ESSENTIAL BLACKENED THRASH METAL BANDS | Lock Horns Redux - Episode 12 

I love that Sepultura is discussed on the Death, Thrash, Blackened Thrash, and Groove Metal lists. All before Max even leaves.

Holy Sht Joel's an absolute legend 🤘

HELLRIPPER!! the best in blackened thrash right now!

You have missed the point of conversation. Early Slayer, Sodom or Destruction are influential bands. The essential bands of that sub-genre are bands like Japanese Sabbat, Desaster (both not even mentioned, WTF), Nifelheim, Nocturnal Breed, Bulldozer, Bestial Mockery, Gehennah, Witchmaster, Nocturnal.

Joel is a sweetheart, honestly watching all of you talk about this made me feel pretty good inside, you 3 definitely know what you are talking about

Desaster, cruel force, deströyer 666, condor, aura noir, nocturnal graves, deathhammer. Just a few examples of the real shit.

The disrespect to Desaster. One of the best bands to ever play this style.

Hellripper out of Scotland is probably the best Black/Thrash band around today, IMO.

Joel looking like he just walked off a set from Wayne’s World

excorcist - nightmare theatre is a rare example of speed metal mixed with black metal (from 1985).

My favorite Sodom is Persecution Mania but I used to have nightmares with that dude on the cover when I was 16.

Cruel Force, Nocturnal, and I'd say Sabbat honestly

I thought blackened thrash was just black metal with more beer...

Really excited for this one. I got to meet Joel back in 2016 when he played at 'Cherry Street Station' bar in Wallingford, CT. It was because of JHoffilms channel that introduced me to Toxic Holocaust. When I looked up the band to see when they were going to be in concert next, they were playing down the street from me at the time. Also, Joel recorded 'Conjure and Command' and the Toxic side of the 'Toxic Waste' split in Milford, CT.

Glad Aura Noir got their due recognition. Would've liked to see Sarcofago in the final 6, but they'd fit nicely in a first wave of black metal episode as well.

Amazing as always. Thanks from São Paulo, Brazil.

seeing joel talk is like seeing your best friend talk about something passionately

Oh wow, there's a talk show about metal now! We live in the best timeline. Legends.

Where is Japan’s Sabbat and Abigail’s first album? Come on Banger.

Happy to hear Joel loves Condor. Sick as hell band.

I saw Toxic Holocaust with Integrity last year

Burstin Out, Desaster, Hellripper, Witchammer, Venomwolf, Witchburner, Necromessiah, Condor, Aura Noir, Deathammer, Zemial, Nekromantheon, Butcher, Violentor, killer bands

Nice job Banger. Goatwhore/Skeletonwitch/Nifelhiem/Absu/Aura Noir is my list. Sodom/Destruction/Kreator are kings of the German thrash scene and not blackened thrash IMO.

For me, the first true blackened thrash album masterpiece was Slayer hell awaits

To me Destroyer 666 are the ultimate band in this style, one of the bands that got me into Metal and a shout out to related Aus bands like Nocturnal Graves, Gospel of the Horns, Bestial Warlust etc. \m/

Destroyer 666 is the first Blackened Thrash band that comes to my mind (if we're excluding all the First Wave Black Metal bands) and should of made this list. Fuck, the black/thrash scene down under is on fire...literally

If you take out 1st wave of black metal as qualifiers for "blackened thrash" -- the 5 bands that I think should take the mantle as the pioneers of the genre are: Absu, Witchery, Destroyer 666, Aura Noir and Goatwhore.

Im a big fan of skeletonwitch. Specifically the 3 albums- beyond the permafrost, forever abomination, and serpants unleashed. These 3 albums are very fun and pack a good punch. Plus, They're from my State 😉

Wraith are a great new band that comes to mind. And obviously Hellripper (Heavy Blackened Speed vibes as well) Often Blackened Thrash seems to take from the more traditional metal camp which is what those first wave black metal guys were doing. Also Joel seems like a cool dude.

For some reason I always forget the Sign of Evil. I just think Cruelty then Persecution but Sign is absolutely an important piece of the puzzle.

The Crown!!! One of the greatest and underrated bands!

One word: *W I T C H A V E N*

The German trio Of kreator, destruction, and Sodom and the American band possessed were regarded as a more evil and faster version of thrash. When the label of death metal came with possessed’s Seven churches, we looked back only a few years before and said these bands early efforts were death metal. The only difference is they didn’t know to use blast beats with hyper rapid snare and double bass drums with triggers. Had they had access to this vocabulary they certainly would have used it, but the riffs carry on as death metal in many ways. The conversation seemed dropped on these bands further when their efforts later sounded more like mainstream thrash. Blackened thrash would not be a term for decades, yet every early death metal band will cite, early kreator, destruction, sodom, sacrifice, possessed, sepultura , and dark angel as greatly influential. Slayer’s early work after SNM was early death metal pre blast beat, which decades later is now blackened thrash. Early angel corpse uses hell awaits riff stylings even up to their last release. Sadus swallowed in black has a blackened thrash feel, especially in that by the time of this release the furthering of the modern death metal sound could be found but they chose to express in more of a thrash vein.

Joel is one of the reasons i picked up a guitar

I fucking love Joel Grind

The first time I ever heard the term blackened thrash was concerning Skeletonwitch about 10 years ago. And I'm about the same age as Sam and been listening to metal since the early 80's

Old British HC has a kinship with this style as well. I would be surprised if Bestial Mockery weren't Varukers fans.

Diabolic night, Wraith , Reaper , slaughter messiah, Butcher, Urn.....

Great genre. RIP Absu.

Interesting episode. Broad genre already! Also, glad to be included!

Just 4 minutes in and I can already see Joel's really passionate about this one, he sounds like a huge nerd and I love it hahaha

Dekay is a rad dude, knows his shit, and always has the most awesome t-shirts too

Got to give a shout out to friends of mine Malhavoc. Toronto had a great scene going with them, Slaughter and Sacrifice.

Incubus (Approbrium) "Beyond the Unknown" is definitely a blackened Thrash album, (They were from Louisiana). Also Sacrifice "Torment In Fire"

It would be awesome if you could put together a Spotify playlist witth the Essential Band every time you do one of these

I'm amazed that it took them 23 minutes to get to Aura Noir. A good talk tho. I think that these sub genres started to separate sort of in the mid 80's. Like I know the aesthetic of say Bathory was different from Slayer but still come on. It was basically the same shit until like 85. Bathory with emphasis on Motörhead and Slayer with emphasis on Judas Priest. I don't think the average European metal fan was making huge differentiations between metal genres until like 87. As long as they had long hair and they sang about the devil or skulls it was just metal.

You guys didn't talk about the Australian scene. Half the metal the guys make is blackened thrash! Same with South America

Yes, my favorite micro-genre.

Funny enough, to add to Daniel’s appeal on Skeletonwitch. I was just around 11 when I first heard them and instantly fell in love with their sound. It’s very true, at the time I was listening to more thrash, hard rock stuff but once they stepped into the ring (mind you at this time I was pretty much popping my cherry in terms of musical expansion) they undoubtedly opened the waters to what I LOVE now. If it wasn’t for them, I would have never expressed my interest in the genre even further heckkk perhaps even taken up my guitar during those years! To them, and this channel and Joel!!! SALUTES!!

Esperemos que en un futuro le agregaras subtítulos en latino América tendrías muchos seguidores tienes un gigantesco nicho por estos lados, un saludo desde Veracrúz mexico. keep fucking support metal alive!!!!

No mention of Sabbat? Looks like someone wants to get beaten with Gezol's studded leather thong. They were off on the complete other side of the planet but still going pound for pound with the early bands in the scene

great picks as far as the new bands, id throw in BONEHUNTER (Finland) and HELLISH (Chile) as well.

Joel Grind is a local thrasher! This guy is awesome

One absolutely sick blackened thrash metal band is Scorngrain. I dont think they are still around, but 0.05% is a super heavy and fierce album. They also add some industrial elements as well which makes it super unique.

Joel’s Yellowgoat project is awesome blackened thrash

It's amazing that Joel just mentioned Witchtrap

Another band is INVINCIBLE FORCE!

Because of this episode, I discovered Joel Grind snd the magical world of Toxic Fucking Holicaust! Outstanding discography, Sir!🤘🏼

Great episode, dudes!

Destroyer 666 for sure. Gospel of the Horns, Hobbs Angel of Death, Nocturnal Graves, Assulter, Shackles all from Australia early 90s. Ravencult should also be mentioned.

This was fun to watch I found myself agreeing with everyone there. These guys know their shit for real, I thought I knew a lot. There again I don't venture too much into black metal influenced stuff.

Seeing Kreator, Destruction, and Sodom being in the top of this list, brings my heart joy. I will say the terms such as "blackened thrash" have been sort of dumb in the past (say 5 years or more ago) nowadays, as I do my own record reviews on my channel, I use those terms in a much more positive light. So this list was killer, and I will tap into those newer bands over the coming days. Thanks for such a kick ass episode!!

2:00 None of the Big 4 or the other big seminal thrash metal bands of the 80's (Exodus, Testament, Overkill, Death Angel) ever sang about "beer and pizza".

People should really start saying "Bathory-derivative black metal" to differentiate it from black metal at large. It makes a huge difference because black metal predates thrash metal when you consider that Venom were calling themselves black metal before anybody else was called bm or tm.

I fucking love Witchaven!!!!! super cool guys!!! Love their lyrical themes, Henry is awesome!!!

Daniel M pretty much nails it with his mention of current bands. Vulture, Nekromantheon and Aura Noir being my favourites.

Great show! Here in southwest Germany Destruction is still a big deal. Schmier is coming to our events. You meet this guy, can talk to him. Everybody is easy. And here are bands, that took this kind of music to the next level. So listen to Bitterness or Pessimist (ger)! You won't be dissapointed.

Seems to have a slight confusion with the use of words: I wouldn't necessarily say that blackened thrash is the same as black thrash...

Please mention hellripper and wraith they are great bands

That lineup is the first concert I want to see when concerts are a thing again...

I would have loved to see Witchery on the final list, but was very glad they were recognized here. Great video gents!

I love the fact that mob 47 and anti cimax was mentioned.

I had to do it. I was the 667th like. Damn someone had to do it! I was unbelievably excited w the topic and the guest. Joel fuckin grind!!!!! For me obsessed by cruelty is the poster boy for the genre. I'll propose 5 albums -obsessed by cruelty -infernal overkill -show no mercy -bathory s/t - black thrash attack -evil power Awesome work guys

Whew, I was about to go fuckin’ Apeshit if Aura Noir didn’t make this list. Good call on makin’ it 6 bands. Hahaha!

Best blackened thrash metal band of all time is Destroyer 666.

''Endless Pain'' is a good studybook to start with, but ''Obsessed by Cruelty'' is the whole crashcourse. ''Morbid visions '' and ''INRI'' ('aka 'Henry'') is all i need to know about Brazilian Popular Music.

This is sick, give Hellfekted a listen if you haven't already 🤘

Hellfekted is a awesome blackened thrash band

JOEL GRIND HOLY SHIT

Daniel Dekay brings up another ep of Lock Horns: death/thrash.! First band I recall getting me started on that style was Rigor Mortis, but there are many others!

Sathanas always gets overlooked in black/thrash discussions. Pennsylvania black/thrash that shits on so many of these other better known bands.

I have already read some good answers in the comments and obviously there are a lot of people here who actually have a clue. But some of the young bands were forgotten. My suggestions are BitchHammer from Germany, Hexecutor from France and my personal favorites at the moment are Gallower from Poland.

Toxic Holocaust needed to be on this list (instead of Skeletonwitch imo), & I think if Joel wouldn’t have been part of this show they might would have been talked about more!? Also my fellow Germans Desaster! But if you have only 5 (or 6) bands there’s always gonna be some important ones left out ofc, I just think Desaster & T.H. at least needed a mention. But apart from that good show, always awesome to see Joel!

What about NEW Blackened Thrash Metal Bands?..yeah.. Nocturnus and Vektor on the map! Great episode guys! lml

Around 9:00 he completely proves the poster’s point-he says he doesn’t like 90’s Norwegian black metal and loves Venom and Bathory. Which is exactly the the distinction that was being made.

So many flavours...

Listen to Hellfekted and Devastator I saw them at the gryphon in Bristol in the Uk they are amazing and JOEL GRIND YOUR AMAZING!

There are absolutely great band called Blood Tsunami. And a project named Wraith - it’s so close to TH actually,but still being brilliant. And give a chance to Shakma and Hallux,they are incredible !

Haven’t watched yet but there better be mentions of Desaster and Witchery and Nocturnal Graves

Check out Ormskrik("Snakescream" in english)A Norwegian blackened thrash metalband. Released an album in 2020. Just discoverd them myself, love it! Some Norwegian lyrics, but most in English.

You forget the first LP of sepultura, bestial devastation, pure Black metal.

Main band you missed mentioning is Nocturnal Breed, one of the best of the 90s. They’re the definition of black thrash to me.

Metal for you

Because I kept gravitating to this sub-genre of metal, I came to the happy conclusion that I just love Black-Thrash. There are two bands, whom are not that well known, that I think help define Black-Thrash metal. Grimfist and Ravencult. Grimfist are more thrash with black metal elements while Ravencult are more black metal with a lot of thrash elements. Both bands were short lived...but killer! Melechesh first two LPs are also great. If you're interested in B/T Metal and haven't already heard these bands, check them out! Morbid Blood and Ghouls of Grandeur.

Sanity prevailed at the end of this episode. I kept thinking if they didn't include Aura Noir I'd lose-my-fucking-shit. (Also made it slightly easier to swallow the fact they didn't include Nifelheim in the essential bands...)

This shows us that all humans have negative dark and evil ways and they hide it and love it more than good and positivity

Joel Grind is such a badass

Old slayer is the beginning of this style?

Probably can’t talk about any extreme metal sub-genre without mentioning Discharge

Anybody else watching that cup, wondering if anything spills out ...?