Description
Headbanger is a cross between staple strains OG Kush and Sour Diesel. These heavy hitters endow Headbanger with a high THC content — it has been measured at between 20% and an impressive 27%. Some sources claim that Headbanger was developed by Colorado-based breeders Reserva Privada — who are also responsible for tasty strains like Kandy Kush and Strawberry Banana. Still others attest to an origin in 707 Headbanger, a grassroots strain developed in the cannabis promised land of Humboldt County, California; breeders DNA Genetics claim to have studied this “707” strain and recreated its likely genetic profile to produce Headbanger.
Buds of Headbanger are small and are more like nuggets than dense, spade-like cones. The leaves are an even, pale green, although some plant phenotypes have a higher propensity for shades of purple (the result of cold temperatures activating anthocyanin compounds during the vegetative period). As might be expected of a strain with such high THC, Headbanger flowers are covered in silvery-white trichomes and are sticky to the touch — this is one strain that proves difficult to break up for joints or pipes without using a grinder.
The initial smell of the cured flowers is tangy and lemony. Underneath these dominant scents is a faint skunkiness, along with some notes of pine. Unlike some other indicas — particularly OGs — Headbanger produces smoke that is thick but surprisingly smooth. This smoke has a rounded, creamy mouthfeel and tastes citrusy when inhaled. On the exhale, a more diesel, chemical funk is present. The overall taste sensation is of lemon-scented cleaning fluid that hits the user at the front of the palate.
The high from Headbanger mounts slowly, with some users reporting that they may not notice effects for up to 20 minutes after consuming. With only a bit of sativa effects, Headbanger induces a spacey, foggy state that makes it poorly suited to tasks that require focus and mental acuity. In addition to this fogginess, Headbanger gives users a physically weighty feeling that spreads down through the spine and radiates out to the limbs, comfortably locking them into supine position. This sense of couchlock makes Headbanger ideal for passive activities in comfortable surroundings, like watching movies or listening to music. It could also serve as inspiration for some general creative thinking. The psychedelic sense of disconnection from one’s own body makes Headbanger a potential aphrodisiac as well.
Medically speaking, Headbanger’s powerful sedative properties have the potential to serve as a remedy for mild anxiety and, in large enough doses, for chronic insomnia. Fans of the strain have also reported improvement in symptoms associated with migraines and muscle spasms. Headbanger has been known to provoke appetite, making it a supplementary treatment for users suffering from decreased hunger due to disease or chemotherapy. Negative side effects include a feeling of dizziness, dry mouth, and — thanks to the same expansion of blood vessels that causes this strain’s trademark facial pressure — red eyes. The high from Headbanger is said to last longer than average, even in users with a relatively high tolerance for THC.
Headbanger is a potent strain that will please cannabis novices and enthusiasts alike. Providing the best of what indicas have to offer, it’s a surefire path to relaxation, mild creativity, and an overall trippy good time, either alone or in the company of good friends. Although it has an appealing citrus flavor, this novelty doesn’t come at the expense of genetic stability or potency as with many new crossbreeds in the cannabis market today.
Headbanger’s high trichome composition also makes it an easy choice for the production of hash and other THC concentrates.
