For whatever reason, the long discography of SoCal thrashers
Hirax
is heavy on singles and EPs, but light on full-lengths. Of these,
The New Age of Terror
is perhaps the band's strongest work. "Band" is perhaps an overstatement, as singer
Katon DePena
is the only remaining original member, with an endlessly revolving door of bandmates. Whatever motley crew he assembled here delivered, and then some. The record's vitality is even more amazing considering that it was
' first full-length after a decade-plus hiatus. Never mind that much of it recalls
Slayer
and early
Metallica
(
"El Dia de Los Muertos"
also bears an eerie resemblance to
Black Sabbath
's
"Planet Caravan"
) --
and
don't sound half as authentic now. Quality runs throughout with nary a clunker. Opener
"Kill Switch"
races out of the gates like a long-lost
track;
"Suffer"
has similarly sinuous dissonance and thundering tempos. The performances are tight and energetic.
DePena
's vocals are some of his most memorable; the vocal patterns on the title track are unmistakably his. His mid-range caterwaul is an acquired taste, but is rightfully considered a
thrash
institution. Powerful, heavy production completes one of the best
thrash metal
records made since the genre's heyday. ~ Cosmo Lee