敲击金属（Thrash Metal，或称激流金属，台湾称为鞭笞金属）属于重金属音乐中之一分支。最原始的敲击金属可以追溯到1970年代末80年代初。

当相当数量的英国重金属新浪潮（New Wave Of British Heavy Metal）乐队开始将硬核（Hardcore）和庞克（Punk）等元素融入当中，这就产生了一种新的金属乐风格－敲击金属。连带的也产生了一种速度极快的金属风格，力量稍微比鞭击金属轻的风格——速度金属（Speed Metal）。美国受敲击金属的影响甚深，故后来发展成为本土的力量金属，而代表者有Iced Earth和Nevermore。

Thrash metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its fast tempo and overall aggression. The songs usually use fast percussive beats and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work. The lyrics often deal with social issues and reproach for The Establishment, using direct and denunciatory language, an approach which partially overlaps with the hardcore genre.