Hirax

Biography

Hirax (often stylized as 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 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, Slayer and Exodus. The band was an early example of thrash metal, speed metal and crossover thrash, yet inspired by cross-genre influences including blues vocalist Sam Cooke, who De Pena once cited as "the greatest vocalist [De Pena] has ever heard."

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 Eric Brecht (brother of D.R.I.'s vocalist Kurt Brecht) joined. After the change, they released their second album, Hate, Fear and Power×Hate, Fear and Power1986 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Hate, Fear and Power0:30A2Blind Faith2:54A3Unholy Sacrifice2:09A4Lightning Thunder2:04B1The Last War2:30B2The Plague1:55B3Imprisoned by Ignorance1:59B4Criminal Punishment2:01, which was only 16 minutes and eight songs in length. 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-inch 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. In 2003, the band played in Bang Your Head Festival, in Germany. The lineup completely changed, and Hirax released the album Barrage of Noise×Barrage of Noise2001 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Murder One2:492Barrage of Noise0:593Walk With Death4:444Broken Neck1:465Jade2:146Mouth Sewn Shut3:067Beyond the Church (Part One)4:018French Pearl2:39 in 2001 with James Joseph Hubler, Justin Lent (Clusterfux), and Nick Seelinger. This lineup 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 Terror2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Kill Switch3:472Hostile Territory1:463The New Age of Terror4:554Swords of Steel3:595Into the Ruins0:466Massacre of the Innocent1:417Hell on Earth4:248Suffer3:399El Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead)2:1410El Diablo Negro4:1511Unleash the Dogs of War (Open the Gates)5:56 in 2004 with guitarists Dave Watson and Glenn Rogers (formerly of Deliverance), bassist Angelo Espino, and drummer Jorge Iacobellis. The lineup was also short-lived due to irreconcilable differences.
The band released their fourth studio album, El Rostro de la Muerte×El rostro de la muerte2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Baptized by Fire4:202Flesh and Blood5:463Eradicate Mankind3:394Chaos and Brutality3:385El rostro de la muerte (The Face of Death)6:246Blind Faith2:517Horrified2:528Battle of the North1:359The Laws of Temptation4:4010Death Militia1:5311Broken Neck2:0212Violent Assault3:3213Cuando cae la oscuridad (When Darkness Falls)1:5414Satan's Fall6:26, in the spring of 2009. On July 20, 2013, Hirax performed at the International Festival Convivencia Rock 2013 that took place in Pereira, Colombia. Thirty-six bands played in the three-day festival and 10,000 people gathered each day of the event.
On February 24, 2014, the band released their album titled Immortal Legacy×Immortal Legacy22 October 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Black Smoke4:372Hellion Rising4:073Victims of the Dead3:094Thunder Roar, the Conquest, La Boca de La Bestia - The Mouth of the Beast4:565Earthshaker0:436Tied to the Gallows Pole4:067Deceiver3:448Immortal Legacy4:429S.O.W. (intro)0:5710Violence of Action3:3811Atlantis (Journey to Atlantis)1:2612The World Will Burn2:09, 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.
On August 1, 2024, the band released a new EP, Faster than Death×Faster than Death21 February 2025 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Drill into the Brain1:052Armageddon2:563Drowned Bodies2:434Faster than Death1:355Psychiatric Ward1:346Relentless2:257Revenant3:468Warlord's Command2:369Worlds End3:13. Their first studio album in 11 years, also titled Faster than Death, was released in February 2025.
Hirax is currently working on a new album, which is due for release in 2026 or 2027. The band is scheduled to perform at Milwaukee Metal Fest in June 2026.

Members

Current members

Katon W. De Pena — lead vocals (1984–1986, 1987–1988, 2000–present)
Mathew Morales — drums (2025–present)
Geremi Perez — guitars, backing vocals (2025–present)
Former members