HIRAX — Raging Violence (review)

HIRAX — Raging Violence album cover Album · 1985 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Raging Violence" is the debut full-length studio album by US, California based thrash/speed metal act Hirax. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in November 1985. Hirax was founded under the L.A. Kaos monicker in 1981, but changed their name to K.G.B. in 1983. The Hirax monicker was adopted in 1984. The band released a 1984 demo and appeared on the "Anglicon Scrape Attic" split in 1985. So while Hirax folded in 1989 after only releasing two full-length studio albums, they were an important part of the early California thrash/speed metal scene. They were a bit unusual in regards to personale, as lead vocalist Katon W. de Pena was/is African-American, which was not exactly the order of the day on the metal scene in the 1980s.

Stylistically the material on the 14 track, 30:55 minutes long album is thrash/speed metal, not completely unlike the early recordings by artists like Slayer, Metallica, Exodus, and Anthrax. So it´s not full blown thrash metal but instead features quite a few nods toward speed/traditional heavy metal in both the riff department and in the vocal style. And the vocal style needs a special mention here as Katon W. de Pena has one of the most distinct sounding voices and vocal styles on the scene. I´ll admit that the first time I listened to "Raging Violence" I couldn´t keep from laughing because of the pretty unconventional and unusual sounding vocals, but I´ve slowly begun to appreciate his original take on thrash metal singing. It´s a bit hard to give a fitting description of how he sounds, but raw staccato thrash metal styled shouting combined with some pretty unique sounding high pitched wailing is the best I can do.

I think that part of the music is bound to be an aquired taste. The same way a vocalist like King Diamond will always divide the waters, and although Katon W. de Pena´s vocals are now acceptable to my ears, it doesn´t mean I don´t still have some issues with them. His phrasing and vocal melodies could for example have been a lot more varied and the music would have prospered greatly from it. Because as it is, many tracks on "Raging Violence" sound too much the same, and that has a lot to do with the vocal style and the vocal melodies.

The instrumental part of the music is relatively raw thrash/speed metal featuring a high energy level. The musicianship is strong and the organic and powerful sound production suits the rawness of the music perfectly. Upon conclusion "Raging Violence" is for fans of the early- to mid 80s thrash/speed metal scene and the time before thrash metal was more established as a genre. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.
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