• NEW HIRAX REVIEWS •
RECENT REVIEWS OF HIRAX 'BARRAGE OF NOISE'...
Germany
Well,
what can I say, as a Thrash Metal fan since day one, nothing really better
could happen than to have to review a classic thrash metal bands comeback
album... ! I hope all of you maniacs out there know about Hirax, the
legendary LA-based Thrash Metal band around singer and mastermind Katon
W. DePena. The band parted ways in the late eighties and stepped
off-stage as a thrash metal underground legend (maybe comparable to the
situation Slaughter from Canada faced when they disbanded in the late 80´s)
just to come back in 2000, thinking about bringing this cool band back
together. And finally you see the finished product with "Barrage Of
Noise", their comeback-album on Black Devil Records. And, well, it´s
exactly what you may think of it: pure and raw old school thrash metal. What
can I say, the whole arrangement remind me of some early Exodus stuff, maybe
also of Dark Angel and all these good old thrash bands out of the better
days of the 80´s. Katon is singing like a really insane version of Schmier
of Destruction, maybe not as high as him, but it´s very much of a typical
thrash metal voice which I really do appreciate. Songs like the old-school
grenade "Walk With Death" (with a monstrous bridge within the
song) or the fabulous instrumental "Jade" bring you on your knees
if you ever had a heart for real thrashing metal, getting you back to the
flavour of the good old days. I mean, even the atmosphere the sound of
"Barrage Of Noise" spreads is as old school as possible.
One may not imagine this record to be produced in the beginning of a new
century. Thank god these bastards are back on stage!
•
West Side Dave’s
New York, USA
Hirax is SOOOOO back! After a much too long hiatus, the legendary Bay Area Hardcore killers have returned with an 8-song CD of total chaos! Absolute carnage reigns supreme on this album, which is a follow up to their "comeback" of last year, "El Diablo Negro", but "Barrage Of Noise" is a much stronger effort. The years have been kind to vocalist/leader Katon W. DePena; one of THE unique [and sadly underrated] voices in this particular genre, Katon has lost NONE of his vocal prowess. No inarticulate death grunts or Nu Metal temper tantrums HERE! Katon wails like a man possessed, but at the same time adding a melodic flair that has always put him head & shoulders above his peers. The rest of the band drive DePena`s anger-fuelled lyrics viciously home like the well oiled death machine they are! The musicians on this album are: Justin Lent, guitars/bass, James Joseph Hubler, guitars, and Nick Seelinger, drums [Lent and Seelinger have been since been replaced by Dan Bellinger on drums and Mike Brickman on bass] The tunes; "Murder One", the title track, "Walk With Death", "Broken Neck", "Jade", "Mouth Sewn Shut", "Beyond The Church [Part One]" and finally, after pounding you senseless, the band closes with the delicate, moody instrumental "French Pearl". I`m not even gonna TRY to pick out the best tracks, `cause this whole album totally plowed me over like a steamroller from HELL! [did these guys even take a BREATH while they recorded this?] The only other album that`s ever done that to me is Slayer`s "Reign In Blood"; no lie! Don`t believe me? Go to the link below, buy the CD and see for yourself! Welcome back, fellas! We missed ya......
•
England, U.K.
REVIEW
of HIRAX 'Barrage Of Noise'
Well,
with career-enhancing releases recently from both Kreator and Destruction,
it’s safe to say that – just like a horror B movie – thrash lives again!
And it’s about fucking time, eh?
Back
in the day, HIRAX were snapping at the heels of bands like Exodus, Death Angel
and Nuclear Assault with their frantic high (and I mean HIGH) speed crossover.
All those bands are gone now, but HIRAX are back to remind us of simpler,
happier times… or am I just being a nostalgic wanker? Probably, but however
you look at it, this is a luvverly blast from the past, all churning riffage,
ballistic double bass and shrieking metaaaal vocals. And not a nu-metal
tantrum in sight. There are many beautiful moments to be found here - the
Slayeresque ‘Beyond The Church’ springs to mind – but the highlight for
me is the slithering hook infesting ‘Walk with Death’, an old school
cruncher if ever I heard one.
[8]
Ian Glasper
•
Dallas, TX
HIRAX - Barrage of Noise, Deep Six Records
For well over a year reports had been circulating on the Internet about the
return
of HIRAX, thus creating a modest buzz surrounding the new album. Well,
we
at the HB are glad to report that the wait is over, and the buzz was
more
than justified. As long as Katon W. DePena is onboard,
you're
guaranteed at the very least, a smart-yet-violent record.
While
there's your fair share of speedy tracks here,
the
standout tracks here would be "Walk with Death," and "Broken
Neck."
Both
tracks brandish mid-tempo grooves, thereby turning the band into an
impenetrable tower of might. According to www.HIRAX.org,
big
things are coming down the pike from HIRAX in 2002. If
"Barrage
of Noise" is an indication of things to come,
and
then HIRAX should benefit greatly, so should you.
Hell,
for $8.00 (shipping included, mind you) you can't go wrong.
KKKKK.
(Dale Lammers)
•
The Netherlands (HOLLAND)
REVIEW
OF HIRAX-“BARRAGE OF NOISE”-CD
Fuck you, you crossover wannabees! HIRAX (yes the legendary HIRAX) is back on
the streets with their fifth release. Most brutal songs in their existence.
They play better and more mature than on "Raging Violence" (although
that was a classic LP). Listen to one of their best songs ever, and my
favorite of this album "Walk with Death". Mighty double bass loops
and resting point. Katon sounds more frustrated than ever (with the same
hairstyle, haha) followed by the rest of the band.
If
you are still into crossover music you definitely got to buy this album.
Fuck
you if you don't!!
--Twan Sibon/Brutalism
•
Sonic Rendezvous - News second
The Netherlands
HIRAX -BARRAGE OF NOISE CD 22.00 LP Nipping furiously at the heels of a recent onslaught of reissed material, these crossover legends deliver a terrifying new mini album of skullcracking aggrocrunch. 8 defiant new songs of heavy metal thrash destruction! Release Date: Sept. 15, 2001
-William Lautenbag
•
Mass Movement, Issue Eleven
England , U.K.
HIRAX
– Barrage Of Noise (Deep Six)
I
still can’t believe it – HIRAX are back!!!!!!
Yeah,
this here is the new album and it’s a cracker,
from
the opening salvo of “Murder One”
to
the closing instrumental “French Pearl.”
They
don’t put a foot wrong.
The
kings of Thrash are back with one single purpose;
to
make you all converts to the Church of HIRAX
and
all who refuse to join – well.
I’ll
meet any of you fucks anytime, anyplace and
make
you wish that you’d taken communion when you had the chance.
You
don’t want or need “Barrage Of Noise” – it’s essential.
By
that I mean you have to have it. Seriously,
whether you love
metal
or hardcore, this record will put a smile on your face
and
you’ll feel you limbs start to twitch uncontrollable as
your
body begins to Thrash… help me, fingers going,
arms
convulsing, can’t stop…need to Thrash…
•
8 new songs of
Extreme Ear Bleeding Music!
"BARRAGE OF NOISE"