Hirax: Difference between revisions – Wikipedia

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| spinoffs = [[Phantasm (metal band)|Phantasm]]

| spinoffs = [[Phantasm (metal band)|Phantasm]]

| current_members = Katon W. De Pena <br /> Jose Gonzalez <br/> Allan Chan <br /> Mathew Morales

| current_members = Katon W. De Pena <br /> Jose Gonzalez <br/> Allan Chan <br /> Mathew Morales

| past_members = see [[List of Hirax band members|List of band members]]

| past_members = Scott Owen <br /> John Tabares <br /> Gary Monardo <br /> Lance Harrison <br /> Steve Harrison <br /> Glenn Rogers <br /> Jorge Iacobello <br /> Mike Vega <br /> Francisco Zamudio <br /> Emilio Marquez

}}

}}

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On August 1, 2024, the band released a new EP, ”Faster than Death”.<ref>{{cite web|author=Justin Wearn|url=https://thisdayinmetal.com/hiraxepeuropeantour/|title=HIRAX announce EP Faster Than Death and European Tour|publisher=This Day in Metal|date=May 29, 2024|access-date=August 2, 2024}}</ref> Their first studio album in 11 years, also titled ”[[Faster than Death]]”, was originally due for a release on February 21, 2025, however its release date got pushed back to February 28, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/hirax-to-release-faster-than-death-album-in-february-cover-art-revealed|title=HIRAX To Release Faster Than Death Album In February; Cover Art Revealed|magazine=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]]|access-date=November 27, 2024|date=November 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Hirax – Faster than Death Review |url=https://www.angrymetalguy.com/hirax-faster-than-death-review/ |website=Angry Metal Guy}}</ref>

On August 1, 2024, the band released a new EP, ”Faster than Death”.<ref>{{cite web|author=Justin Wearn|url=https://thisdayinmetal.com/hiraxepeuropeantour/|title=HIRAX announce EP Faster Than Death and European Tour|publisher=This Day in Metal|date=May 29, 2024|access-date=August 2, 2024}}</ref> Their first studio album in 11 years, also titled ”[[Faster than Death]]”, was originally due for a release on February 21, 2025, however its release date got pushed back to February 28, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/hirax-to-release-faster-than-death-album-in-february-cover-art-revealed|title=HIRAX To Release Faster Than Death Album In February; Cover Art Revealed|magazine=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]]|access-date=November 27, 2024|date=November 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Hirax – Faster than Death Review |url=https://www.angrymetalguy.com/hirax-faster-than-death-review/ |website=Angry Metal Guy}}</ref>

== Members ==

==Members==

{{main|List of Hirax band members}}

[[file:HIRAX!.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Hirax in 2008]]

;Current

Current

*Katon W. De Pena – vocals (1984–1988, 2000–present)

*Katon W. De Pena vocals (, 2000–present)

*Jose Gonzalez – bass (2024–present)

*Jose Gonzalez bass (2024–present)

*Allan Chan – guitars (2024–present)

*Allan Chan (2024–present)

*Mathew Morales – drums (2025–present)

*Mathew Morales drums (2025–present)

*Geremi Perez — bass {{small|(2025–present)}}

;Former

Former

{{columns-list|

*Scott Owen – guitars (1984–1989, 2000)

*Gary Monardo – bass (1984–1989, 2000)

*Gary Monardo bass (, )

*Brian Keith – drums (1984)

* (1984)

*John Tabares – drums (1984–1986, 2000)

* drums ()

*Scott Owen — guitar {{small|(1984–1988, 2000)}}

*Bob Savage – guitars (1984)

*Johnny Tabares — drums {{small|(1984–1986, 1987–1988, 2000–2001, 2006)}}

*Eric Brecht – drums (1986)

*Eric Brecht — drums {{small|(1986)}}

*[[Paul Baloff]] – vocals (1989)

*Steve {{small|(surname unknown)}} — vocals {{small|(1986)}}

*James Joseph Hubler – guitars (2001)

*[[Paul Baloff]] — vocals {{small|(1986–1987; died 2002)}}

*Justin Lent – guitars, bass (2001)

*Billy Wedgeworth — vocals {{small|(1987; died 2010)}}

*[[Shaun Ross (musician)|Shaun Ross]] – bass (2001)

*Sherman Jones — bass {{small|(1987)}}

*Dan Bellinger – drums (2001)

*Greg Eickmier — guitar {{small|(2000–2001)}}

*Nick Seelinger – drums (2001)

*James Joseph Hubler — guitar {{small|(2001–2002)}}

*Mike Brickman – bass (2001–2003)

*Justin Lent — guitar, bass {{small|(2001)}}

*Dave Watson – guitars (2004–2005)

*Angelo Espino – bass (2004–2005)

* bass ()

*Fabricio Ravelli – drums (2005–2008)

* drums ()

*Nick Seelinger — drums {{small|(2001)}}

*[[Glenn Rogers (musician)|Glenn Rogers]] – guitars (2003–2005, 2006–2007, 2008–2010)

*Mike Guerrero – guitars (2011–2013)

*Mike ()

*Dan Bellinger — drums {{small|(2001–2003)}}

*[[Jorge Iacobellis]] – drums (2004–2005, 2008–2013)

*Jim Durkin — guitar {{small|(2001–2002)}}

*Steve Harrison – bass (2005–2021)

*Roberto Carrero — guitar {{small|(2002–2003)}}

*Lance Harrison – guitars (2006–2021)

*[[Glenn Rogers (musician)|Glenn Rogers]] — guitar {{small|(2003–2005, 2006–2007, 2008–2011)}}

*Mike Vega – drums (2014–2021)

*[[Jorge Iacobellis]] — drums {{small|(2003–2004, 2008–2014)}}

*Neil Metcalf – guitars (2021-2024)

*Dave Watson — guitar {{small|(2003–2005)}}

*Francisco Zamudio – drums (2022–2023)

*Chris Aguirre – bass (2022–2023)

* bass ()

*Danny Walker – drums (2023)

* drums ()

*Lance Harrison — guitar {{small|(2006–2022)}}

*Emilio Marquez – drums (2024-2025)

*Steve Harrison — bass {{small|(2006–2022)}}

*Fabricio Ravelli — drums {{small|(2006–2007, 2007–2008)}}

===Timeline===

*Tim Thomas — guitar {{small|(2007–2008, 2011)}}

{{#tag:timeline|ImageSize=width:850 height:auto barincrement:20

*Mike Guerrero — guitar {{small|(2011–2013)}}

PlotArea = left:110 bottom:100 top:10 right:50

*Mike Vega — drums {{small|(2014–2022)}}

Alignbars = justify

*Kelly McLauchlin — bass {{small|(2018, 2019, 2023; touring only)}}

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

*Neil Metcalf — guitar, bass {{small|(2022–2024)}}

Period = from:01/01/1984 till:{{#time: d/m/Y}}

*Chris Aguire II — bass {{small|(2022–2023)}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

*Francisco Zamudio — drums {{small|(2022–2023)}}

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3

*Danny Walker — drums {{small|(2023–2024)}}

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1984

}}

ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1984

Colors =

id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals

id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars

id:bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album

id:other value:gray(0.73) legend:Other_release

id:bars value:gray(0.93)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =

at:15/04/1984 color:other layer:back

at:01/01/1985 color:other layer:back

at:15/10/1985 color:studio layer:back

at:01/08/1986 color:studio layer:back

at:01/01/1987 color:other layer:back

at:15/07/2000 color:other layer:back

at:01/01/2001 color:other layer:back

at:18/05/2004 color:studio layer:back

at:06/02/2007 color:other layer:back

at:15/10/2007 color:other layer:back

at:30/06/2008 color:other layer:back

at:16/11/2009 color:studio layer:back

at:01/05/2010 color:other layer:back

at:14/09/2011 color:other layer:back

at:24/02/2014 color:studio layer:back

at:01/08/2024 color:other layer:back

at:28/02/2025 color:studio layer:back

BarData =

bar:Pena text:”Katon W. De Pena”

bar:Baloff text:”Paul Baloff”

bar:Savage text:”Bob Savage”

bar:Owen text:”Scott Owen”

bar:Hubler text:”James Joseph Hubler”

bar:Lent text:”Justin Lent”

bar:Rogers text:”Glenn Rogers”

bar:Guerrero text:”Mike Guerrero”

bar:Watson text:”Dave Watson”

bar:LHarrison text:”Lance Harrison”

bar:Metcalf text:”Neil Metcalf”

bar:Chan text:”Allan Chan”

bar:Monardo text:”Gary Monardo”

bar:Ross text:”Shaun Ross”

bar:Brickman text:”Mike Brickman”

bar:Espino text:”Angelo Espino”

bar:SHarrison text:”Steve Harrison”

bar:Aguirre text:”Chris Aguirre”

bar:Gonzalez text:”Jose Gonzalez”

bar:Keith text:”Brian Keith”

bar:Tabares text:”John Tabares”

bar:Brecht text:”Eric Brecht”

bar:Bellinger text:”Dan Bellinger”

bar:Seelinger text:”Nick Seelinger”

bar:Iacobellis text:”Jorge Iacobellis”

bar:Ravelli text:”Fabricio Ravelli”

bar:Vega text:”Mike Vega”

bar:Zamudio text:”Francisco Zamudio”

bar:Walker text:”Danny Walker”

bar:Marquez text:”Emilio Marquez”

PlotData =

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)

bar:Pena from:01/01/1984 till:31/12/1988 color:vocals

bar:Pena from:01/01/2000 till:end color:vocals

bar:Baloff from:01/01/1989 till:31/12/1989 color:vocals

bar:Savage from:01/01/1984 till:30/06/1984 color:guitar

bar:Owen from:01/07/1984 till:31/12/1989 color:guitar

bar:Owen from:01/01/2000 till:31/12/2000 color:guitar

bar:Hubler from:01/01/2001 till:31/12/2001 color:guitar

bar:Lent from:01/01/2001 till:31/12/2001 color:guitar

bar:Lent from:01/01/2001 till:31/12/2001 color:bass width:3

bar:Rogers from:01/01/2003 till:30/06/2005 color:guitar

bar:Rogers from:01/07/2006 till:30/06/2007 color:guitar

bar:Rogers from:01/09/2008 till:31/12/2010 color:guitar

bar:Watson from:01/01/2004 till:31/12/2005 color:guitar

bar:LHarrison from:01/01/2006 till:07/05/2022 color:guitar

bar:Guerrero from:01/10/2011 till:30/06/2013 color:guitar

bar:Metcalf from:07/05/2022 till:17/06/2024 color:guitar

bar:Chan from:17/06/2024 till:end color:guitar

bar:Monardo from:01/01/1984 till:31/12/1989 color:bass

bar:Monardo from:01/01/2000 till:31/12/2000 color:bass

bar:Ross from:01/01/2001 till:30/06/2001 color:bass

bar:Brickman from:01/07/2001 till:31/12/2003 color:bass

bar:Espino from:01/01/2004 till:30/06/2005 color:bass

bar:SHarrison from:01/07/2005 till:07/05/2022 color:bass

bar:Aguirre from:07/05/2022 till:31/12/2023 color:bass

bar:Gonzalez from:01/01/2024 till:end color:bass

bar:Keith from:01/01/1984 till:03/06/1984 color:drums

bar:Tabares from:01/07/1984 till:31/03/1986 color:drums

bar:Tabares from:01/01/2000 till:31/12/2000 color:drums

bar:Brecht from:01/04/1986 till:31/12/1986 color:drums

bar:Bellinger from:01/01/2001 till:31/12/2001 color:drums

bar:Seelinger from:01/01/2001 till:31/12/2001 color:drums

bar:Iacobellis from:01/01/2004 till:30/06/2005 color:drums

bar:Iacobellis from:01/07/2008 till:31/12/2013 color:drums

bar:Ravelli from:01/07/2005 till:08/06/2008 color:drums

bar:Vega from:01/01/2014 till:07/05/2022 color:drums

bar:Zamudio from:07/05/2022 till:26/02/2023 color:drums

bar:Walker from:26/02/2023 till:31/12/2023 color:drums

bar:Marquez from:01/01/2024 till:end color:drums}}

== Discography ==

== Discography ==

American thrash metal band

Hirax (often stylized as 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] 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.”[4]

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.[5] After the change, they released their second album, Hate, Fear and Power,[5] 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).[5] 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).[5] But soon after the band broke up.[5]

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.[6] In 2003, the band played in Bang Your Head Festival, in Germany.[7] The lineup completely changed, and Hirax released the album Barrage of Noise 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 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, in the spring of 2009.[8] 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.[9]

On February 24, 2014, the band released their 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.

On August 1, 2024, the band released a new EP, Faster than Death.[10] Their first studio album in 11 years, also titled Faster than Death, was originally due for a release on February 21, 2025, however its release date got pushed back to February 28, 2025.[11][12]

Current members

  • Katon W. De Pena — vocals (1984–1986, 1987–1988, 2000–present)
  • Jose Gonzalez — bass (2024–present)
  • Allan Chan — guitar (2024–present)
  • Mathew Morales — drums (2025–present)
  • Geremi Perez — bass (2025–present)

Former members

  • Gary Monardo — bass (1984–1987, 1987–1988, 2000–2001)
  • Bob Savage — guitar (1984)
  • Brian Keith — drums (1984)
  • Scott Owen — guitar (1984–1988, 2000)
  • Johnny Tabares — drums (1984–1986, 1987–1988, 2000–2001, 2006)
  • Eric Brecht — drums (1986)
  • Steve (surname unknown) — vocals (1986)
  • Paul Baloff — vocals (1986–1987; died 2002)
  • Billy Wedgeworth — vocals (1987; died 2010)
  • Sherman Jones — bass (1987)
  • Greg Eickmier — guitar (2000–2001)
  • James Joseph Hubler — guitar (2001–2002)
  • Justin Lent — guitar, bass (2001)
  • Shaun Ross — bass (2001)
  • Per Möller Jensen — drums (2001)
  • Nick Seelinger — drums (2001)
  • Mike Brickman — bass (2001–2003)
  • Dan Bellinger — drums (2001–2003)
  • Jim Durkin — guitar (2001–2002)
  • Roberto Carrero — guitar (2002–2003)
  • Glenn Rogers — guitar (2003–2005, 2006–2007, 2008–2011)
  • Jorge Iacobellis — drums (2003–2004, 2008–2014)
  • Dave Watson — guitar (2003–2005)
  • Angelo Espino — bass (2003–2005)
  • Dave Chedrick — drums (2004–2005)
  • Lance Harrison — guitar (2006–2022)
  • Steve Harrison — bass (2006–2022)
  • Fabricio Ravelli — drums (2006–2007, 2007–2008)
  • Tim Thomas — guitar (2007–2008, 2011)
  • Mike Guerrero — guitar (2011–2013)
  • Mike Vega — drums (2014–2022)
  • Kelly McLauchlin — bass (2018, 2019, 2023; touring only)
  • Neil Metcalf — guitar, bass (2022–2024)
  • Chris Aguire II — bass (2022–2023)
  • Francisco Zamudio — drums (2022–2023)
  • Danny Walker — drums (2023–2024)
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-inch SPV Records “Hellion Rising” (2013)[13]
EPs
  • El Diablo Negro (2000)
  • Barrage of Noise (2001)
  • Assassins of War (2007)
  • Chaos and Brutality (2007)
  • Faster Than Death (2024)
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-inch, Hirax, Lp Cream, Execute, Sacrilege, Concrete Sox[14]
  • Not Dead Yet (1987)
  • The Best of Metal Blade Records, Vol. 1 (1987), various artists[15]
  • Thrash of the Titans (1999)
  • Thrash Metal Warriors (2007), HIRAX, Toxic Holocaust, Sabat, Kat, etc.[16]
  • Thrash Metal Assassins (2008)
  • Noise Chaos War (2010)
DVDs
  • Thrash ‘Til Death (2006)
  • Thrash and Destroy (2008)
  • True Thrash Fest (2010), Live in Japan
  1. ^ a b c “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”. Mayhem! (7). 1984 – via Internet Archive. My main influence is Sam Cooke. He is an old blues vocalist. He’s the greatest vocalist I have ever heard. I hope someday I will be as good as him.
  5. ^ a b c d e Larkin, Colin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1154. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  6. ^ “Hirax Confirmed For Abrasive Rock Fest”. Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on November 2, 2003. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  7. ^ “Hirax Confirmed For Germany’s Bang Your Head 2003 Festival”. Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on January 20, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  8. ^ “HIRAX: New Album Update”. blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on December 27, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
  9. ^ “Convivencia Rock 2013 – Día 2”. Pereira a la carta – Encuentra bares, discotecas, restaurantes, hoteles, almacenes y entretenimiento en la ciudad de Pereira. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  10. ^ Justin Wearn (May 29, 2024). “HIRAX announce EP Faster Than Death and European Tour”. This Day in Metal. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  11. ^ “HIRAX To Release Faster Than Death Album In February; Cover Art Revealed”. Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  12. ^ “Hirax – Faster than Death Review”. Angry Metal Guy. March 5, 2025.
  13. ^ “Sodom / Hirax – Hellion Rising / Water Boarding – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives”. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  14. ^ “7inchcrust: V/A-Anglican scrape attic 7-inch (flexi)”. 7inchcrust.blogspot.com. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  15. ^ “HIRAX DISCOGRAPHY”. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  16. ^ “Various – Thrash Metal Warriors – Compilation”. Discogs. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
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