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Vocals: Rob
Perkins
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Guitar: Bob
Savage
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Bass: Gary
Monardo
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Drums: Johnny
Tabares
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When things seemed to go rather smoothly for L.A.’s HIRAX with two acclaimed releases behind them, an unexpected event in their ranks happened when singer, Katon W DePena suddenly left the bunch during June 1986 following personal differences. He went on to form PHANTASM, shortly after joined incidentally by ex-HIRAX drummer Johnny Tabares. Still, HIRAX went on for a few more weeks with guitarist Scott Owen taking care of the vocal duties until original bass player, Gary Monardo, decided to give up and form a new act by the end of the Summer 1986. The four-stringer soon joined forces with ex-WARGOD vocalist, Rob Perkins, guitarist Brian Kelly, and ex-HIRAX/ PHANTASM drummer Johnny Tabares adopting COLD BLOOD as a bandname. By March 1987 a five song demo was recorded at Track Records with Metal Blade’s houseman, Bill Metoyer (who had worked on the HIRAX albums as well) at the helm.
The connection with HIRAX was even more obvious when former L.A. KAOS/ HIRAX guitarist, Bob Savage, was invited to track guitars on the demo. Surprisingly enough, no sooner than the band had finished the demo, HIRAX had regrouped with the “Raging Violence” line up so the five tracker received minimal promotion and simply ended up on selective tape trading lists. Anyway, the lucky ragers who had heard this first and final recording all agreed that COLD BLOOD definitely had the potential to go further as the following review for the deceased Decibel Of Death ‘zine proved: “COLD BLOOD features WARGOD’s former vocalist, but comparisons with his former band stop there. This band is much heavier and faster! Great technical guitar work makes this demo sound musically like HIRAX did around the time of their ‘Raging Violence’ album. The production of this demo is excellent making it even more worthwhile. Rating: 8.5/10.
The reunited HIRAX did continue for one more year before breaking up again during mid ’88, Scott starting SUBVERSION, Katon forming HOUSE OF SUFFERING then WORLD TRUST (joined by Johnny) while Gary gave up on playing music until 2000 when HIRAX was reactivated with DePena, Monardo and Tabares as nucleus, the threesome being joined by guitarist Greg Eickmier. Although all this sounded very exciting and promising, this line up didn’t last long and by September 2000 DePena was the sole remaining member out of that reformation. Five years passed and 2005 saw Scott Owen, Gary, and Johnny joining forces in a project titled SO WHAT although in the end nothing materialized out of it but eventually it was decided that COLD BLOOD would be reactivated featuring Gary, Johnny, Rob Perkins (who had been seen in PHOBIA and then ATTAXE following COLD BLOOD’s original break up) and Bob Savage replacing Brian Kelly on guitar.
While the band was working on newer material, they did find out rather quickly that the bandname (COLD BLOOD) was already used so they had no other choice than opting for a new moniker. WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION was the first choice but in the end the band settled for WEAPON 13. Despite the fact that Gary is located in Nevada while the others live in California, it didn’t take long for them to track down three new songs which found their way on a promo CD. Now here’s your chance to discover (or rediscover) a long forgotten gem with the COLD BLOOD demo if you’re addicted to Los Angeles ‘80s Thrash Metal and check how the members have evolved 20 years later with WEAPON 13. - Courtesy Laurent Ramadier (Snake Pit Magazine), July 4th 2006, www.truemetal.org/snakepit/