Headbanger

Headbanger took 3rd place in the Best Sativa by Seed Company category at the 2013 High Times Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, behind Tangie from Reserva Privada and Sour Power from Hortilab. The sativa-leaning hybrid was bred by Karma Genetics, who crossed their own Sour Diesel cut with Biker Kush for it. Some strain descriptions list Headbanger as the winner of that cup, but the published results list shows rank 3. 2015 brought 2nd place in the Sativa category of the IC420 Growers Cup in Amsterdam and 1st place at the Secret Cup in Barcelona.

Genetics and Origin:

Karma Genetics names its in-house Sour Diesel cut and Biker Kush V1 as the parents and classifies the result as an OG hybrid. The details on the Biker Kush line differ: the breeder's entry in a strain collection and further descriptions give version 2.0, while a seed vendor describes the Sour Diesel as an inbred line rather than a cut. The ratio of sativa to indica is given as 70 to 30, and Headbanger Kush is a common alias. From the breeder, the strain exists only as regular seed.

As a parent, Headbanger appears in numerous more recent crosses. Karma Genetics developed 818 Banger and 95 Banger from it, among others, and Cannarado developed Birthday Banger. Mephisto Genetics combined Headbanger with Fugue State to make the feminized autoflower 505 Headbanger. Further offspring include Sherbanger and Zkittle Head.

Aroma and Flavor:

The breeder describes a pungent aroma with the sour, funky note of Kush and Diesel. Other strain descriptions add skunk, a chemical sharpness, orange and lime, earthy and herbal touches, and sweetness; in flavor, citrus, berry and wood come in. User reports emphasize a skunky smell and a diesel-like taste, and one draws a comparison to UK Cheese. A strain overview names caryophyllene as the dominant terpene, followed by limonene and linalool.

THC and CBD Content:

A strain overview that refers to lab measurements gives 22 % THC and 1 % CBG for Headbanger. For the Cannapot version, 25 % THC and 0.1 % CBD are stated. Such values vary by batch, cultivation and phenotype.

Effects:

User reports center on a stimulating, head-focused effect: consumers describe euphoria, focus and creativity, along with lifted mood, talkativeness and giddiness. One report describes a cerebral onset followed by relaxation after about 30 minutes. Others find the strain considerably more physical, in the style of an indica, or become tired. Strength is also rated differently, from very potent to rather moderate for a sativa. As side effects, consumers list dry mouth, headaches and dizziness, which in one case affected balance.

Cultivation:

Karma Genetics states a flowering time of 10 to 11 weeks, while other strain descriptions give 10 to 12 weeks. Outdoors, harvest is set for October, and the strain is suitable for indoor and outdoor cultivation. The plants are considered tall and robust. They form dense, cone-shaped buds whose resin coating, according to one description, is so thick that the green underneath is hardly visible. The breeder stresses strong trichome production and sees the strain as starting material for extracts.

Yield assessments differ: Karma Genetics speaks of large yields, while another strain description rates it as medium. Descriptions rate the difficulty as medium. One user report mentions purple tones on the buds.

Versions from Different Breeders:

Besides the original from Karma Genetics, there is a version from Cannapot that traces back to the same cross of Sour Diesel cut and Biker Kush V1 and is listed as F2. For it, 9 to 11 weeks of flowering are stated for indoor cultivation, while Karma Genetics gives 10 to 11 weeks for the original.