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]

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.^[4] After the change, they released their second album, Hate, Fear and Power,^[4] 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).^[4] 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).^[4] But soon after the band broke up.^[4]

Reunion

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″ 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.^[5] In 2003, the band played in Bang Your Head Festival, in Germany.^[6] The lineup completely changed, and Hirax released the album Barrage of Noise in 2001 with James Joseph Hubler, Justin Lent (Clusterfux), and Nick Sellinger. 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

On February 24, 2014, the band released their latest 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. Hirax still performs regularly to this day, and as of 2021, they have been working on a new album.^[9]

Discography:

Demo	Demo	1984
Anglican Scrape Attic	Split	1985
Raging Violence	Full-length	1985
Hate, Fear and Power	Full-length	1986
Blasted in Bangkok Demo Tape	Demo	1987
Blasted in Bangkok	Single	1987
Not Dead Yet	Compilation	1987
Dying World	Split	1997
El Diablo Negro	EP	2000
Barrage of Noise	EP	2001
The New Age of Terror	Full-length	2004
Louder than Hell	Split	2005
Thrash ’til Death	Video	2006
Assassins of War	EP	2007
Chaos and Brutality	EP	2007
Assassins of War / The New Age of Terror	Compilation	2007
Thrash Metal Assassins	Compilation	2008
Thrash and Destroy	Live album	2008
Thrash and Destroy	Video	2008
Hirax / F.K.Ü.	Split	2008
Metalheads United	Split	2009
El rostro de la muerte	Full-length	2009
Noise Chaos War	Compilation	2010
Raging Thrash	Split	2010
Just Kill… and Kill Again	Split video	2010
First Time in Poland	Video	2011
Warlords of the Bolivian Command	Live album	2011
La Boca de la Bestia	Single	2012
Hellion Rising	Single	2013
La Boca de la Bestia / Queen of the Wasteland	Split	2013
Hellion Rising / Water Boarding	Split	2014
Immortal Legacy	Full-length	2014
West-East Thrashaholic Beat Up	Split	2015
Born in the Streets 1983-1984	Split	2018

Members:

Katon W. de Pena	Vocals (1984-1987, 2000-present)
See also: ex-House of Suffering, ex-Phantasm, ex-L.A. Kaos
Steve Harrison	Bass (2006-present)
See also: ex-Syndicate (USA)
Lance Harrison	Guitars (2006-present)
Mike Vega	Drums (2014-present)
See also: Luna Occulta, ex-Ahnkou, Battalion of Saints, ex-Dr. Know, ex-Lightning Swords of Death, ex-Satriarch, ex-Sinstorm, ex-The Cauterized, ex-Gunt, ex-The Ruins

Past Members:

Sherman Jones	Bass
See also: Insecticide, ex-Eyeball
Gary Monardo	Bass (1984-1989, 2000)
See also: ex-Weapon 13, ex-Cold Blood, ex-L.A. Kaos, Raging Violence, ex-K.G.B.
Brian Keith	Drums (1984)
See also: ex-L.A. Kaos
John Tabares	Drums (1984-1986, 2000, 2006)
See also: ex-Weapon 13, ex-Cold Blood, Raging Violence, ex-Phantasm, ex-L.A. Kaos
Bob Savage	Guitars (1984)
See also: Bob Savage, ex-Weapon 13, ex-Cold Blood, ex-L.A. Kaos, K.G.B., Raging Violence, ex-Invaders
Scott Owen	Guitars (1984-1989, 2000)
See also: Uncivil War, ex-Subversion, ex-Piranha, ex-Razor (live), ex-Eliminate, ex-Raging Violence, ex-Subversion A.D.
Eric Brecht	Drums (1986-1989)
See also: ex-Attitude, ex-D.R.I., ex-Death, ex-Suburbanites, ex-Two-Bit Thief, ex-US D.R.I.
Billy Wedgeworth	Vocals (1987)
(R.I.P. 2010) See also: ex-Corruption
Paul Baloff	Vocals (1988)
(R.I.P. 2002) See also: ex-Piranha, ex-Exodus, ex-Heathen, ex-Killparty, ex-Spastik Children
Greg Eickmier	Guitars (2000)
See also: ex-A // Solution
Mike Brickman	Bass (2001-2003)
See also: ex-Lunatics on Parole
Justin Lent	Bass, Guitars (2001)
See also: Clusterfux, ex-Thaumaturgy, ROÄC
Dan Bellinger	Drums (2001)
See also: Raised by Wolves, ex-Crematorium, ex-Yigael’s Wall
Nick Seelinger	Drums (2001)
See also: ex-Beltfed Weapon, ex-Silencer, ex-Angel Dust (live), ex-Drudgery
James Joseph Hubler	Guitars (2001)
Angelo Espino	Bass (2003-2005)
See also: Heretic, L.S.N., ex-Dissenter, ex-Anger as Art, ex-Bitch, ex-Once Dead, ex-Reverend, ex-Hunger, ex-Predator, ex-Uncle Slam, ex-Vermin
Jorge Iacobellis	Drums (2003-2006, 2008-2014)
See also: Final Decree, Primal, ex-Silversteel, ex-Insecticide, ex-Lunatics on Parole, ex-Velocet, ex-Todos Tus Muertos
Glenn Rogers	Guitars (2003-2005, 2006-2007, 2008-2011)
See also: Deliverance, Final Decree, Primal, ex-Heretic, ex-Once Dead, ex-Steel Vengeance, ex-Viking, ex-Vengeance Rising, ex-Lambs Among Wolves, ex-Max Blam Jam
Dave Watson	Guitars (2003-2005)
See also: Shades of Crimson, Black Heart, ex-Final Decree, ex-Hauk, ex-Resistance, ex-Ruthless, ex-The Prodigal Son, ex-Rotten Rod and the Warheads, ex-Mother Mercy, ex-The Violent Breed, ex-DeathRiders
Dave Chedrick	Drums (2004-2005)
See also: Maxxxwell Carlisle, Raven (live), ex-Graphic Violence, ex-Raven Mad, ex-Anger as Art, ex-Dreams of Damnation, ex-Heretic, ex-New Eden, ex-Ruthless, ex-DeathRiders
Fabricio Ravelli	Drums (2006-2008)
See also: Imbyra, ex-Wasted Co., ex-A.N.I.M.A.L., ex-Ancesttral, ex-Dreams of Damnation, ex-Harppia, ex-Scars, ex-Blood Alliance
Miguel “Camazotz” Moran	Drums (2007)
See also: ex-Dreams of Damnation, ex-Ritual, ex-Tazumal, ex-Vesterian, ex-Vesuvius
Tim Thomas	Guitars (2007-2008, 2011)
See also: ex-Bastard Squad, ex-Warrion, ex-New Eden, ex-Steel Prophet, ex-Agent Steel (live), ex-Abattoir, ex-Ripcord
Mike Guerrero	Guitars (lead) (2011-2013)
See also: ex-Sovereign Reign, ex-DeathRiders