HIRAX The New Age Of Terror
Black Devil/Mausoleum Records
2004
www.hirax.org
1. Kill Switch
2. Hostile Territory
3. The New Age Of Terror
4. Swords Of Steel
5. Into The Ruins
6. Massacre Of The Innocent
7. Hell On Earth
8. Suffer
9. El Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of The Dead)
10. El Diablo Negro
11. Unleash The Dogs Of War (Open The Gates)
I have to admit that I never really cut for HIRAX back in their heyday. Yeah, I know Im old school and to some thrash heads these words will be blasphemous, so sue me. Bottom line is, I just wasnt really exposed to them. So, lets just say that my interests were peaked when this arrived in the mail.
First impression? This is a 2004 disc that sounds like 1986, the vocalist, Katon W. De Pena sounding like a cousin of NUCLEAR ASSAULTs John Connelly. The production is decent, the songs are ok, but man, coming back to this guys vocals, I just dont understand how hes considered to be one of the undergrounds cult heroes. His delivery is very one dimensional, and not in a good Sean Killian kind of way.
I have a feeling though that a large portion of the new album sounds incredible live, when youve got the band in your face and can feed off of the energy. As it is here though, it just makes me wanna go grab any one of my faves from the era instead.
Rating: 5.9/10
Papa Josh
