Forbidden – 'Forbidden' review: thrash comeback after 16 years with a new singer
The Bay Area thrashers return with their first album since 'Omega Wave'. Metal Hammer awards 5 out of 7 – and only wishes it were a little shorter.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
Single video: YouTube · Forbidden · youtube.com
Single: Burning The Lungs Of Earth
Forbidden released their self-titled album on 23 October via BLKIIBLK, the metal imprint of Frontiers Label Group. It is the San Francisco Bay Area thrash band's first record since 2010's 'Omega Wave'. Norman Skinner is the new vocalist; alongside guitarist Craig Locicero, the line-up includes Matt Camacho, Chris Kontos and Jeremy Von Epp. Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor guests on 'Sycophantasy'.
Metal Hammer critic Marc Halupczok awards 5 out of 7. The break here is in the line-up, not the style, he writes: Skinner covers a wide range from aggressive shouting to high screams and nudges the band somewhat towards Flotsam and Jetsam. Locicero's riffs are instantly recognisable and carry highlights such as 'Burning The Lungs Of Earth', 'Divided By Zero' and 'The Burden'.
His only criticism is the running time of more than an hour; tracks such as 'DCLXVI' or 'Flower Of Life (Chaos By Design)' could have been trimmed. But that is 'grumbling at a high level' – genre fans can buy without hesitation. The video is the official music video for 'Burning The Lungs Of Earth', according to Blabbermouth the album's fourth single.