When we speak about cult thrash metal one of the names comes in my mind is the  mighty Us latin combo of Hirax. The band story is started back in 1984.Now in 2009 Hirax are still alive with the same freshness and hunger, and their upcoming album "El Rostro de la Muerte" is the living proove as it must be one of the best album ever done by them. We got the honour to speak with the all time thrash "idol" vocalist Katon W. de Pena who run the band for the very begining. Enjoy!!!  

1.So HIRAX are back in buisiness. Whats your opinion about "El Rostro de la Muerte"?
KATON:  It is positively our BEST mammoth recording yet.  Mega heavy and extremely fast.  It will rip your face off!! 14 tracks over 50 minutes of thrash metal music.


2.Why it took so long for a new release?

KATON:  We have been busy touring all over the world.  This will be our first full length since 2004 "The New Age of Terror".  We released 2 EPs "Assassins of War" (2005) and "Chaos and Brutality" (2008).  In between we have been on the road...just this year, 2009, we have been to Norway, Japan, Colombia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Texas, Chile Argentina, Puerto Rico.  No rest... we are constantly working.


3.How it sounds "El Rostro de la Muerte"?

KATON:  Our biggest and heaviest reocrding ever!  The production is top quality.  Mixed by Andy Haller (Ozzy Osbourne, System of a Down, etc.) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Ynwie Malmsteen, Tony McAlpine, etc.)  we have enlisted some of the best production engineers in the business to create the biggest sound that HIRAX has ever had.  When our fans hear this new record their ears will be ringing for days.  HEAVY METAL/THRASH METAL music at it's finest.   EUROPEAN release date:  November 16th by Selfmadegod Records.  


4.With a career nearly 25 years you have relesed, including "El Rostro de la Muerte", just 4 full length albums. Why?

KATON:  That is a good question.  Well, after 1987 the band had left the music world for about 13 years.  I resurrected the band in 2000 and have been traveling and touring ever since.  Now we are making up for lost time and creating and releasing some of our best work to date.  You can expect more music from us in the future and we promise not to let the people who buy our music down.  We are 100% dedicated to what we do.  That is a guarantee.  


5.HIRAX is a cult name in the thrash scene and you are one of the oldest bands to play this kind of music. What is that make you a different band? Do you consider yourselves as an underground act or as a major one?

KATON:  How about we are a major underground band.  Even though we continually grow bigger and gain more fans every year we have not forgotten our roots.  We still consider ourselves to be a do it yourself underground band.  Which is something that we have consciously done because we have always remembered that the underground music fans have supported us from the very begining.  Now that our records are distributed by major distribution companies it just makes it easier for people to find our records/CDs.  It has not changed the people that we are and definitely has not changed our approach to how we market our music.  We are proud to be a thrash metal band... and that is our main focus!  We will never sell out!!


6.So what do you think is your best album so far?

KATON:  I like all of our albums and EPs or else I would have never released them.  Each one represents a time and a place where we were at that point in our career.  We are still motivated and excited to continue to release groundbreaking metal music.  The songs/music that we create are like my children and I love them all.


7.If i ask you to give a point to the new album with the perfect to be 10?

KATON:  "El Rostro de la Muerte" ("The Face of Death") is an 11.  It is our best album yet!  When you hear and see it, you will understand what I am saying.  


8.As we said before you are one of the leader of the "pack", so you are the correct people to know: Whats the differences of 80ies thrash metal with todays?

KATON:  80s thrash was what started it all.  It was the original stuff.  There is good thrash metal now, but they had a blueprint to follow and build from.  I would definitely say that the early days was the most creative and it will never be topped.  I know that is a big statement, but it is the truth.  


9.Can you tell us with what bands of the early days you have shared the scene?

KATON:  I can't say I miss those times... because I am still enjoying what I do very much to this day.  But I will admit that the early 80s was a very exciting time.  We shared the stage with many of the earliest thrash metal legends: Testament, Exodus, Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, Venom, Possessed, Exciter, ... you name it, we probably at one time or another played with one of those bands.  We were there from the very beginning and are honored to be a part of thrash metal history!


10.Let us know how do you desribe the music of HIRAX to someone that has never heard of you?

KATON:  Thrash metal music with heavy metal roots.  We have our own style.  


11.What the main topics of the new album lyrics?

KATON:   On this record there are a lot of different subjects and topics.  Obviously the title track is a HIRAX mega anthem and is destine to be a classic.  It is based around heavy rhythms and pounding drums… it is one of the heaviest songs we have ever written.  The concept is based around Santa Muerta, a popular religious figure/character throughout Mexico.  From our travels to that country we were inspired to write this song.  Other inspirations for the new album include:  war and peace, humanity, evolution of religion, mass murders, etc.  There are some dark subjects on this album, but there are also some uplifting and positive subjects.  There was a lot of thought put into the writing process of this album and we are very proud of it.  As with all of our records… the lyrics will be included so people will understand what I am talking about.    


12.What do you think of other kind of extrem metal like black metal?

KATON:  Except for Nu metal... I listen to it all.  As long as it is played well and has it's own creative song writing or sound, I will give it a chance.  if it sucks, I won't waste my time.  I, like everybody else, have an opinion and I like what I like.  I really don't give a shit what anybody else thinks.  To me music is like food... some tastes better than others... or in this case some music sounds better than others


13.Could you name us your all time favourite thrash metal albums?

KATON:  That is a very hard question for me to answer.  i listen to a lot of metal and crossover thrash metal music.  So I'll just think of 5 albums off the top of my head... but trust me, there are many more!!  
Exciter "Heavy Metal Maniac", Exodus "Bonded by Blood", Slayer "Hell Awaits", Nuclear Assault "Handle With Care", DRI "Dealing with It" ... like I said before though... there are MANY more albums that I can name.


14.From where the influences for the creation of HIRAX music was coming in your begining?

KATON:   The New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, etc.  as well as hardcore crossover:  Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Misfits, Black Flag, Siege, etc.  Speed, Power and Heaviness and trying to come up with our own sound pretty much define what we try to do still to this day.  Our biggest motivation and influence is to always try to top everything that we have ever done before.


15.Has the environment you live into any affect to your music?

KATON:  yes, being from Los Angeles, CA and playing in the same clubs along side bands like Motley Crue, Guns and Roses, Ratt and Quiet Riot made us want to fight and rebel against that music and come up with our own sound.  Seeing those bands only made us want to play faster and heavier.  When we finally went to San Francisco in the early 80s and started playing shows in the Bay Area we found our audience and we never looked back.  


16.Have you ever faced any troubles from anyone due your colour?

KATON:  Not really.  Nothing that I can remember.  I think that it is a known fact that most people who come to our shows know that we are a multi racial band that features black and white and latin musicians playing together in unity.  I think anybody who is racist knows not to come to our shows.  We are all about bringing people together no matter what race/gender/religion that they are.  I think that is really the driving force behind what we do. We are all about the music.  no politics.  


17.How do you see the future of HIRAX and what do you expect through your new release?

KATON:  The future looks very bright!!  There are a lot of things in the works and everyday we get more and more offers from touring agencies and merchandising companies.  So keep an eye out... there will be a lot more HIRAX to come!!  I expect "El Rostro de la Muerte" ("The Face of Death") to be our biggest album ever!  We have a lot of support from our fans, record companies and distributors.  When people walk into record stores looking for our CD/vinyl... if they ask for it I'm sure they will be able to find it! or they can check with iTunes (or other mp3 websites) or www.hirax.org   I think that this album will make a very big impact on the whole music world.  


18.Could you imagine a different way of life?

KATON:  No.  Never.  I hope that I can continue to do this until the day that I die.  


19.Do you live from the music?

KATON:  I have a very strong support system and a very supportive wife.  If it wasn't for that, and the loyalty of all the HIRAX fans, I would not be able to do what I am doing.  I am very, very grateful.  


20. Your other activities outside the band?

KATON:  Not really any.  The band is my life and I do it everyday.  24 hours a day.  7 days a week.  I rarely sleep.  


21.Your words are heavy. So give us the names of some new promising bands?

KATON:  Maybe not new... but some great bands are:  bands that I have been listening to recently:  Aria (Russia), Angeles del Infierno (Spain), Violence (San Francisco), Sabbat (Japan), Trust (France), Pentagram (Chile) to me these bands are un sung heros, that I think people should know about.  If you haven't heard them... check them out.


22.Anything i forgot to ask and you want to answer?

KATON:  I think we covered a lot of great information.  Keep an eye out  for our new CD/12” picture disc, “El Rostro de la Muerte” ("The Face of Death") European release date:  November 16th on Selfmadegod Records.
U.S.A. November 3rd


23.End as you wish...

KATON:  THANK YOU for the GREAT SUPPORT!  We look forward to seeing ALL of the headbangers when HIRAX comes to your city in 2010.  
For more HIRAX information, merchandise, tour dates, photos, etc. please visit:

www.blackdevilrecords.com

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The interview is done by Pantro...