First time at Basin
Protector is a German thrash metal to death metal band founded in 1986 in Wolfsburg, quickly earning respect for their aggressive, dark and uncompromising sound. They are considered one of the early representatives of extreme metal in Germany and are often mentioned alongside bands like Sodom, Kreator and Destruction, although their approach is even rawer and more brutal. Their debut EP Misanthropy and the follow-up album Golem (1988) showcased their ability to combine thrash metal speed with the heaviness of early death metal. Despite undergoing several lineup changes throughout their career, their musical identity has remained solid—dark, fast and intense.
In the second half of the ’90s, the band went on hiatus, but after 2011 they resumed their activities with renewed energy and fresh ideas. Their later albums, such as Reanimated Homunculus and Cursed and Coronated, prove that Protector can maintain their characteristic sound even after decades while naturally incorporating modern extreme metal elements. Today, their music appeals both to long-time fans of old-school metal and to a younger generation seeking authentic, unpolished and honest underground metal. Protector has become a band that not only survived its era but continues to represent it actively and proudly.