Hirax is an American thrash metal band from Cypress, California. Formed in 1984, the group originally consisted of vocalist Katon W. De Pena, bassist Gary Monardo, guitarist Bob Savage and drummer Brian Keith. The band's current lineup includes De Pena alongside bassist Jose Gonzalez (since 2024), drummer Mathew Morales and guitarist Geremi Perez (both since 2025).

History

1984–1988 After playing together in various bands together for "about four years", vocalist Katon W. De Pena, bassist Gary Monardo, guitarist Bob Savage and drummer Brian Keith formed Hirax in February 1984, recording a self-titled four-track demo in March. Shortly after recording the demo, Savage and Keith were replaced by Scott Owen and Johnny Tabares, respectively, just a few weeks before a Californian tour in July. De Pena claimed that neither musician wanted to play "thrashing power metal" anymore, suggesting that Savage "wanted to do more technical stuff" and that Keith was "just a wimp". Shortly after the release of the band's full-length debut Raging Violence at the end of 1985, Tabares was replaced by former Dirty Rotten Imbeciles and Death drummer Eric Brecht, who debuted on the band's second album Hate, Fear and Power that summer.

Around the time of the second album's release, De Pena left Hirax. He subsequently formed a group called Phantasm in September 1986. After briefly working with a vocalist known only as "Steve", the remaining members of Hirax brought in former Exodus frontman Paul Baloff to replace De Pena, although he soon left as he did not want to relocate to Los Angeles from San Francisco. By early 1987, only Owen and Brecht remained, as Monardo had left to form Cold Blood, with his place taken in Hirax by Sherman Jones. Billy Wedgeworth was the band's singer during this period. In the summer of 1987, De Pena and Monardo returned to Hirax, having left their new bands. Tabares also returned, replacing Brecht on drums. The newly reformed lineup released the demo Blasted in Bangkok later that year. Around a year later, Hirax disbanded.

2000–2007 In the summer of 2000, Hirax was reformed by Katon W. De Pena, Scott Owen, Gary Monardo and Johnny Tabares. Owen did not remain, however, and was replaced by Greg Eickmier for the recording of the EP El Diablo Negro. At the beginning of 2001, De Pena announced a new lineup including guitarists Justin Lent and James Joseph Hubler, bassist Shaun Ross, and drummer Per Möller Jensen. Ross and Jensen left before the recording of Barrage of Noise, with bass played by Lent and drums by Nick Seelinger. Shortly after the EP's release, a new lineup of De Pena, Hubler, Jim Durkin (guitar), Mike Brickman (bass) and Dan Bellinger (drums) was announced.

In early 2002, Durkin left Hirax and the band reverted to a four-piece lineup. By the summer, Hubler had been replaced by Roberto Carrero, with the new lineup recording a show in September for release as the video Violent Assault Live. Around early 2003, Carrero was joined by second guitarist Glenn Rogers and Bellinger was replaced by Jorge Iacobellis. Later in the year, Dave Watson and Angelo Espino replaced Carrero and Brickman, respectively. The new lineup released the band's first full-length album since their return, The New Age of Terror, in early 2004. Dave Chedrick replaced Iacobellis in mid-2004. In 2006, the live video Thrash 'Til Death was released, featuring footage of various festival performances from all three lineups active between 2003 and 2005.

In November 2005, it was announced that Hirax had cancelled an upcoming Japanese tour after Rogers, Watson, Espino and Chedrick had all left the band. A few days later, Rogers claimed that De Pena cancelled the tour as he wanted to fire Espino and Chedrick, leading all four members to quit. In February 2006, the band announced the return of early drummer Johnny Tabares and the addition of Lance Harrison on guitar, although by April the drummer had been replaced by Fabricio Ravelli, while Rogers had returned and Steve Harrison had joined on bass. This lineup released the EPs Assassins of War and Chaos and Brutality in 2007.

Since 2007 Just a year after joining the band, Fabricio Ravelli left Hirax in April 2007 to pursue other projects. Rogers also left for a second time to focus on his work with Once Dead. After a single show as a four-piece with drummer Miguel Moran, the group reunited with Ravelli in September, when Tim Thomas also took over from Rogers. By early 2008, Rogers had returned for a third tenure. That May, drummer Jorge Iacobellis also returned. The band released its fourth album El Rostro de la Muerte in August 2009. By early 2011, Rogers had left Hirax for a third and final time, with Tim Thomas returning in his place. Later in the year, Mike Guerrero replaced Thomas, debuting at a show in Poland that November. The new lineup released the singles "La Boca de la Bestia" in October 2012 and "Hellion Rising" in November 2013.

By the end of summer 2013, Hirax had returned to a four-piece lineup again following the departure of newest member Guerrero. The band's fifth full-length album Immortal Legacy was released in February 2014, featuring guest contributions from former members Jim Durkin (guitar) and Fabricio Ravelli (drums). Around the time of its release, Iacobellis was replaced by Mike Vega. The lineup of Hirax remained stable for several years thereafter, save for a couple of occasions during 2018 and 2019 when Steve Harrison was temporarily replaced for select shows by Kelly McLauchlin. In early 2022, after around eight years with the same members, Hirax unveiled an all-new lineup of Neil Metcalf on guitar, Chris Aguirre II on bass and Francisco Zamudio on drums. Around a year later, Zamudio was replaced by Danny Walker.

After recording the Faster than Death demo, Aguirre was replaced by McLauchlin during the summer of 2023. The band recorded the full album later in the year with a lineup of De Pena, Walker and Metcalf (also covering bass). In early 2024, McLauchlin and Walker were replaced by Jose Gonzalez and Emilio Marquez, respectively. By the summer, Metcalf had also left, replaced by Allan Chan. Marquez was replaced by Mathew Morales in early 2025. In the summer, Geremi Perez joined on second guitar.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsKaton W. De Penalead vocalsall Hirax releasesJose Gonzalez2024–presentbass, backing vocalsnone to dateMathew Morales2025–presentdrumsGeremi Perezguitars, backing vocals

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsGary Monardobassall Hirax releases from the Hirax demo (1984) to El Diablo Negro (2000)Bob Savage1984guitarsHirax demo (1984)Brian KeithdrumsScott OwenguitarsJohnny TabaresdrumsEric Brecht1986Hate, Fear and Power (1986)Steve 1986vocalsnonePaul Baloff(1960–2002)1986–1987Billy Wedgeworth(1967–2010)1987Sherman JonesbassGreg Eickmier2000–2001guitarsEl Diablo Negro (2000)James Joseph Hubler2001–2002Barrage of Noise (2001)Justin Lent2001Shaun RossbassnonePer Möller JensendrumsNick SeelingerBarrage of Noise (2001)Mike Brickman2001–2003bassViolent Assault Live (2002)Dan BellingerdrumsJim Durkin2001–2002guitarsImmortal Legacy (2014)Roberto Carrero2002–2003Violent Assault Live (2002)Glenn RogersJorge IacobellisdrumsDave Watson2003–2005guitarsAngelo EspinobassDave Chedrick2004–2005drumsThrash 'Til Death (2006)Lance Harrison2006–2022guitarsall Hirax releases from Assassins of War (2007) to Immortal Legacy (2014)Steve HarrisonbassFabricio RavellidrumsTim ThomasguitarsThrash & Destroy (2008)Mike Guerrero2011–2013Mike Vega2014–2022drumsnoneKelly McLauchlinbassNeil Metcalf2022–2024guitarsChris Aguire II2022–2023bassFaster than Death demo (2023)Francisco ZamudiodrumsnoneDanny Walker2023–2024

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesFebruary–June 1984Katon W. De Pena — vocals Gary Monardo — bass Bob Savage — guitars Brian Keith — drumsHirax demo (1984)June 1984–early 1986Katon W. De Pena — vocals Gary Monardo — bass Scott Owen — guitars Johnny Tabares — drumsRaging Violence (1985)Early–summer 1986Katon W. De Pena — vocals Gary Monardo — bass Scott Owen — guitars Eric Brecht — drumsHate, Fear and Power (1986)Fall 1986Gary Monardo — bass Scott Owen — guitars Eric Brecht — drums Steve — vocalsrowspan="3" Late 1986–early 1987Gary Monardo — bass Scott Owen — guitars Eric Brecht — drums Paul Baloff — vocalsEarly 1987Scott Owen — guitars Eric Brecht — drums Billy Wedgeworth — vocals Sherman Jones — bassSummer 1987–1988Scott Owen — guitars Katon W. De Pena — vocals Gary Monardo — bass Johnny Tabares — drumsBlasted in Bangkok (1987)Band inactive 1989–1999Summer 2000Scott Owen — guitars Katon W. De Pena — vocals Gary Monardo — bass Johnny Tabares — drumsFall/late 2000Katon W. De Pena — vocals Gary Monardo — bass Johnny Tabares — drums Greg Eickmier — guitarsEl Diablo Negro (2000)Early/spring 2001Katon W. De Pena — vocals James Joseph Hubler — guitars Justin Lent — guitars Shaun Ross — bass Per Möller Jensen — drumsSummer 2001Katon W. De Pena — vocals James Joseph Hubler — guitars Justin Lent — guitars, bass Nick Seelinger — drumsBarrage of Noise (2001)Fall 2001–early 2002Katon W. De Pena — vocals James Joseph Hubler — guitars Mike Brickman — bass Dan Bellinger — drums Jim Durkin — guitarsrowspan="2" Early–summer 2002Katon W. De Pena — vocals James Joseph Hubler — guitars Mike Brickman — bass Dan Bellinger — drumsSummer 2002–early 2003Katon W. De Pena — vocals Mike Brickman — bass Dan Bellinger — drums Roberto Carrero — guitarsViolent Assault Live (2002)Early–late 2003Katon W. De Pena — vocals Mike Brickman — bass Roberto Carrero — guitars Jorge Iacobellis — drums Glenn Rogers — guitarsThrash 'Til Death (2006) Late 2003–mid 2004Katon W. De Pena — vocals Jorge Iacobellis — drums Glenn Rogers — guitars Dave Watson — guitars Angelo Espino — bassThe New Age of Terror (2004) Thrash 'Til Death (2006) Mid 2004–November 2005Katon W. De Pena — vocals Glenn Rogers — guitars Dave Watson — guitars Angelo Espino — bass Dave Chedrick — drumsThrash 'Til Death (2006) February–April 2006Katon W. De Pena — vocals Johnny Tabares — drums Lance Harrison — guitarsApril 2006–April 2007Katon W. De Pena — vocals Lance Harrison — guitars Steve Harrison — bass Glenn Rogers — guitars Fabricio Ravelli — drumsAssassins of War (2007) Chaos and Brutality (2007)April–September 2007Katon W. De Pena — vocals Lance Harrison — guitars Steve Harrison — bass Miguel Mona — drumsSeptember 2007–early 2008Katon W. De Pena — vocals Lance Harrison — guitars Steve Harrison — bass Fabricio Ravelli — drums Tim Thomas — guitarsThrash & Destroy (2008)Early–May 2008Katon W. De Pena — vocals Lance Harrison — guitars Steve Harrison — bass Fabricio Ravelli — drums Glenn Rogers — guitarsEl Rostro de la Muerte (2009)May 2008–early 2011Katon W. De Pena — vocals Lance Harrison — guitars Steve Harrison — bass Glenn Rogers — guitars Jorge Iacobellis — drumsEarly–fall 2011Katon W. De Pena — vocals Lance Harrison — guitars Steve Harrison — bass Jorge Iacobellis — drums Tim Thomas — guitarsFirst Time in Poland (2011)Fall 2011–summer 2013Katon W. De Pena — vocals Lance Harrison — guitars Steve Harrison — bass Jorge Iacobellis — drums Mike Guerrero — guitars"La Boca de la Bestia" (2012) "Hellion Rising" (2013)Summer 2013–early 2014Katon W. De Pena — vocals Lance Harrison — guitars Steve Harrison — bass Jorge Iacobellis — drumsImmortal Legacy (2014)Early 2014–early 2022Katon W. De Pena — vocals Lance Harrison — guitars Steve Harrison — bass Mike Vega — drumsrowspan="2" Early 2022–early 2023Katon W. De Pena — vocals Neil Metcalf — guitars Chris Aguirre II — bass Francisco Zamudio — drumsEarly–summer 2023Katon W. De Pena — vocals Neil Metcalf — guitars Chris Aguirre II — bass Danny Walker — drumsFaster than Death demo (2023)Summer 2023Katon W. De Pena — vocals Neil Metcalf — guitars Danny Walker — drums Kelly McLauchlin — bassLate 2023–early 2024Katon W. De Pena — vocals Neil Metcalf — guitars, bass