After quitting V8 in 1985, and impressed by the new generation of thrash metal bands from the Bay Area led by Metallica, Civile set out to put together a new group in that style.

The first version of Horcas had Civile on lead guitar, Adrián Zucchi on rhythm, Eddie Walker on bass, Gabriel Ganzo on drums and Hugo Benítez on vocals.

The band quickly garnered recognition in local heavy metal circles, mainly because of Civile's past as a V8 member, but also because they were among the first in Argentina to explore a more extreme style within the genre.

In 1990, Horcas landed their first recording deal with indie label Radio Trípoli, and as a quartet, since Zucchi had left the band, cut their first album Reinará la Tempestad.

[1] In 1991, bassist Eddie Walker left the band and was replaced by current member Norberto "Topo" Yáñez, while the rhythm guitar slot was filled by Oscar Castro.

This fact, along with the devotion his persona inspired in the local heavy metal fanbase, opened the band a new window of opportunity in 1997, when, with a new line-up which included current members Sebastián Coria on guitar, Guillermo De Luca on drums and Walter Meza on vocals, Horcas were able to finally record their third album Vence.

1997 and 1998 were extremely successful years for Horcas during which the band expanded their fanbase and finally established themselves as one of the leading Argentinian and Latin American heavy metal acts.

The album, which inaugurated an era of experimentation for the band, in which they work with lower tunings and new sounds, received excellent reviews from the critics and a mixed reaction from their fanbase, who stayed loyal for the most part.

However, the "Asesino Tour" 2007–2008 was extremely successful with almost 100 dates which included a slot in the Vive Latino festival in Santiago, Chile on 15 April 2007 and opening for Megadeth in Buenos Aires in May 2008.

On 15 May 2010 Horcas recorded their tenth album and first DVD live at a sold-out Teatro Colegiales in Buenos Aires as part of a series of events to take place throughout 2010 in celebration of their 20th anniversary.