HIRAX – Faster than Death

Hirax is a band that I listened to ALOT in high school. I dont remember how I found them, but they were an instant favorite. Thrash has always been a comfort zone but one that I rarely visit. Lead by Katon W De Pena, since the mid 80’s, Hirax play straightforward no nonsense thrash similar to  peers early Metallica, Dark Angel and  Exodus. Remaining true to their original sound, they are a fixture of the thrash scene. Clean vocals soar above breakneck riffs and a calvacade of percussion to great effect, truly a prime example of the genre.

Hirax is not mentioned enough when talking about thrash and old metal, likely due to inconsistent activity (they had broke up and then were reformed by Katon with new members) and a refusual to commercialize their sound. Katon himself seems to be a principled man who, while there from the very beggining, refused to play the business game (when it came to his music) and always remained in the underground instead of rising to stardom like comtemporaries Slayer and Metallica. You can read more from Katon HERE in an interview from Metal Hammer (including an old show poster where pre-Hirax band Kaos is shown above one of the aforementioned bands).

On a personal note Hirax is an important band for me because, along with bands like Brujeria, they featured members that looked like me and the people I grew up around. Metal is a universal music enjoyed the world over and is likely one of the most diverse artforms there is.

Back to the music, Hirax storms back with Faster than Death, a brisk almost 22 minute album packed full of Katons signature vocal cry, rocking drums, and the fast riffs and solos you would expect from the onomonapoetic genre known as THRASH. The song titles are as follows: Drill Into the Brain, Armageddon, Drowned Bodies, Faster than Death, Psychiatric Ward, Relentless, Revenant, Warlords Command, Worlds End. Songs blend together nicely and are never overstay. A relatively easy-listening band, Hirax is perfect for work and leisure alike as it is cleanly produced and the clean vocals are quite welcoming. A video for “Relentless” is below and is a showcase for Hirax

Simply said Hirax bring another great album to light, one that will be played throughout the year for sure.

MERCH

BANDCAMP