HIRAX’S return to the scene after a great sucess with their album ‘THE NEW AGE TERROR’ and couldn’t have come at better time. Lately they have
present Us, their first release on DVD tittled ‘THRASH TILL DEATH’, as you read the DVD name to someone that never heard HIRAX music, They’re
playing all the time only furious and intense thrash metal in old vein. The DVD, have all of the elements you’ve come to expect from the band are
here including a few surprises. I know that all people around 80’s thrash stuff will be happy with this interview that we have done with the thrash/core master called KATON W. DE PENA.....No more words, here I let you with HIRAX!!!! ENJOY IT!!!

1.-Hi KATON, after many years of career, recently you has put out ‘THRASH TILL DEATH’ DVD, The present release is a dream that all thrash bangers
needs. I believe that band video on stage alive, its better thing to show the band capacity and abilities and others aspects like musical technics, musicians qualities, talents and anything else. Comment Us about this dvd? Why did you decided released & What other bonus is included it? You has put out all your feelings and dreamings on this stuff??? What type of stage was used???
KATON: Thank You for your kind words!! Basically ... the DVD was put together by a huge HIRAX fan...A guy who has been collecting live footage of
us playing all over the world. We felt that it would be the best way to go about releasing a DVD of our true underground metal sound. We wanted to
show the band live and raw. The DVD has no overdubs or fake footage. It is all REAL... something that our fans come to expect from us. Over 2 hours of footage
FULL LIVE CONCERT (Minneapolis, MN - U.S.A.) as well as bonus footage from shows played in Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands and San Francisco, U.S.A. ALSO features full discography, photo gallery, interview, "Hostile Territory" video clip, etc. We are a band who delivers INTENSE live concerts wherever we play. The audience is a part of our show and we give them 110% of our energy!! Our shows have been described as a HEAVY METAL BAPTISM! The DVD proves that HIRAX STAYED TRUE TO OUR ROOTS and HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN WHERE WE COME FROM!!

2.-From ‘RAGING VIOLENCE’ & ‘HATE FEAR AND POWER’, HIRAX’s has signed their own path on the thrash/core sound like a perfect communion between two musical ways, both are faster, violent & the band lyrics show it, in topics like politics, unhappilly success, war,violence and destruction.... How do
you introduce in hardcore music?
KATON: Our style of metal is something we intentionally thought about. We are dedicated to having a different sound and different style than everybody
else in metal. We always wanted to be HIRAX and nothing else. We love heavy metal music and hardcore... so we have combined the BEST of BOTH genres. NEVER COMPROMISING OR SELLING OUT!! THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE RULE!! The lyrics are very important to us. We have something to say and
we are not afraid to speak our minds! Somebody has to stand up and speak for the poor and the weak. Humanity has become corrupt. Through music we will try to break down the walls of ignorance. NOBODY IS BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE!! We should all RESPECT EACH OTHER and LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER! WE ARE ALL HUMANS!!  The first two albums helped us establish ourselves as a force to be reckoned with. We continue to make FAST and FURIOUS music to this day!! We are proud of what we do... AND WILL NEVER STOP!!!

3.-I know which 80’s were the best years for heavy metal music, all sub genres was borned, I’m talking about thrash/death/speed/black/core metal . How do you see the actual scene in comparison with these years, knowing that HIRAX have around 22 years of career and has produced many releases out on different times:80’s, 90’s and 2000???
KATON: YES... THE 80s were an INCREDIBLE time!! It was the birth of REAL and TRUE METAL!! We, HIRAX helped to build this beast!! For us the
movement then and now... the underground scene... has always been GREAT!! Our fans have stayed with us throughout the years. And now we have more
fans than we did in the early days!! Young and old...it doesn't matter... denim and leather...spikes and studs... patches and heavy metal t-shirts are proudly worn at our concerts!! Headbangers and Thrashers travel and come from EVERYWHERE to see us!! Our fans are dedicated to us... and we are dedicated to them. We play concerts in countries that a lot of bands won't go to because they are scared... or there is not enough money.... we are more dedicated than that... and the people who buy our records know it!!

4.-Your band sound it’s well known; are faster, very speed but at time its powerful, very influenced by speed/core or metal core...also its contain  their evil side, your lyrics are infest of satanic themes... they ‘re associated with the thrash/black side of HIRAX...What so important is the lyrically part in the HIRAX music??? What bands are usually listened by HIRAX musicians?
KATON: We have always drawn inspiration from playing FAST and HEAVY!! IT IS IN OUR BLOOD!! In our lyrics... you can read a lot of different themes.
Yes, I am very intrigued with good and evil. Black and white. There are always two sides to every story. As in the Holy Bible... people tend to forget that there is not just only God and Jesus Christ... but there is the devil/Lucifer and Judas the fallen angel... and many, many other stories. In order to understand all of this... you must always realize there is a dark side and that people should know about it. Even in Isreal... where Christ was born... there is a lot of evil and a lot of thieves. In
America... two blocks from the White House there are homeless people and ghettos. I believe that since I have the platform to get this information out ... the world should know about it!! There is a place called Darfur ... thousands of people are dying there everyday... it has become mass genocide... and a lot of people don't even know about it!! I consider that evil. As to satanic themes... it is a very interesting subject. Sometimes it is misinterpreted. Some people just don't get it.
As to the band's influences... we listen to A LOT OF METAL!! Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Venom, old
AC/DC, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc. the list goes on and on... there are MANY MORE!! We are REAL METAL HEADS!! And we will DIE REAL METAL HEADS!!

5.-I’m always speaking about the past, I like so much of 80’s years and I had ‘RAGING VIOLENCE’ Lp in these time, This release had a great sucess, tell me, When your released ‘RAGING VIOLENCE’-Lp. What were the HIRAX feelings put out on this Lp? And what were the band expects around this release? Did you knew that this Lp opened the gates of the underground music and got a great sucess?
KATON: in the beginning we just wanted to make our own kind of music. When the record first came out we were just happy that our fans could get our music. We had no idea the IMPACT the record would have on the rest of the world!! To this day... people still come up to us and tell us how much our music means to them. We are honored! The record has actually surpassed our biggest expectations. A lot of musicians from other great bands have told us the record influenced them and got them to start their own bands. The greatest thing about all of this is that our music has withstood the test of time. I think that is something that every musician and band aspires to do.

6.-In these time only I knew about few record labels like MEGAFORCE rcds, METAL BLADE rcds,COMBAT and ROADRUNNER;How did you contacted with your first record label for your first contract? What’s were your contract terms in these chance?
KATON: Well, Metal Blade Records had heard that we were selling out our concerts and selling a lot of demos through the underground. They contacted us and offered us our first record contract. The record deal ended up being two albums. It was a very basic deal. At the time it was worth it. Metal Blade Records helped to get our music and name out all over the world. Them and Roadrunner Records were together in the early days so they both distributed our albums. We were also one of the first bands to be released by Earache Records out of England. Megaforce and Combat were a part of the early thrash metal movement as well. It's because of those record labels that this music has gotten big all over the world!!

7.-When HIRAX split up, you formed PHANTASM band, inclusive you put out ‘BLASTED IN BANGKOK demo (GREAT!!!), but the music was following the same way than HIRAX, What were you expectatives when you was formed PHANTASM band? It’s was only a HIRAX continuing?
KATON: The PHANTASM demo came before the HIRAX "Blasted in Bangkok" demo... but right around the same time (1987) ... since then both have become
official releases and are available now www.BlackDevilRecords.com . Those records have sold incredibly well! Especially considering that they were only supposed to be demos. Originally we weren't going to release them... but after a few people had heard the songs... we decided to make them available to everyone. I'm glad we did! PHANTASM was a side project that I did with original Metallica bassist - Ron McGovney, & drummer - Gene Hoglan (ex-Testament, Death, Dark Angel, and now Strapping Young Lad)... it was a hell of a lot of FUN... but short lived... I returned to HIRAX where my heart always was.

8.-Later of great albums the band split up...You’ve kept an insane pace for a few years, exactly were 10 years, What happened???Why did you decided  split up??? When you decided come back again to the scene I supposed that HIRAX music will be out with many musical changes, but it’s not happenned;  What changed in HIRAX band members after 10 years of silence???
KATON: We split up because we were burnt out and weren't getting along... The musicians that were ready to tour put the band back together because of the constant contact from the fan mail and email coming in from all over the world. The main thing was... similar to the early days... we felt the need to make our own music again. We hate trendy music and DO NOT LIKE NU METAL!! So after 10 years of silence... we returned with a vengeance, a thirst and hunger to MAKE THRASH METAL AGAIN!!

9.-When you has started some riff track; Where do you draw the inspiration from???
KATON: for us... thrash metal and writing riffs ... just comes naturally. We were raised on metal. It's all we know. Our main focus is to ALWAYS REMAIN HEAVY! Whether we play fast or slow... the songs MUST BE HEAVIER THAN HELL!!

10.-I know that HIRAX band have planned a South American tour; You can give Us more details about that? When will be released? Have you got contact with a tour manager???
KATON: YES... HIRAX will come to SOUTH AMERICA 2007 to play for all the HEAVY METAL MANIACS!! For tour updates, etc. please check out www.HIRAX.org For booking information please email eldiablo@blackdevilrecords.com 

11.-Your latest work on CD is ‘THE NEW AGE OF TERROR’ (Sucessful album) its a masterpiece of SPEED/CORE; but I continue thinkin that this Cd is
following the same way than DIABLO NEGRO / BARRAGE OF NOISE... releases. Are you agree with this??? This CD came out 3 years after ‘BARRAGE...’ How do you feel the musical record and production? Talk Us about BLACK DEVIL RECORDS your record label??? Do you have decide to release your next stuff on LP vynil format???
KATON: the reception by the fans to our newest album, "The New Age of Terror" has been INCREDIBLE and a GREAT SUCCESS!! Opening more doors for us throughout the WORLD OF HEAVY METAL!! There are some similarities to our past HIRAX releases... including 'Barrage of Noise' and 'El Diablo Negro'...
but also with the "The New Age of Terror" there is more technical playing on this album/CD as well as FAST AND FURIOUS RYTHMS!! Obviously we have
maintained our integrity and continue to write HARD and HEAVY music!!

12.-Are you writing new tracks for your upcoming release? Do you have a concept in mind? Also,, HIRAX will be playing on august with JAG PANZER,
TANKARD, HELSTAR, OMEN AND RAVEN....What type of set list is planned???
KATON: We have already begun writings songs for our next HIRAX CD/album (vinyl), "Assassins of War" as a very special feature the CD will come with
a video to accompany the music. It will be the kind of CD/record that will BLOW EVERYONE AWAY!! And RIP THEIR FACE OFF!!  As to the Minneapolis Mayhem III we look forward to playing with those bands. As to the set list we always play songs from the first two albums... titles such as, "Bombs of Death," "Blind Faith," "Hate, Fear and Power," "Destroy," etc... we play tracks off of each HIRAX album!! We feel that is important not to leave anything out!! Give the audience a show that the will NOT forget!! As a bonus this time around in August ... we will be playing some new songs from our upcoming album, "Assassins of War." It's going to be ONE HELL OF A HEAVY METAL CELEBRATION!!

13.-I know that many question must be done, but the time is quite tyrant and I promise you that in other chance I could do a best interview to HIRAX in others future issues. But I wanna give you thanx for your time and let you to your last comments to all South American thrash bangers?
KATON: I would like to thank you and all of the South American Thrash Bangers for your hardcore support over the years!! I also want you to know that we are very aware of the heavy metal movement in your country... and HIRAX will come to play for you on tour VERY SOON!! KEEP THE FAITH! THRASH
TIL DEATH!! Katon HIRAX

FOR MORE INFORMATION, merchandise, tour dates, photos, etc. CHECK OUT:
www.HIRAX.org
PO Box 1474
Cypress, CA 90630
USA
www.BlackDevilRecords.com