Thornspawn

The year 1993 marked the founding of Thornspawn in San Antonio, Texas, when black metal devotees Swornghoul on guitars, Blackthorn handling drums and vocals, and Lord Necron also on guitars, all wearing corpse paint, lifted their hands together in the sign of the horns to salute their Scandinavian brethren. After issuing a pair of demos, the original three members secured opening slots alongside Deicide, Mortitian, Incantation, and Vile, which earned them backing from the area’s metal following. Baphomet Records inked a contract with the group in 1997 and added ex-Necrovore bassist Bjorn Haga to the roster. With the lineup now complete, the band tracked its first full-length release, Blood of the Holy, Taint Thy Steel, and soon after an EP called Empress From the Realms of Blasphemy.