HIRAX Bring Crossover Chaos to Cincinnati — Savage Master & Desolus Ignite Packed Underground Show

 What a show.

U.S. crossover thrash veterans HIRAX ripped, thrashed, and absolutely destroyed Cincinnati on Saturday night. Alongside NWOTHM standouts Savage Master and rising death/thrash unit Desolus, this was a night overflowing with raw heavy metal energy, underground spirit, and zero compromise.

Originally scheduled for the Madison Theatre in Northern Kentucky, the show was relocated to Jester’s Cards & Games in Cincinnati—and somehow, that only made it better. The change turned the night into a free, packed, sweat-soaked underground metal experience, with fans of all ages crammed shoulder-to-shoulder for a truly unique live setting.

⚡ Local Firestarter: Your Disease Sets It Off

Opening the night was local act Your Disease, who wasted no time igniting the room. In the tight confines of the shop, the sound was surprisingly full and clear, and the crowd responded immediately—circle pits, moshing, and chaos from the jump. A perfect tone-setter.

💀 Desolus Deliver Relentless Death/Thrash Assault

Hailing from Washington, D.C., Desolus came out swinging with a vicious set of hyper-speed thrash. Their sound is raw, aggressive, and unapologetically mean—exactly what you want from a band in this lane. Bassist/vocalist Vivek Rangarajan described their influences as early Sodom and Kreator, and it absolutely shows. The riffs were tight and technical, the pacing relentless. They closed with a ripping cover of Slayer’s “Show No Mercy,” sealing the deal. This is a band to keep firmly on your radar.

🕯️ Savage Master Bring the Horror and the Steel

By the time Savage Master hit the stage, the atmosphere shifted into something darker.

The lights dropped. Fog rolled in. And then Stacey Savage emerged from a coffin as the band launched into “Hunt at Night.”

I’ve seen them four times now, and I can confidently say they’re better than ever.

Their aesthetic is one of the strongest in modern heavy metal—executioner hoods, capes, black candles, chains, skulls—all pulling from classic horror, especially Mario Bava’s Black Sunday. It’s theatrical without feeling forced, and it elevates the entire performance.

Musically, they sit comfortably between Venom, Saxon, and the darker edge of NWOBHM, with Stacey’s commanding vocals adding a bite reminiscent of Acid and Sentinel Beast.

Their latest album Dark & Dangerous continues to shine live—it’s easily my favorite release from them to date.

Setlist Highlights:
Hunt at Night • Child of the Witch • Hangman’s Tree • Myth, Magic, and Steel • Devil Rock • Ready to Sin

🔥 HIRAX Prove They’re Still at the Top of the Thrash Game

HIRAX exploded onto the stage with “Hellion Rising,” and from that moment on, it was a full-throttle barrage of crossover thrash intensity.

With their current lineup, the band is absolutely locked in and firing on all cylinders.

And at the center of it all is Katon De Pena—one of the most electrifying frontmen in metal. His connection with the crowd is real, not rehearsed. He commands attention, matches the audience’s energy, and delivers every line with conviction.

His voice still holds up—powerful, cutting, and alive.

Classics from Hate, Fear and Power and Raging Violence hit with crushing force, while material from the latest album Faster Than Death proves HIRAX isn’t just surviving—they’re thriving.

They also debuted a brand-new track, “Vigilante,” set to appear on their upcoming album later this year—a promising sign that there’s still plenty of fuel in the tank.

The band played like a machine—tight, aggressive, relentless. Songs like “Destroy” turned into full crowd sing-alongs, while “Hate, Fear and Power” became a personal moment for me, trading lyrics with Katon just inches away.

At one point, Katon reflected on the setting—playing in a card shop—and compared it to the early days of backyard gigs and record store shows. That authenticity hit hard. This wasn’t just a show—it felt like a throwback to the roots of underground metal.

Another standout moment came when Katon dedicated “Bombs of Death” to a fan request—something they don’t typically do mid-set.

They closed with “El Diablo Negro,” and the place erupted.

HIRAX are still out there, still touring, still thrashing—and still delivering at a high level.

Go see them live. No excuses.

Setlist Highlights:
Hellion Rising • Drill Into the Brain • Faster Than Death • Hate, Fear and Power • Vigilante • Destroy • Bombs of Death • El Diablo Negro

This wasn’t just a concert—it was a reminder of what heavy metal looks like at its most raw, passionate, and community-driven level.

A packed card shop. No barriers. No fluff. Just bands and fans feeding off each other.

And nights like this? They’re the ones you don’t forget.

Review by:

Sam Beane- Metal Mayhem ROC Show Contributor

Full Setlists (For Reference)

Savage Master:
Hunt at Night
With Whips and Chains
Child of the Witch
Hangman’s Tree
Warriors Call
Myth, Magic, and Steel
Neverending Fire
Devil Rock
Ready to Sin

HIRAX:
Hellion Rising
Blind Faith
Drill Into the Brain
Warlord’s Command
The Plague
Black Smoke
Faster Than Death
Lightning Thunder
Hate, Fear and Power
Drowned Bodies
Vigilante
Destroy
Criminal Punishment
Brocken Neck
Bombs of Death
El Diablo Negro