Thrashers rejoice!! Hirax have returned after five years with their 5th full length ‘Immortal Legacy’. And what an appropriate title this is as Katon and company are here to enshrine their immortal legacy with another killer example of thrash metal excellence.
The massively underrated yet hugely influential Hirax have been thrashing in one form or another now for over thirty years. Led by unmistakable vocalist /founding member Katon W. De Pena these Californians have recorded some of the best American thrash metal records.
Their previous album, 2009’s “El Rostro De La Muerte” was a belter. Guitarist Glenn Rogers has now been replaced by Mike Guerrero who joins the band which also features Lance Harrison (guitars), brother Steve Harrison (bass) and Jorge Iacobellis (drums). This record also features a number of guest solos by Jim Durkin (Dark Angel) , Juan Garcia (Agent Steel), and Rocky George (Fishbone, Suicidal Tendencies).
Album opener, ‘Black Smoke’ sends out all the right signals and Katon’s always unmistakeable voice is in fine form, not quite reaching those glass shattering high notes of days past but come on, this is one of the hardest working singers in metal who’s been touring since you were an itch in your daddy’s pants so let’s not bash him up over that. Next song, ‘Hellion Rising’ is 100% thrashing mayhem and the album never lets up after that with quality, hook laden songs like ‘Victims Of The Dead’ (very Agent Steel sounding), ‘Deceiver’ and ‘The World Will Burn’ (with brilliant bass solo intro). All total quality – no filler, metal of the highest order!
Production is handled by the legendary Bill Metoyer who worked with the band back on their debut and subsequently with pretty much a million other bands (Slayer, Flotsam & Jetsam, Sacred Reich, and WASP).
Another nice touch is the very old school cover art was drawn by renowned Noise Records album artist Philip Lawvere (responsible for the amazing cover art for all the early Kreator records including by fave ‘Pleasure To Kill’, and Celtic Frost’s ‘Emperor’s Return’ EP sleeve amongst others). He apparently came out retirement to create this, his first oil painting in 25 years.
If you are at all interested in thrash, particularly the classic late eighties scene, buy this album now. It should give you a nice warm fuzzy feeling inside, it did me. It’s a blinding record created by masters of their craft.
(8.5/10 Mark Eve)
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