vocalist with Exodus replacing Keith Stewart in 1981 and singing on their 1982 Demo and their first official album Bonded by Blood in 1985. After the release, they started the...
(former Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
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 compilation demo with 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.
In 2003, the band played in Bang Your Head Festival, in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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
The New Age of Terror
The New Age of Terror is the third album by thrash metal band Hirax and the first after the reunion.- Track listing :# "Kill Switch" - 05:58# "Hostile Territory" - 05:47# "The New Age of Terror" - 04:10# "Swords of Steel" - 05:19...
in 2004 with guitarists Dave Watson and Glenn Rogers (Deliverance former), bassist Angelo Espino, and drummer Jorge Iacobellis
Jorge Iacobellis
Jorge Iacobellis is an Argentine drummer, tour promoter and producer primarily known as the drummer of the thrash metal band Hirax and former drummer of Todos Tus Muertos...
. 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 Chaos and Goodluck in the spring of 2009.
Members
- Katon W. De Pena - vocals (1984–1988, 2000–present)
- Glenn Rogers - guitar (2003–2005, 2006–2007, 2008–present)
- Lance Harrison - guitar (2006–present)
- Steve Harrison - bass (2005–present)
- Jorge IacobellisJorge IacobellisJorge Iacobellis is an Argentine drummer, tour promoter and producer primarily known as the drummer of the thrash metal band Hirax and former drummer of Todos Tus Muertos...
- drums (2004–2005, 2008–present)
Former members
- Dave Watson - lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(2004–2005) - Angelo Espino - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2004–2005) - Bob Savage - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1984) - Scott Owen - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1984–1989, 2000) - James Joseph Hubler - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2001) - Justin Lent - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2001) - Gary Monardo - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1984–1989, 2000) - Shaun RossShaun Ross (musician)Shaun Ross is a bassist from Venice, California, and former member of Excel, a band with he performed since 1985 until its dissolution. He took his first inspirations from very different kinds of music, like Rudimentary Peni, Jungle Brothers, Sly and the Family Stone and Deep Purple...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2001) - Brian Keith - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1984) - John Tabares - drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s (1984–1989, 2000) - Dan Bellinger - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2001) - Paul BaloffPaul BaloffPaul Baloff was an American singer, most notable for his time in thrash metal band Exodus.Paul was the second vocalist with Exodus replacing Keith Stewart in 1981 and singing on their 1982 Demo and their first official album Bonded by Blood in 1985. After the release, they started the...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1989) - Eric Brecht - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1986) - Mike Brickman - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2001–2003) - Fabricio Ravelli (drums) (2005–2008)
Studio albums
- Raging ViolenceRaging Violence-Track listing:# "Demons - Evil Forces" - 03:25# "Blitzkrieg Air Attack" - 02:08# "Guardian Protector" - 01:37# "Bombs of Death" - 01:47# "Defeat of Amalek" - 03:08# "Raging Violence" - 02:53# "Call of the Gods" - 01:20# "Warlords Command" - 02:39...
(1985) - Hate, Fear, and Power (1986)
- The New Age of TerrorThe New Age of TerrorThe New Age of Terror is the third album by thrash metal band Hirax and the first after the reunion.- Track listing :# "Kill Switch" - 05:58# "Hostile Territory" - 05:47# "The New Age of Terror" - 04:10# "Swords of Steel" - 05:19...
(2004) - El Rostro de la MuerteEl Rostro de la MuerteEl Rostro de la Muerte is the fourth album by thrash metal band Hirax and the second after the reunion.-Track listing:# "Baptized by Fire" - 04:18# "Flesh and Blood" - 05:46...
(2009)
Split albums
- Spazz/Hirax (1997)
- Louder than Hell (2005)
- Hirax/F.K.Ü. (2008)
EPs
- El Diablo Negro (2000)
- Barrage of Noise (2001)
- Assassins of War (2006)
- Chaos and BrutalityChaos and BrutalityChaos and Brutality is an EP by the California-based thrash metal band Hirax. "Walk With Death" is a re-recorded version of a song off Hirax's 2001 EP, while "100,000 Strong" is the band's first recorded instrumental track...
(2007)
Demos
- Demo 1984 (1984)
- Demo Rehearsal 1 (1985)
- Demo Rehearsal 2 (1985)
- Blasted In Bangkok (1987)
Compilation albums
- Not Dead Yet (1987)
- Thrash Metal Assassins (2008)
- Noise Chaos WarNoise Chaos WarNoise Chaos War is a compilation album by the American Thrash Metal band, Hirax. It Consists of three of the bands Earlier EP's remastered and reissued...
(2010)