For anyone into thrash metal, HIRAX stands for a truly legendary band. They are as relentless as they are uncompromising, plain and simple. The last time they visited Poland was back in 2011. After that, to see them one had to travel all the way to Cottbus in eastern Germany. Ten years had passed…and Katon W. De Pena and his (new) buddies announced they`d be performing live at Brual Assault Festival. In fact, GRAND MAGUS and HIRAX shows were scheduled for the same time slot. So, my plan was to divide my attention between these two bands fifty-fifty. However, my plan didn’t work out at all. Why? Because HIRAX killed totally. Well, it didn’t even cross my mind to leave their show and go see GRAND MAGUS instead. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to talk to Katon W. at that time, but I will surely do so this year.
1. Hello Katon, nice to meet you after all these years! First of all, you have recently parted ways with the longtime line-up of the Harrison bros and Mike Vega. What happened?
Katon: they’ve been gone for over five years at least, we played together for about 16 years, but the time had come for all of us to make a change. Musically we were going in different directions. However I do wish them the best. There were some ups and downs, but we had a lot of great times while we played together.
2. Ever since then you’re in a crazy whirlwind of line-up changes again. Who’s the new guys and why did the guitarist leave?
Katon: for studio Recording I usually now work with studio musicians, and for touring I will have a different lineup of musicians.
For me, it’s just easier to work that way…
I run the band very seriously…. Some musicians are more concerned with partying than the music, Those are the ones that I don’t work with very long.
Right now, the HIRAX touring lineup consist of: Allan Chan – Guitars, Jose Gonzalez Bass Guitar, Emilio Marquez – Drums and Percussion.
3. I’ve got the Japanese pressing of “Faster Than Death” demo. Are the same songs going to be on the official record? I honestly don’t get the idea of having a demo, an EP and a full-length under the same title.
Katon: I love doing things my own way, Faster Than Death started out as a cassette tape released in Germany and then in Japan then a couple of record labels wanted to press it on CD so we did, the demo was made to show the progression of the whole process of making this album….. from the Raw rehearsal Recordings to the Official studio sound quality, the fans that have both will get to see and hear the difference….
To be honest with you, this record is a miracle hard to believe that we finally got it done and released. The packaging is amazing and I can’t wait for the fans to see it.
4. Who recorded “FTD” and who’s the producer?
Katon: musicians who performed on the recording: Katon – Voice, Neil Metcalf – Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar, Danny Walker – Drums.
The Album was produced mixed and mastered by legendary producer Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne, Y&T, Megadeth, Loudness, Savatag) etc….
5. How come that a doom label is releasing such a fast record?
Katon: the record label is called “Doomentia Records” they are based out of the Czech Republic and they work with a lot of Metal bands! They work very hard have high-quality releases, and they understand our kind of music and our fans!!!!
6. I remember when we discussed the production of your records and I suggested that you work with Bill Metoyer again, I’m glad you did!
Katon: he worked in the beginning stages of the new album Faster Than Death but he wasn’t able to finish it so we brought in Max Norman… it worked out great and I am very proud of this record because we did it our way no compromise and totally independent.
7. I read that your latest record, Immortal Legacy, is now out of print and is the only record not currently available.
Katon: yes that is totally true. You’ve done your homework. But the great news is that after 10 years we finally got the rights back to the record so we will be re-issuing it on cassette tape, Vinyl and Cd as well as digital downloads.
Immortal Legacy is very personal to me because we also had special guest musicians play on that record Rocky George (Suicidal Tendencies), Jim Durkin (Dark Angel), and Juan Garcia (Body Count, EvilDead).
8. Are you going to make a CD press of “Born In The Streets”? I’m a CD guy you know…
Katon: yes but first I have to deal with releasing the new album as well as reissuing Immortal Legacy!! Luckily after 40 years, we somehow dug up the original master Tapes for the four track demo from 1984 featuring Born In The Streets..! The amazing thing was that the Tapes had survived after four decades.
9. You played two shows in Poland last year. How do you recall them comparing to those from 2011? I saw you had a decent crowd in Cracow!
Katon: the fans in Poland are always great. The shows are very energetic and we normally have good turnouts. We love playing in Poland because it reminds us of South America. The crowds are very loud.
10. Recently more black musicians than ever play metal on the underground level. Back then when you started that was you, Carlton Melson, anybody else in California comes to your mind?
Katon: when I started out the only other guy that was playing Thrash Metal like I was was the first lead guitarist for Metallica Lloyd Grant!!! Now there are a lot more black musicians.
11. What are your musical roots and how did you get into hardrock and metal? You’re a fan of so many styles and epochs!
Katon: yes I listen to all kinds of music from soul music, blues jazz to funk to country southern rock and even some dance music, such as ABBA and Grace Jones! But the 3 groups that got me into hard rock and heavy metal were Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Black Sabbath followed closely by Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple!!! After that, I only wanted my music heavier……
12. Yet Hirax is such an in your face type of band. Did you ever think of utilizing your less extreme areas of the soul?
Katon: if I was going to try a different style, it wouldn’t be under the name HIRAX it would be something entirely different.
HIRAX is my outlet for aggressive music and I will always keep it that way……
13. When are you coming to Europe again?
Thanks for the interview and all the best!
Katon: we will be coming back to Europe at the end of the year 2025, we have a lot of dates booked for North America for the first half of the year. A lot of other stuff is still in the works. Also, we will be returning back to South America as well. Please check our social networking websites for Tour dates.
We will be doing a lot of concerts in support of the new album “Faster Than Death”.
14. Off the record: I talked to Tony Portaro recently and he told me that you replaced Whiplash at one of the Mexican festivals in a strange way, since they did not cancel…
Katon: why would I want this question off the record? This is THRASH METAL and honesty is the best way. I’ve been hearing Tony cry about this from a few different people over the years and I really don’t know what the fuck he’s talking about. Recently we played together and he never said anything to me. If he has something to say, he should say it to my face we are grown men not little kids. And one last thing we don’t need to steal gigs from anybody especially him. We play plenty of concerts every year.
Unlike him, I don’t need to talk behind his back. You can tell him I said this.
15. Off the record 2: I asked the Brutal Assault crew for an interview with you during the festival. They said you never answered. I smell bullshit, I guess they never wrote to you in the first place. The whole press crew was brand new and they have no idea what they are doing…
Katon: No don’t blame Brutal Assault Festival it wasn’t their fault. It was a very busy and chaotic tour. We were dealing with a lot of things such as Merchandising manufacturing, etc. so we didn’t have a chance to get back to them regarding the interviews, I take responsibility for that the blame lands solely on me….
Next time since you know we are a true Underground band contact us directly and I will make sure we do the interview with you. Thanks for your continued support over the years…!!!
See you on the next European tour.
The interview was conducted by Vlad Nowajczyk
Photo Live NecronosferatuS
