After the fantastic recent comebacks of Razor and Sacrifice, now another cult thrash band is striking hard with a new album after a long hiatus. Californians Hirax are celebrating their 40th anniversary with their sixth full-length album Faster Than Death, coming out more than a decade after the last one. Band leader, front man and only original member Katon W. de Pena has gathered a new live lineup around him with Jose Gonzalez, Allan Chan, and Emilio Marquez.
Their first two classic albums Raging Violence (1985) and Hate, Fear and Power (1986) showcased a strong hardcore influence, the band falling into the crossover category with short bursts of aggression and shouted vocals. Now, Hirax have toned down the hardcore and the new album is much more classic thrash in nature. The songs still rarely pass the three-minute mark, but there is much more melody, structure and better guitar solos this time around. Songs like Drill Into The Brain, Relentless and the title track are absolute thrash-speed hammers, with Katon’s vocals being the most impressive in his career. Municipal Waste have resurrected the popularity of this particular type of thrash two decades ago, but now the seasoned veterans are showing they still have the chops and the riffs to make the youngsters watch and bleed.
Revenant, for example, is an excellent display of Hirax’ talent to change tempos relentlessly throughout the song, with groovy chugging followed by rabid pummeling of speedy riffs. Warlord’s Command is a re-recorded old song from 1985 and the closer World’s End is another headbanging assault to the senses and neck-muscles, proving yet again how good this band is, even with a totally revamped line-up. It has to be mentioned that the album sounds fantastic and really powerful, with vocals, guitars, bass guitar engineered and recorded by the legendary Bill Metoyer at Skull Seven Studio North Hollywood, California and produced, mixed and mastered by the no less legendary Max Norman!
It’s a pity we had to wait ten years for a new Hirax album, but when the end result is that good, it’s worth it. The year starts very well for classic old school thrash and Faster Than Death is guaranteed to put a big smile on every metalhead’s face. Bring out the denim vests!
9/10
Faster Than Death is out on February 28th and can be ordered from HERE (Europe) and HERE (US)
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