Toxic Holocaust

Biography

Toxic Holocaust is an American thrash metal band from Portland, Oregon.

History

Joel Grind founded Toxic Holocaust in 1999. He wrote and recorded all of the band's music himself. After the demos Radiation Sickness in 1999 and Critical Mass in 2002, he released Toxic Holocaust's debut album, Evil Never Dies×Evil Never Dies31 October 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Evil Never Dies1:202War Is Hell3:233Enemy of Jesus2:544Damned to Fire2:045Exxxecutioner3:1766662:097Summon the Beast4:288Demise1:399Warfare1:4410Dead to the World2:4411Fallout3:1812Atomik Destruktor1:5913Deathmaster3:2214Metal Attack3:4615Created to Kill2:08 (2003).
Two years later, after touring with a hired backing band, Grind released the second Toxic Holocaust album, Hell on Earth×Hell on Earth31 October 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Intro1:262Metallic Crucifixion1:483Arise From the Cemetery3:014Send Them to Hell3:085Thrashing Death2:386Burn3:067Death Camp3:048Never Stop the Massacre1:269Time to Die1:3910Ready to Fight3:5211Hell on Earth2:31 (2005), which he wrote and recorded himself. The album features cover art by Ed Repka, known for creating covers for albums by Megadeth, Death and others. Extensive touring followed, along with signing to Relapse Records.
In addition to the third Toxic Holocaust album, An Overdose of Death...×An Overdose of Death...27 August 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Wild Dogs2:182Nuke the Cross2:483Endless Armageddon3:154Future Shock2:335War Game0:596In the Name of Science3:247March From Hell2:538Gravelord2:179War Is Hell3:0110The Lord of the Wasteland2:4811Feedback, Blood & Distortion3:2712Death From Above2:0013City of a Million Graves4:5114666 (2008), Relapse reissued Evil Never Dies and Hell on Earth. Toxic Holocaust recorded and released Gravelord (2009, EP), Conjure and Command×Conjure and Command19 July 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Judgment Awaits You1:552Agony of the Damned3:593Bitch2:494Red Winter3:325Nowhere to Run3:456I Am Disease4:247In the Depths (Of Your Mind)2:438The Liars Are Burning2:549Revelations2:5010Sound the Charge3:17 (2011), and Chemistry of Consciousness×Chemistry of Consciousness29 October 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Awaken the Serpent1:392Silence2:133Rat Eater3:434Salvation Is Waiting2:495Out of the Fire2:546Acid Fuzz2:317Deny the Truth2:188Mkultra2:089I Serve...2:3110International Conspiracy2:3311Chemistry of Cosciousness2:5412Wargasm2:37 (2013).
In 2019, Joel Grind signed to Entertainment One and released Primal Future: 2019 later that year. Planned tours were halted due to COVID-19.
The band was scheduled to perform at Hell's Heroes music festival in Houston in March 2026.

Musical style and influences

Toxic Holocaust plays thrash metal that is heavily influenced by punk rock, and has been compared to bands such as Venom, Discharge, Motörhead, D.R.I., The Exploited and Slayer. They also take influence from first-wave black metal.

Other projects

Grind now works as a music producer, and has been involved in side projects other than Toxic Holocaust. He has released synth tracks, as well as metal albums for his solo projects War Ripper and the Yellowgoat Sessions. Grind is known for being social with his fans and can often be seen at the merchandise table before a Toxic Holocaust show.

Personal life

Joel Grind is the frontman and main songwriter of Toxic Holocaust. He now lives in Oregon. Grind began his musical career at a young age, first playing drums. His musical influences included bands such as Metallica, Bathory, Venom, and Sodom. As a teen, he ran a home recording and mixing business for local bands. In 1999, he started Toxic Holocaust. Around this time, he picked up guitar.

Current members

Joel Grind – lead vocals (1999–present), bass (1999–2008, 2015–present), guitars (1999–2015), drums (1999–2008)
Tyler Becker – drums (2018–present)
Rob Gray – guitars, backing vocals (2019–present)

Past members

Donny Paycheck – drums (2008)
Al Positions – drums (2008–2009)
Phil Zeller – bass, backing vocals (2008–2015)
Nick Bellmore – drums (2009–2018)
Charlie Bellmore – guitars, backing vocals (2015–2018)
Eric Eisenhauer – guitars, backing vocals (2018–2019)

Studio albums

Evil Never Dies (2003)
Hell on Earth (2005)
An Overdose of Death... (2008)
Conjure and Command (2011)
Chemistry of Consciousness (2013)
Primal Future: 2019 (2019)

EPs

Death Master (2003, Gloom Records)
Power from Hell (2004)
Reaper's Grave (2006, Gloom Records)
Gravelord (2009)

Demos

Radiation Sickness (1999)
Critical Mass (2002)
Promo 2004 (2004)
Demo 2007 (2008)

Live and video albums

Only Deaf Is Real (2007, live album)
Brazilian Slaughter 2006 (2008, video album)

Compilations

Toxic Thrash Metal (2004, CD)
From the Ashes of Nuclear Destruction (2013, CD)

Splits

Toxic Holocaust / Oprichniki (2001, CD)
Implements of Mass Destruction / Nuclear Apocalypse:666 (2002, CD)
Outbreak of Evil (2004, CD)
Thrashbeast from Hell (2004, tape)
Blasphemy, Mayhem, War (2005, CD)
Don't Burn the Witch... (2006, 10-inch)
Speed n' Spikes Volume 1 (2008, 7-inch)
Toxic Holocaust / Inepsy (2010, 12-inch)
Toxic Holocaust / Midnight (2011, 7-inch to benefit the Japanese tsunami victims)
Toxic Waste (with Municipal Waste) (2012, 12-inch)

Contributions

Thrashing Like a Maniac (2007, CD)
In the Sign of Sodom – Sodomaniac Tribute (2008, 12-inch)
Power Trip – Nightmare Logic (2017, CD) [mastering]