Toxic Holocaust
Encyclopedia
Toxic Holocaust are a thrash metal
band from Portland, Oregon
, signed to Relapse Records
. Influenced by punk rock
and heavy metal
bands of the 1980s such as Slayer
, Exodus
, Black Flag
, Discharge
, Motörhead, Kreator
, Celtic Frost
, Venom
, Possessed
, Rigor Mortis
and Death. Joel Grind founded Toxic Holocaust in 1999. He originally wrote and recorded all of the band's music himself, and after a couple demo releases (Radiation Sickness, 1999; Critical Mass, 2002), he made his official full-length album debut as Toxic Holocaust with Evil Never Dies (2003). Two years later, after some touring with a hired backing band, Grind released the second Toxic Holocaust album, Hell on Earth (2005), which once again he wrote and recorded by himself. The album notably features cover art by Ed Repka
, known for having created iconic covers for albums by Megadeth, Death and others. Extensive touring followed, along with a recording contract with Relapse Records. In addition to releasing the third Toxic Holocaust album, An Overdose of Death... (2008), Relapse reissued Evil Never Dies and Hell on Earth.
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, signed to Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
. Influenced by punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands of the 1980s such as Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
, Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, Discharge
Discharge (band)
Discharge is a British hardcore punk band formed in 1977 by Terry "Tezz" Roberts and Roy "Rainy" Wainwright. They are often considered among one of the very first bands to play hardcore punk, and to mix punk with metal...
, Motörhead, Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
, Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
, Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
, Possessed
Possessed (band)
Possessed is an American death metal band, originally formed in 1983. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's guttural vocals, they are routinely called the first band in the death metal genre...
, Rigor Mortis
Rigor Mortis
Rigor mortis is one of the recognizable signs of death.It may also refer to:*Rigor Mortis , a song by Cameo*Rigor Mortis , the thrash metal band*Rigor Mortis , the BBC Radio 4 comedy series...
and Death. Joel Grind founded Toxic Holocaust in 1999. He originally wrote and recorded all of the band's music himself, and after a couple demo releases (Radiation Sickness, 1999; Critical Mass, 2002), he made his official full-length album debut as Toxic Holocaust with Evil Never Dies (2003). Two years later, after some touring with a hired backing band, Grind released the second Toxic Holocaust album, Hell on Earth (2005), which once again he wrote and recorded by himself. The album notably features cover art by Ed Repka
Ed Repka
Edward J. Repka is an American artist best known for creating album covers for heavy metal music bands as well as shirt designs, including those featuring Megadeth's mascot Vic Rattlehead. Repka's portfolio also includes Dark Angel's logo and model designs for the Hellraiser films...
, known for having created iconic covers for albums by Megadeth, Death and others. Extensive touring followed, along with a recording contract with Relapse Records. In addition to releasing the third Toxic Holocaust album, An Overdose of Death... (2008), Relapse reissued Evil Never Dies and Hell on Earth.
Demos
- Radiation Sickness (1999, Demo)
- Critical Mass (2002, Demo)
- Promo 2004 (2004, Demo)
Compilations
- Toxic Thrash Metal (2004, CD)
- Thrashing Like a Maniac (2007, CD)
- Levil Uniform Magazine Compilation #1 (2008, CD)
Splits
- Toxic Holocaust / Oprichniki (2001, Split CD)
- Implements of Mass Destruction / Nuclear Apocalypse:666 (2002, Split CD)
- Outbreak of Evil (2004, Split CD)
- Thrashbeast From Hell (2004, Split Tape)
- Blasphemy, Mayhem, War (2005, Split CD)
- Don't Burn the Witch... (2006, Split 10")
- HRPS Vol.1 (2008, Split 7")
- Speed n' Spikes Volume 1 (2008, Split 7")
- Toxic Holocaust / Inepsy (2010, Split 12")
- Toxic Holocaust / Midnight (2011 Split 7" to benefit the Japanese Tsunami victims)
EPs
- Death Master (2003, EP Gloom Records)
- Power From Hell (2004, EP)
- Reaper's Grave (2006, EP Gloom Records)
- Gravelord (2009, EP)
Studio albums
- Evil Never DiesEvil Never Dies-Track listing:#Evil Never Dies - 1:20#War Is Hell - 3:23#Enemy of Jesus - 2:54#Damned to Fire - 2:03#Exxxecutioner - 3:16#666 - 2:08#Summon the Beast - 4:28#Demise - 1:38#Warfare - 1:44#Dead to the World - 2:43#Fallout - 3:18#Atomik Destruktor - 3:16...
(2003) - Hell on EarthHell on Earth (Toxic Holocaust album)Hell on Earth is the second album by Toxic Holocaust.-Track listing:#Intro - 1:26#Metallic Crucifixion - 1:48#Arise From The Cemetery - 3:01#Send Them To Hell - 3:07#Thrashing Death - 2:38#Burn - 3:06#Death Camp - 3:04...
(2005) - An Overdose of Death...An Overdose of Death...An Overdose of Death... is the third full-length album released by American thrash metal band Toxic Holocaust on September 2, 2008. Music videos have been made for Wild Dogs, Nuke the Cross, and The Lord of the Wasteland.-Track listing:...
(2008) - Conjure and CommandConjure and Command-References:http://shop.relapse.com/store/product.aspx?ProductID=43897...
(2011)