Hirax Streaming New Album Immortal Legacy On Loudwire
Album Available Tomorrow in North America via SPV/Steamhammer
American thrash metal act Hirax will release their new album Immortal Legacy tomorrow via SPV/Steamhammer in North America. Starting today, Loudwire is giving fans the chance to hear Immortal Legacy from front to back as they are hosting a stream of the entire album HERE. Immortal Legacy is available to order on iTunes.
Photo by Anne Jakobsen
“On our new album we more than ever felt an artistic obligation to our fans to give them a really big-sounding record,” says vocalist Katon W. De Pena. And there is no doubt that the album will have a major impact on the international thrash metal scene. “Our philosophy has always been to remember where we come from and stay true to our roots. Our fans know that we will never let them down and that they have helped to raise us up to a level with bands such as Slayer, Sodom, Kreator, Exodus, Overkill, Testament, Annihilator and many others. This record proves that we are at the top of our game musically!”
Katon w. De Pena, photo courtesy Interview Rock Area-News (Poland)
According to Katon, the reason for this is a line-up that agrees completely on the group’s stylistic direction and has brought to bear its full energy to make Immortal Legacy the masterpiece it is, starting with Lance Harrison (lead guitars), Katon’s co-writing partner. “Lance is a riff-writing master and a major force to reckon with! Nicknamed the Shred Baron for obvious reasons, he believes in heavy metal 100%.” His younger brother Steve (bass guitar) is an important part of the Hirax sound, too. “Nobody plays bass like him! There is a unique sound and bond between Steve and his brother. As a bass player, he is a true musician.” And last but not least, there’s Jorge Iacobellis (drums and percussions), born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Iacobellis is a seasoned veteran who plays with lots of heart and soul. Says Katon, “The best way I can describe his drumming style is loud and powerful.”
For Immortal Legacy, Hirax recorded more than a dozen scalding hot thrash metal tracks that combine an amazing number of variations. Katon shares that “This is probably our most diverse album ever. I think there is something for every heavy metal fan on this record! Obviously I’m very proud of it.” The band has every right to be proud of their work ~ tracks like “Hellion Rising” is Hirax at their best and most authentic, very true to their original in-your-face thrash metal that the fans love.
The most unusual song on the record is definitely “The World Will Burn,” about which Katon explains, “You have to hear it to believe it.” His favourite track on this record changes daily, as might yours depending on your mood, “…but if I had to decide today, it would be ‘Black Smoke’, along with the title track ‘Immortal Legacy.’ Once you hear them you will never forget them.”
The new songs were produced by Bill Metoyer, known for his work with Slayer, Armored Saint, W.A.S.P., and Sacred Reich, along with Hirax back in the early 1980s on their first two albums. Metoyer is a master at his craft and Hirax feels honored and lucky to have him working with them. For Katon, he is a “…musical wizard and his work on our new album is genius.”
The cover of Immortal Legacy was drawn by legendary artist Philip Lawvere (Kreator/Celtic Frost) ~ his first oil painting in 25 years since coming out of retirement. He is the artist behind such classic album covers as Kreator’s Pleasure To Kill and Celtic Frost’s Emperor’s Return. Lawvere had created stunning illustrations for numerous albums and is best known for a slew of thrash metal offerings released on Noise Records. The Hirax front man comments, “We couldn’t be happier to have Philip Lawvere illustrating the cover of our new album. After getting Bill Metoyer to produce it, this is truly the icing on the thrash metal cake!”
With guest guitar players Jim Durkin (Dark Angel), Juan Garcia (Agent Steel/Evildead) and Rocky George (Suicidal Tendencies/Fishbone) on the album, Katon is excited about the true metal monster he and his band have produced: “This is our most epic-sounding record to date, sonically powerful and over the top. 14 new raging thrash metal songs that will make you bang your head!!!”
