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Hate, Fear and Power is the second "album" from California’s Hirax, originally released in 1986 and getting a vinyl reissue in 2023 from Armageddon Label. I put the word "album" in quotes because at exactly sixteen minutes of playing time, Hate, Fear and Power is really an EP though the band apparently calls it an "album". Semantics aside, the songwriting on this release is so much better than on Hirax’s debut. They still play fast, aggressive thrash with a steak of crossover and the songs are all under three minutes (it’s like listening to half of an S.O.D. album), but the guitar work is fuller and the lead work more focused and integrated. The overall sound is improved even if the bass is rather forward in the mix and even singer Katon de Pena has expanded his vocal palette, though he still hits his favorite high notes (see "Unholy Sacrifice"), just not nearly as often as on the debut. Despite the minimal length, the songwriting has more variety than on the preceding album with a few, well-placed breakdowns such as "The Last War" that give Hate, Fear and Power a bit of ebb and flow rather than just being an all-out speed assault. Hirax still isn’t going to be a go-to band for me, but I’d listen to Hate, Fear and Power over Raging Violence any day of the week.