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FORBIDDEN “Forbidden”
FORBIDDEN “Forbidden”
By Theron Moore
FORBIDDEN is that Bay Area gem that never gets the attention OR the recognition they rightfully deserve and with the release of their new disc of doom, the aptly titled, “Forbidden”, I'm hoping some long due respect comes their way.
Craig LoCicero is back for the attack with fellow thrash pirates Matt Camacho, the iconic Chris Kontos, Jeremy Von Epp, and screamer extraordinaire, Norman Skinner. It's been sixteen years since the band delivered new vinyl which raises the question, does FORBIDDEN – both band and record – rock?
The answer is, hell yeah it does, of course! I'm sure the killer production on this album figures in some, but man does this platter of splatter sound great! Heavy as fuck, fast, tight, and brutal, the overall ferocity of this band is astounding. What I really connected with is that FORBIDDEN’s brand of steel feels effortless, not forced, like it’s something that’s just channeled when these dudes plug in and go at it.
"Single Point Failure" starts the record off with a literal bang - watch the band's official video for this track, you'll understand what I mean. "Mutually Assured Dysfunction" is a pure head ripper start to finish, and "Psyclops" is a wall of thrash, a massive pit-tastic beast of a song.
I really dig this band lineup a lot. Skinner's vocals play an effortless cat and mouse game down shifting between melody and all-out war (listen to “Burning the Lungs of Earth”) set against a backdrop of FORBIDDEN’s tight, razor sharp metal. And dare I say this band sounds hungry? If I didn’t know better, I’d say the fellas are primed for a takeover.
The songs on “Forbidden” are top notch straddling that fine line between the sound they created and the sonic assault they’re laying down now. But let me wave the caution flag –
if you're expecting the second coming of “Twisted Into Form” you won't find it here. What you will find is growth, evolution, a tasty bit of sonic violence, and a band that just keeps getting better and better with age. Buy “Forbidden”, stream it, battle vest it. This one’s a rager.
4/5 Stars
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