Simon RushworthForbidden — Forbidden (BLKIIBLK)
There was a time — and it was a long time — when Californian thrashers Forbidden were touted as heavy music’s next big thing.
The brutal metallers would regularly lay waste to major stages across the US alongside scene leaders Exodus, Death Angel and Testament.
And 1988’s landmark debut Forbidden Evil (the band’s original name) fuelled the narrative that the Fremont crew was destined for greatness.
Frenzied follow-up Twisted Into Form maintained the momentum but Russ Anderson and co. still hadn’t bagged that long-predicted big break.
By the time 1994’s Distortion damaged eardrums the world over, the first wave of thrash was fast fizzling out. Three years later Forbidden folded.
If the band’s brief but brilliant late noughties comeback served as a timely reminder of potential unfulfilled then any unfinished business remained just that.
Never forgotten, Forbidden blasted back three years ago with new frontman Norman Skinner flanking founder Craig Locicero.
And a brace of sensational sets in support of Death Angel’s sold-out 2023 Christmas shows revealed a band reborn.
A first Forbidden album in 16 years? It’s a major thrash metal event.
But can the revamped five-piece meet expectations on their hotly anticipated self-titled comeback?
Forbidden — back to the future?
There’s no doubt Skinner’s the perfect skull-crushing fit for latter-day Forbidden and the band’s new frontman bosses an album that punches hard from start to finish.
Channelling his inner Mustaine (at least Dave’s peak years) on the zealous Divided By Zero, the new man behind the mic doesn’t hold back.
But there’s more to Skinner than meets the eye.
Forbidden had already hinted at a more technical, prog-influenced approach by the time Twisted Into Form set tongues wagging.
Think Voivod meets Dream Theatre.
And in 2026 there’s still a desire to push the boundaries and quit the comfort zone: Jisei — with its haunting spoken-word intro and clean vocal — is Forbidden at their experimental best.
But that outlier of a track is the exception to the rule (unless you count meandering set closer Flower Of Life).
On the whole, this is full throttle Skinner bouncing off the dual axe attack of Locicero and Jeremy Von Epp.
Six-minute scorcher Sol Grave mixes old school thrash with something approaching symphonic — it’s a modern metal epic that brings a sturdy back catalogue bang up to date.
Forbidden is a mighty return to form.
Maybe the record Megadeth wished they’d made?
