As soon as the intro is faded, the levers are set to maximum speed for the total of the nine songs the album has to offer. Classic thrash metal at its best. Actually, this is an album for the young and old. All of us who are old enough will get a throwback into the 80s high time of metal and thrash metal. Younger listeners will listen to the sound of one of the pioneers of thrash metal. HIRAX are still a threshold any other band can measure themselves too. After listening for the first time, I asked myself if this is a forgotten gem from the late 80s or did it really come out in 2025 as new.
HIRAX haven’t changed a bit and are giving proof that you do not need to evolve or experiment. Why would you want to change what is awfully good?
Maybe they did change a bit, but this is due to the voice of KATON W. DE PENA. His voice isn’t as peaking and screaming like it could shatter glass. It’s a littler bit lower than 40 years ago but nonetheless powerful as ever and the driving force of the songs. If you hear his voice, you know what band is on, it’s the trademark of HIRAX.
The rest is pure speed: guitars, bass and drums. And it’s good speed.
HIRAX keeps up another tradition: strange cover artwork. The first album ‘Raging Violence’ showed an exploding potato, at least it looks like that. The cover of ‘Faster Than Death’ is not a highlight of arts, either. But who cares.
Highlight tracks are the opener itself ‘Drill Into The Brain’, ‘Revenant’ and the remastered (really?) version of ‘Warlord’s Command’, which has originally been released on their first long-player. All songs have driving riffs and remarkable solos.
Musicians:
Katon W. De Pena – Voice
Neil Metcalf – Lead & Rhythm Guitar & Bass Guitar
Danny Walker – Drums.
Links
REVIEW SCORE
| 8.6 | A well produced album that gives you a classic and timeless thrash metal experience. Too bad it’s over after already nine songs, you have to set it on auto-repeat because it’s worth it and the fun would be over too fast. HIRAX haven’t lost a thing of their power and throw out extremely fast and furious songs. Recommended. |
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!