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.

Kingcrimsonprog Half an hour of straight-ahead ass kicking, Hirax’s debut Raging Violence is certainly appropriately named. The Californian speedsters’ 1985 album is an underrated gem.

After opening with a silly Monty Python-esque spoken word intro (called ‘Demons’), the album speeds ahead with 14 slabs of snarling, rabid, nasty Thrash. Brevity is the order of the day, with most of the songs under 2 minutes and absolutely none longer than 3 and a half.

There’s a really intriguing mixture of NWOBHM sounding moments, colliding with crossover sounding moments, and a sort of intermittent red-hot streak that clearly influenced Napalm Death (who would later go on to cover the band on their Leader’s Not Followers 2 album).

Its full of brief messy shrieking guitar solos, blunt aggressive drumming and singer Katon W. De Pena’s trademark vocals, that sound a bit like Overkill’s Bobby Blitz Ellsworth being squeezed too hard.

Sometimes they sound a bit like Pleasure To Kill-era Kreator, such as on the furious “Bombs Of Death,” sometimes they have a bit of Holy Terror’s runaway train barely-in-time charm, such as on “Warlord’s Command,” sometimes, such as on the one minute long “Destroy” they would channel Nuclear Assault. Sometimes they would even foreshadow where Dark Angel would go (only without all the changes and technicality).

The production job is a bit low-budget sounding; but considering this was still only 1985, it was still in the opening days of the Thrash movement, before bands were making real money and getting the big name producers. Not that it needs a bigger production; this isn’t a sweeping progressive epic, it’s a punky blast of naked aggression designed to blow the cobwebs off the listener.

Some minor points of interest: The band’s logo was designed by Celtic Frost’s Tom G. Warior. Future Metallica Merch Maestro Pushhead designed the odd psychedelic humpty dumpty artwork. It was released on Metal Blade.

In summary; its raw, is rough, its over in a flash but it’ll kick your teeth out. This is a record worth checking out. Their next album was half as long and twice as fast again.