The year was 1988. Thrash had been making itself known for a few years at that point, and the world had already witnessed the bloody rise of the LA bands. Slayer, Metallica, and Megadeth were going full speed ahead, and they were influencing bands literally everywhere.
Enter Forbidden and their debut album Forbidden Evil (which just so happened to be the band’s name prior to) it wasn’t too much of a stretch, but it ultimately led to bigger things, as that album would end up skyrocketing the band to more than just another Bay Area band. That album came out around the same time as …And Justice for All, South of Heaven, and other monumental albums. They followed it up with 1990s Twisted into Form, and although it had good songs on it, I still liked the debut better. Three other full-length albums followed: Distortion in 1994, Green in 1997, and Omega Wave in 2010. The only one I remember listening to was Omega Wave, and I listened to it by accident, so I don’t remember it THAT well.
We’re in 2026 now, and lo and behold, Forbidden is back to doing what they do best. “Single Point Failure” comes thrashing along with reckless abandon, and it’s a pretty solid track. It’s no “Eyes of Glass” or “Chalice of Blood”, but that’s the past… There are moments where I can pick out bits that could have been on the latest Dark Angel. Which isn’t a bad thing; there were actually good parts on Extinction Level Event. It’s a good opener either way.
“Burning the Lungs of the Earth” is the poster child for mediocrity, though. It’s like a speed bump on a freeway; there are these ugly crooning choruses that are out of place. It sucks because the potential is there. “Divided by Zero”, on the other hand, is on fucking fire. This song is a scorcher and goes back to the early days perfectly; it does have a crooning chorus, but it’s whatever because the rest of the song makes up for it. Some riffs were dusted off for that one; I wouldn’t be surprised to hear.
“DCLXVI” is a mixed bag of tempos, and it drags a bit at the beginning, but at the five-to-six-minute mark they thrash like nobody’s business on a ridiculous solo, and then it’s like Nevermore takes over for a couple of clicks at the end of the track.
This is a bit of a long album at just over an hour, so some of the fat could have been shaved off. Particularly in “Psyclops”, and yeah, goddammit! It could’ve been a faster album. Unfortunately, this is another speed bump track. Not bad, but not good either.
“Jisei”… What. The. Fuck? Seriously, this shouldn’t be on this album.
Okay, try to redeem yourselves for that meeting that could have been an email. “Mutually Assured Dysfunction” is saved by the almost Arch Enemy “Nemesis” style intro but ultimately descends into mediocrity. Honestly, after “Jisei” I’m kind of pissed. The songs aren’t good enough to be as long as they are. I can’t believe that I’m saying this about a band whose albums I still enjoy.
“Sycophantasy” has an Anthrax vibe to it, circa Persistence of Time and State of Euphoria. If you picture Anthrax playing it, then it’s a bit better, I guess. “The Burden” is what this album has become. This song is lame as fuck. There’s a blast at the two-to-three-minute point that’s a pleasant surprise, and it finishes off with some cool effects-laden solos. Actually, no, it continues for like, three more minutes before ending. Close but no cigar.
“Sol Grave” is an alright chugger. There’s some nasty riffing going on with some scattershot drumming, so this isn’t a horrible track; there’s some cool isolated guitar before a pretty wicked solo section comes rolling in. Some tapping on the back end of the solo is pretty killer, but it doesn’t end when you think it should.
“Flower of Life” is a straightforward thrasher, and that’s what I was hoping for when I heard that Forbidden were releasing a new album. There are parts where vocalist Norman Skinner channels Warrel Dane, and that’s when they get all Nevermore-ish. The middle of the song is all quiet, and then it picks up volume near the end of the song.
I don’t know what I was thinking I was getting into with Forbidden. I remember them being better, but then that could be nostalgia for one great debut album and maybe a follow-up that isn’t what I remember at all, either. So I’m torn about my final verdict. They slip into ballad territory, and that’s what makes those speed bump tracks that don’t know what they want to be so fucking annoying.
It could be worse, and who knows; maybe ten of you will go buy this. Have a nice day.
