Reviewed:
- Not Dead Yet (1987)
- Barrage of Noise (2001, EP)
- El Rostro de la Muerte (2009)
- Noise Chaos War (2010, compilation)
NOT DEAD YET 1987 (Black Devil Records)
- Standouts: 'Blitzkrieg Air Attack', 'Bombs of Death', 'Defeat of Amalek', 'Raging Violence', 'Call of the Gods', 'Executed', 'Destruction and Terror' from Raging Violence, everything from Hate, Fear and Power.
Not Dead Yet combines Raging Violence (1985) and Hate, Fear and Power (1986) - Hirax's first two records - onto a single CD. Hirax are well known among thrash fans, but I still don't think they get the recognition they deserve when compared to bands like Exodus, Testament, Forbidden etc. - I mean, Raging Violence is a raw classic. The music is fast and hits you in the gut, but it's Katon W. DePena's vocals that make the band stand out. Nobody else sounds like him and his wailing voice. I'd even go so far as to say that he kind of has a traditional metal voice, but it really suits the music. Most of the 14 tracks here clock at less than 2 minutes, but again, this was kind of a trademark for them in their early days. The album still lasts half an hour however, and personally I think it's one of the better and more underrated underground thrash records of the time.
Hate, Fear and Power has a crunchier production job and the whole thing sounds more aggressive overall than the debut, but despite being the band's second full-length LP, it still only clocks at 15 minutes long, which is more like EP or at least punk rock LP length if you ask me. That's my only real criticism with this album. The actual music and performances are a step up, it's just a shame it's over so quickly. Quality over quantity? Not Dead Yet is essential for thrashers, though, ironically, they would be dead by 1989 - at least until 2000 when they reformed.
Adam's rating: 8.6/10 (Raging Violence)
8.5/10 (Hate, Fear and Power)
BARRAGE OF NOISE (EP) 2001 (Deep Six Records)
Katon W. DePena split Hirax up for more than a decade, but apparently fan mail and general interest was enough for him to reform, even if it isn't the same lineup anymore. Anyhow, they recorded this ass-kickin' studio EP consisting of eight new songs, and it still sounds like Hirax overall, but a decade of absence (and new band members) will bring some new ingredients to the formula. The fast tempo of the tracks are still the same for the most part, but the guitars are now detuned, Katon sounds a little angrier than usual (a good thing) and they've even thrown in some melodic guitar lines on 'Jade' and 'Walk With Death'. The remaining six songs are pure speed and aggression though. Really, Barrage of Noise is just a natural progression; they're still as fast and heavy as you want them to be, the songs are still short and snappy overall, but they're also being a bit more creative musically. I know this is an EP, but considering the 15 minute length of Hate, Fear and Power, this clocks at around 20 minutes so to me it feels like more of an actual studio album (even if 20 mins is still way shorter than the average record from another band).
Adam's rating: 8/10
EL ROSTRO DE LA MUERTE 2009 (Black Devil Records)
- Standouts: 'Baptized by Fire', 'Flesh and Blood', 'El Rostro de la Muerte', 'Blind Faith', 'Broken Neck'
Maybe splitting Hirax up for 12 or so years was a good idea. Since they reformed around 2000, Katon has recorded some pretty awesome material. El Rostro de la Muerte (not sure what that translates to) is the second Hirax full-length since the reformation, and it slays! My only complaint would be that the CD lacks any truly memorable riffage; I mean, there's nothing inherently wrong with the guitar work, it's just decent but definitely not outstanding. Katon's vocals are insane however, definitely the best aspect of the record. It's not very often a vocalist actually gets better with time. The first half of this album consists of longer or more 'normal' length tracks like the superb title track, 'Baptized by Fire' and 'Flesh and Blood'. You do still get a handful of short numbers as well though, in true Hirax fashion ('Battle of the North', 'Death Militia', 'Broken Neck', 'Blind Faith'). 'Broken Neck' is actually a re-recording of a song from the Barrage of Noise EP. Really, this disc is kind of a like more musically developed version of 80's Hirax with modern production, and basically, it's decent.
Adam's rating: 7.4/10
NOISE CHAOS WAR 2010 (Black Devil Records)
Compilation of 3 EPs, 2000's Barrage of Noise as well as the 2007 Chaos of Brutality and Assassins of War releases. I do remember reading about this CD years ago on the No Life Til Metal Hirax page, but obviously I totally forgot that it was a compilation and that I already had Barrage of Noise (don't need to talk about that one for a second time). I picked this up at the Season of Mist records stall at Bloodstock 2018, and it's basically a no-brainer for me to pick up a Hirax album if I see one. Okay, so I already had one of those EPs, I'm still glad I picked this up. Chaos of Brutality continues the Hirax brand of chaotic old-school thrash, but retains Katon's harsher vocal approach of more recent times. 'Chaos and Brutality' rules, and the song title pretty much sums up the song in general. The re-recording of 'Walk With Death' was kind of unnecessary, but the production is sharper than the Barrage of Noise version, so it has that going for it. Assassins of War is great too, 'Lucifer's Inferno' and 'Summon the Death Dealers' are total 80's thrash mayhem, only it's from the 21st century! The title track ends the CD and sort of reminds me of the mid-tempo stuff from Overkill's Horrorscope album. You also get a live video of 'Bombs of Death', recorded in 2009. Dunno what else to say really, this disc is just more Hirax goodness.
Adam's rating: 8/10 (Barrage of Noise)
7.5/10 (Chaos and Brutality)
8/10 (Assassins of War)
