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1 -Hello Katon ,Im Gino from Rockumweb.com let me send you my congratulacions for your music , We know that Hirax began into the music world 22 years ago (1984), Could you tell Us how was the beginning of the band?
1. KATON: Before I begin the interview… I would like to say I am VERY saddened by the lose of my long time friend Jesse Pintada (Terrorizer, ex – Napalm Death) He was a GREAT musician and an AMAZING human spirit!! I just attended his memorial and helped lay him to rest. I will miss him FOREVER!! Rest In Peace my METAL BROTHER!! His death has made me realize how important is for me to keep FIGHTING FOR HEAVY METAL music!!
Back in the early days of HIRAX 1984… we were a part of an exploding, young metal movement known as THRASH !! it was an EXCITING time because HIRAX along with our friends/peers - Metallica, Slayer, Armored Saint, Dark Angel, Possessed, Exodus, Death Angel, Testament, Megadeth, etc. were all starting out at the same time. It made for quite an interesting mix of young talent. We are still VERY PROUD to have been a part of !!
2- What do you think about Thrash Metal music of today ?
KATON: it reminds me of the early days. A lot of GREAT new bands as well as all of the classic old bands. Besides HIRAX doing what we have always done… a lot of our brothers in metal have reformed and RETURNED to JOIN the THRASH METAL FIGHT!! There is a WHOLE NEW movement of headbangers all over the world supporting this kind of music again. WE KNOW IT and FEEL IT!! The attendance at our concerts is BIGGER than EVER BEFORE!! The fan letters come in EVERYDAY!! Our website is constantly being accessed by thousands of fans new and old… HEAVY METAL and THRASH METAL is ALIVE and WELL!!
3- Your current line - up?.
KATON: Katon W. De Pena - vocals | Glenn Rogers - lead guitars | Lance Harrison - lead guitars | Steve Harrison - bass | Fabricio Ravelli - drums
OUR BEST LINE UP TO DATE!! We are STRONGER, FASTER, and HEAVIER THAN EVER BEFORE!!
4- What topics do you consider in your lyrics?
3. KATON: It is hard to avoid things that we feel strongly about… topics such as … religion, holy wars, the desecration of mother earth… global warming, injustice against the poor, occultism, historic stories of good and evil, …. Those are just SOME of the topics that we touch on…
We also choose to write about things that touch our lives personally. We are actually one of the only TRUE METAL BANDS who seem to NOT BE AFRAID to write about what our government is doing!! We DO NOT support any kind of wars!! But WE DO SUPPORT our soldiers!! They are only doing their job and fighting for their country! All men are created equal. That is the HIRAX belief.
5- Who are your personal musical influences?
KATON: there are many. I will try to name a few… obviously HEAVY METAL classics such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, … we grew up on that stuff so it was a BIG part of our life!! HEAVY METAL IS OUR RELIGION!! ALSO… we love classical music, flamenco guitars, mariachi, ANY music with culture!! We respect and appreciate every country we travel to and we try to learn from their music and customs. It is VERY IMPORTANT to us!! Opera, early Blues, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Sonny Boy Williams, GUITAR GODS … such as Michael Shenker, Gary Moore, Uli Roth, just to name a few… the list goes on and on and on… MUSIC IS MY LIFE… I eat it up like it is FOOD!!
6- Tell Your TOp 10 Albums for all the times?.
KATON:
HARD QUESTION… but I will try… it is constantly changing all of the time.
1. Judas Priest – “Hell Bent for Leather”
2. AC/DC – “Let There be Rock”
3. Iron Maiden – “Iron Maiden”
4. Yngwie Malmsteen – “Rising Force”
5. Thin Lizzy – “Jailbreak”
6. Deep Purple – “Machine Head”
7. Motorhead – “No Remorse”
8. Venom – “Black Metal”
9. Candlemass – “Candlemass”
10. Ramones – “Leave Home”
7- Katon , I really glad with your The New Age of Terror , you have a UPCOMING ALBUM now "Assassins of War" , Could tell us about it ?
KATON: “Assassins of War” will DEFINITELY be our BIGGEST achievement in the history of the band. It will have more songs and have a longer running time than our previous albums. We have already been hard at work writing new material for it. Recording sessions begin in early 2007. there will be more technical playing as well as MACHINE GUN double bass drumming and THUNDEROUS bass guitar!! The guitar tones will be HEAVIER and MORE DEFINED with an emphasis on the word HEAVY!!!! The sound will be CRUSHING!! EXCELLENT production WHILE AT ALL TIMES remaining old school and RAW!! Obviously our influences will stay true to traditional HEAVY METAL MUSIC!! Our fans will be proud to know that we have kept our roots and integrity in tact!! ASSASSINS OF WAR is going to TOTALLY KILL!! It will also include lyrics as well as TOP NOTCH ARTWORK… because OUR FANS DESERVE THE BEST!!
8- The cover art of the album "Assassins of War" is amazing. Who designed it?
KATON: Jeff Gaither – he has done previous artwork for hardcore, underground bands such as the Accused, etc. The music for the album had to be matched by the artwork. The art fills in perfectly with the concept of “Assassins of War.” This record/CD is going to be the COMPLETE PACKAGE!! Everybody that has seen the artwork has been very happy! We are looking forward to releasing album to the WORLD very soon!!
9 -How is a gig with Hirax ?.
KATON: The shows are quite FUN and CRAZY!! Stage diving, fist banging, head banging, slam pits, etc. they go on from the beginning of the show to the very end! 100% PURE … INTENSE ENERGY!! That is what our shows are all about! People always tell us that our shows are the WILDEST!! To us… it is normal. We have been doing it for so long that hardly anything phases us anymore. At one of our shows… as kid was banging his head so hard that he broke his nose on a monitor in the front row! Luckily he was o.k. We never want any of our fans to get hurt!! We are all about FUN and RAISING HELL!!
9- What are your future plans?
KATON: CONTINUE doing what we are doing. Spreading our message of UNITY, and METAL MUSIC all over the WORLD!! After the release of our new album… “Assassins of War” we will continue to tour. Taking the band to many , many countries… going back to places that we have been to before… and invading countries where we have NEVER played! We have a positive message – live EVERY DAY like it is your LAST DAY ON EARTH!! Love thy METAL BROTHERS AND SISTERS… we are one big family! LONG LIVE TRUE METAL!!
10 - - We see in your website some new dates in Mexico , Could you tell us about your tour ?,
KATON: this is a small 4 date tour to warm the fans up for next year 2007 when we will come back through SOUTH AMERICA on a LARGER SCALE TOUR! Traveling to more countries such as Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, etc. we have a LOT of DIE HARD fans throughout South America as well as countries such as Spain and Portugal. They ALL have been VERY SUPPORTIVE so we are looking forward to coming to their cities and countries to play for them… HOLA AMIGOS…
SEE YOU SOON!!
11-Do you know something about the Latin-American Metal scene?
KATON: YES I am VERY interested and involved in it! There are a lot of great Latin musicians such as Rata Blanca, Angeles de los Infiernos, Baron Rojo, Transmetal, Especimen, Sacrofago, and many, many more… I think that it is very sad that a lot of metalheads in other countries do not know about these bands. Even in North America a lot of headbangers have never heard of these groups. I am trying to change that by talking about these bands in my interviews, etc. so that other people can know about them. Like I have always said… we are one big family. Whether you are Mexican/Latin, Black, Asian, Italian, European, etc. we all are headbangers and we bleed the same blood. Our music is the international language!! People should be more accepting of each other nationalities and cultures.
12 - How do you see the future of metal?
KATON: Growing BIGGER and BIGGER… it will be a MAJOR force in the music industry. It will NOT be denied! METAL is REAL and from the HEART!! If you are sad… it will always make you happy!! HEAVY METAL will set you free!! And the WHOLE WORLD needs that!!
13 - Do you want to say any words to the Rockum readers?
KATON: Dear Rockum Readers… we HIRAX are honored to have such GREAT FANS!! You have stayed STRONG and TRUE to us over the years!! We will NOT let you down!! Wait until you hear the new album!! You will be blown away!!
14 - What are you last comments in this interview?
KATON: FOR MORE INFORMATION TOUR DATES / MERCHANDISE / ALBUM RELEASES / PHOTOS / ETC.
CONTACT: www.HIRAX.org www.BlackDevilRecords.com
PO Box 1474
Cypress, CA 90814
USA
ON OUR 2006 / 2007 TOUR OF THE WORLD … WE WILL BE BRINGING MORE GUITARS, SOUND, AMPS, EQUIPMENT, STAGE, THAN EVER BEFORE.
WE ARE ALSO INCLUDING SONGS FROM EVERY HIRAX ALBUM
We are honored and humbled by the many, many fans that we have!!
We owe it to you to give you the best SHOW / CONCERT on EARTH!!
SEE YOU SOON.
LONG LIVE ROCKUM
LONG LIVE HIRAX!!
www.HIRAX.org
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