Hirax -- Immortal Legacy review

So, I finally got my hands on this album. I went to L.A to go see Possessed live at the Whisky a go go (great show) so I stopped by Amoeba records and I saw this album so I had to buy it. In one word this album is "METAL!". Hirax know's how to write great songs and they are very good at delivering quality metal to the mass of headbangers ready to have a broken neck!

The first song is Black Smoke and immediately they hit you with a catchy intro riff before hitting you full speed ahead with some awesome thrash metal! Victims of the dead man this song is so catchy not in the pop sense obviously but they know how to write just great riffs that stick with you and even after I turned off this album I kept singing "Release the victims of the dead!!!!" it's a pure 100% headbanging and fistbanging song.  La boca de la bestia is another one of Hirax's thrash assault and it will throw you into the mouth of the beast.
Tied to the gallows pole is possibly tied for my favorite song off this album with Victims of the dead. Once again those twin guitar riffs are just awesome. Also you can't forget Katon's vocals and his wails! Katon is just one of the vocalist once you hear him once you will always remember him.

The music is just great with very good riffs and all the instruments are heard clearly. The production isn't muddy or anything like that. You can hear Katon's vocals great he's up front and center. However don't expect this album to have a squeaky clean production it still has a raw sound to it. Lyrically you can expect the usual Hirax type of lyrics you know songs about War and history.  For example the song "The world will burn" is about the Great fire of Rome and I remember reading in an interview that La Boca De La bestia was about a military unit please correct me if I'm wrong. One thing I like about Katon's lyrics is that he isn't trying to preach to you or anything but like he said in an interview the lyrics are more of a warning to people that if we don't try to understand each other and figure out how to get along, we'll end up killing each other.

In all I think this a very good album, and when you have the time pick it up. I want to see them live so bad so hopefully they do a U.S tour soon. One last thing is this album better than The New age of terror? I think it is. Better than El Rostro De La Muerte? I think at the moment It's tied.

 I'm feeling a strong 9/10

Hirax Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/KatonHIRAX

Hirax: official website: http://www.blackdevilrecords.com/

Monolith -- Embers of Resolution review

Monolith -- Embers of Resolution

 I received Monolith’s first debut album Embers of Resolution from there guitarist Kris (cool dude btw). However he told me the album I received will not be the official version released because that one will have a few tweaks but overall this is the finished project. So I’ve been wanting to review this album but I was a bit nervous since I know them personally. However as you can see I’m doing it and here we go.

The first song “Ice” comes in with a very Metallica influenced riff and it’s pretty catchy after hearing it a few times. The solos really caught my attention. However my only gripe is that the intro part last’s 3 minutes and 48 seconds. Finally when the song finally kicks in to the main riff it’s a very good song. I just think that part needs to be cut a bit since the song is 9 minutes and 6 seconds. The song is good though and Kris’s vocals sound great and David shreds in the solo (at least I think it’s David).
Trial of time is your usual thrashy song off this album with the trademark E string fast chugging riff.  Bring the Pit had to grow on me but it has become one of my favorites off the album and now thinking about it, this song sounds very good live. Blood on the rocks is one of my favorites from this album easily. The first beginning guitar parts sound very cool and I think Kris’s voice sounds great throughout the whole song. This possibly might be tied for my favorite Monolith song of this album.

Remember the day is your get everybody crazy in the venue type of song. It’s good but you can tell it was written very early on in Monoliths career. Rise with the Fallen I absolutely was really looking forward to hearing this song on this album however I was a bit disappointed since I personally prefer how the demo version had the bass and drums play along with the first guitar part. Not a bad song at all but I think that should have been included.


General of Thieves is a song I first overlooked but I have come too really like it. The bass and guitar work is great in this song which really caught my attention. Another song tied for my favorite is Being Led Blind. Dang this song is catchy. Not in the pop sense but it’s just really great songwriting on this song and it really shows. Behemoth ends off the album with a really dark droning track. Black metal inspired obviously by the name of the song. I think it’s a really good Monolith song and it’s cool to see the band trying different things.

OK now here’s in short the positives and negatives to tell you.
The Positives: Great sound of the album
All the instruments are heard clearly
Vocals are great
Guitars sound good
Bass work and sound is good
Drums sound good as well
Productions isn’t muddy

Negatives: Song lengths (Then again I’m not a prog rock/metal guy so it might be just my weirdness with song lengths.)
At times it was hard to differentiate between songs

This band is good and they definitely have a lot of potential. They sound way better than like 99% of all the other local bands around my area I am not going to list names but you get the idea. So I hope you guys enjoyed my review (let’s hope the band doesn’t get pissed at me) and have a good one.  So I’m feeling a solid  85% for this debut album and I would highly recommend picking this up.