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What Happened To Hirax?

aton W. De Pena and james hetfield

Hirax, Katon W. De Pena, Raging Violence and Beyond

Raging Violence was the first official Hirax album Metal Blade and appeared with their first full-length, “Raging Violence” in 1985. Hirax was Katon W. De Pena (vocals), Scott Owen (guitar), Gary Monardo (bass) and John Tabares (drums).

In 1986, John Tabares left the band and was replaced by Eric Brecht (D.R.I’s. vocalist Kurt Brecht brother). After, they released a 2nd LP “Hate, Fear, and Power” (16 minutes / eight tunes). Later, the band released the live album “Blasted In Bangkok” in 1987.

Be that as it may, with strains and frustrates in the band, De Pena chose to leave and frame another group with Gene Hoglan (previous Dark Angel drummer), and Ron McGovney (former Metallica bassist). They called themselves Phantasm. After a brief tour with Nuclear Assault, they separated. In 1989, after De Pena left Phantasm, the substitution was Paul Baloff (former Exodus frontman), not long after the band separated.

The band “reformed” in 2013 with Katon w. De Pena being the only original member and continue to record and tour to this day

 

Tracklisting

Side A

No |Title | Length

1. “Demons – Evil Forces” 3:25
2. “Blitzkrieg Air Attack” 2:08
3. “Guardian Protector” 1:37
4. “Bombs of Death” 1:47
5. “Defeat of Amalek” 3:08
6. “Raging Violence” 2:53
7. “Call of the Gods” 1:20

Side B

No |Title | Length

8.” Warlords Command” 2:39
9. “Suicide” 2:37
10. “Executed” 1:40
11. “The Gauntlet” 2:03
12. “Destruction and Terror” 2:33
13. “Destroy” 1:07
14. “Bloodbath” 1:55

Total length:30:52

GET THE ORIGINAL 1985 PRESSING OF RAGING VIOLENCE HERE

BAND IS IN 1984…

Katon W. De Pena – vocals
Gary Monardo – bass
Scott Owen – guitars
John Tabares – drums

LISTEN TO THE FULL HIRAX RAGING VIOLENCE

HIRAX BAND PHOTOS

“RAGING VIOLENCE” VINYL AND ARTWORK

GET THE ORIGINAL 1985 PRESSING OF RAGING VIOLENCE HERE

3 thoughts on “What Happened To Hirax?

  1. […] The number of huge metal bands Bhave had their debuts on the Metal Massacre compilations from Metal Blade Records, perhaps most notably was Metallica who have their name misspelled on Metal Massacre 1. Early on the featured “hair bands” like RATT until Metal Blade became the goto record label for thrash metal and started working with better bands like Cryptic Slaughter, Slayer and Hirax. […]

  2. […] was more akin to Rob Alford — a typical high-pitched 80’s singing style popular in 1985. That is why fans and critics alike consider “Power from Hell” to be superior to any of […]

  3. […] as they were frequently the de facto local support band for national tours like DRI, Exodus, and Nuclear Assault when the band would be on tour in the New England […]

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