The album where I hit my emotional threshold and kept listening anyway.
When I set out to explore heavy metal, I knew not every detour on this chaotic sonic road trip would be scenic. Some stops would be hostile terrain. And that’s okay. Because metal isn’t supposed to be polite. Sometimes it’s just here to scream at you until your soul gets tinnitus.
Enter: Holy Moses.
This is not the kind of band you accidentally stumble across while sipping rosé. This is a band that grabs you by the throat and makes you question your life choices—in German.
Thrash, Teutonic Style (Now With More Fury Per Riff)
Holy Moses formed in 1980, making them one of the earliest thrash exports out of Germany. One of the original Teutonic thrash bands, alongside Kreator, Sodom, Destruction, and Tankard—none of whom were known for subtlety.
There was also the novelty of a married couple in the band’s early lineup: Andy Classen on guitar, and Sabina Classen up front—armed with a microphone and what I can only describe as unfiltered hellfire.
And let’s not reduce Sabina to just "female vocalist in metal." She was—and still is—a force of pure sonic destruction.
The Sound: Thrash Core with Extra Trauma
Stylistically, Holy Moses fall under the thrash metal umbrella, but it’s a loose fit at best. There’s a heavy dose of hardcore punk coursing through their sound—especially in the relentless gang shouts that feel like you’ve been dropped in the middle of a riot. The punk edge is unmistakable, raw and feral, but that’s not all.
You’ll also catch glimpses of speed metal in the velocity, and black and death metal in Sabina’s vocals—which often blur the line between screaming and full-blown exorcism. It’s a genre cocktail designed to stress your nervous system. And it does it well.
Album #1: Queen of Siam (1986)
Okay, let’s be honest—this debut is rough. Even die-hard fans tend to sidestep it. The production is wonky, the songwriting feels half-baked, and a lot of the riffs are just–there.
But! I did enjoy the title track, Queen of Siam, which had a touch of NWOBHM swagger in the intro—very Motörhead with rabies. It made the playlist. Barely. We take our victories where we can.
Album #2: Finished With the Dogs (1987)
aka: No Intros, Just Violence
Now this one? It’s considered a thrash masterpiece—and I get why.
It’s fast, sharp, and completely uninterested in your wellbeing. There’s no easing in—just immediate impact and maximum hostility. Songs like Current of Death are fan favourites, and honestly? I respect it. I don’t love it—but I respect it. It’s pure, undiluted adrenaline in sonic form.
Metal, Therapy, and the Woman Who Does Both
Sabina Classen is the only long-term member who’s stuck with Holy Moses through lineup hell, label shifts, and every iteration of musical aggression. She's still at it today. Also, she now works as a non-medical psychotherapist.
Yes, really.
Thrash metal screamer by night, healer by day. Duality is metal.
Final Thoughts: Not For Me, But Undeniably Metal
So. Did I love it? No.
Will I listen again? Probably not.
Am I glad I gave it a go? Hell yes.
Holy Moses isn’t easy listening. It’s an onslaught. It’s uncompromising, unapologetic, and almost certainly trying to rip the wallpaper off your skull. But it’s also historically important, technically tight, and vocally feral in a way that left me weirdly impressed.
Genre tourism isn’t about falling in love with every destination.
Sometimes you just admire the carnage and keep moving.
[Editor’s 2025 Note:]
Funny how things change. I wrote this piece in a state of mild sonic distress, ears clinging to life. Three years later, I’m sipping tea while casually nodding along to Current of Death. Turns out, your tolerance for thrash just needs time, volume, and a little emotional damage. Who knew?