Gwar, often styled as GWAR, is an American thrash metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1984, composed of and operated by a frequently rotating line-up of musicians, artists and filmmakers collectively known as Slave Pit Inc.

Easily identified by their distinctively grotesque costumes, the core thematic and visual concept of Gwar revolves around an elaborate science fiction-themed mythology which portrays the band members as barbaric interplanetary warriors, a narrative which serves as the basis for all of the band's albums, videos, live shows and other media. Rife with over-the-top violent, sexual and scatological humour typically incorporating social and political satire, Gwar have attracted both acclaim and controversy for their music and stage shows, the latter of which notoriously showcase enactments of graphic violence which result in the audience being sprayed with copious amounts of fake blood, thus regularly leading Gwar to be labeled as a "shock rock" band by the media.