Synopsis of God Forbid's Band History: God Forbid formed in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1998. I could not really find much more information on them, other than they got signed on to Century Media's record Label and have released so far 4 cds. This cd is their latest effort. Rumors had been going on before this cd about the bands turmoil, an effort to make this their best cd EVER. Its obvious that this is the best God Forbid Cd out there.
On with the initial Review:
Wait, wait, wait, before we begin, the solos in this album, at the moment OWN every bands soloing efforts at the moment.
Ok, :) lets continue.
1.
Force Fed: This song starts out with some guitar feedback, then goes into a full fledged thrash riff, out to a slow groove riff, then back to the thrash riff. The guitar work here isn't what I would call virtouso, but it is great nonetheless. You can really here the duel guitar work from Doc and Dallas, they pretty much complete each other, its very apparent, just like Michael and Chris Amott. Its almost like a raise your fist type track, I give this a 5/5. Its very nice.
5/5
2.
Antihero: First single off the cd. If your a God Forbid fan, or watch alot of metal on tv, you've probably seen the single. Thankfully the song is waaaay better than the video. The song explodes into a nice melodic riff, and extends into a power metal type groove. Very nice, and hard guitar work here. The drums are solid, extremly solid, almost suprisingly how Corey Peirce can keep up. One thing that seperates this song from the rest: The solo is truly, truly incredibly well done. Guitar mastery like no other album in the genre. This is the BEST solo by far, on the whole album.
5/5
3.
Better Days: Thrash riffs abound, the song explodes into the slayer-esque drums, and then propeles you into full fledged groove. Very nice indeed. The metalcore elements are obvious in this song, which sets it apart from the other two. The vocal taking a sudden turn for the worse though, imo, when it starts droning with softness. Wheres the metalcore? Bryon goes all Howard from KsE on us, and kinda ruins the fast flow on the song. Its not a particularly poppy chorus, but it doesn't really sound that great with the song. The solo isn't exactly memorable either. The song is pretty good though, apart from the complications.
4/5
4.
Precious Lie: Opening riff here is a softly strummed chord, something you see a watered down Opeth do. After a couple of strums on this melodramatic chord, the song blows up. The **** hits the fan, with bryon screaming, its definetly one of the heaviest songs by far this year. I loved it. It brokedown into another KsE-esque chorus, but actually, it sounds waaaaay better this time, and I actually enjoy listening to it. The solo here is fairly melodic, not as much shredding or fast fingerpickin', but then Doc throws in a fair amount too.
5/5
5.
Washed Out-World: Song throws you into a riff reminiscent of Post-Angela Arch Enemy, with a really heavy riff and soloing in the background. It takes a turn for softer vocals, again, in a groovier part, which also sounded pretty good as well. It goes into a really soft part, with soft guitars and whatnot, then explodes into a breakdown like Unearth, and palm muted 0's. I have to say, they didn't have much of a choice, it didn't sound that original.
3/5.
6.
Living Nightmare: Did they save all the good riffs for this album? This riff blows up like an M-80 in your face with its opener, which is a raise your fist in the air type riff. The symbiotic relationship between Doc and Dallas is noted here. Its almost like they are competing with each other, very nice, very brutal. Corey shows off his most double bass talent here, most of the song is filled with him murdering his drumset. Good song. Then--the solo kicks in, all I have to say is, INCREDIBLE. Arpeggios, scales, anything you want, its been compacted into this solo. Almost as good as Antihero, nonetheless very satisfying.
5/5
7.
Soul Engraved:Another nice riff, extremly hard to play. The tremolo is pretty incredible on this cd. I loved it. The riff starts off somewhat like Fixation in the Darkness, with the drums double bassing in the background like nuts as the palm muted zeros are abound. More soft vocals from Bryon, but it sounds really good this time. I think this is the only song where he sounds pretty emotional, I liked it. A breakdown abound in this song, beware, its alot like Unearth. More shred thrown in by Doc and Dallas for good measure. All I can tell you is "holy crap." The song ends with them dueling on shred. Haha.
5/5
8.
Gone Forever: A vengeful thrash/death metal blows up on the beginning here, but sliced through with Bryons Metalcorish scream. Awesome. The guitar work here is the first time I've heard synchronised on the verses, usually its on one end of the speaker while the other end fills every now and then. But it sounds great. It goes off in a breakdown, which will definetly have fans moshing like nuts. Then the melodic solo comes in, no shred this time, the first time, and it still sounds great. It cuts through the brutal riff in the background.
5/5
9.
Judge The Blood: Piano :eek:? Piano comes in, kinda, wicked sounded, like the excorcist, creepy sounding. This is the longest song in the album. Then it ends and begins with a VERY very nice riff, which isn't fast or anything, but very melodic, kinda like Anthem-Arch Enemy, then the song kicks into full steam, with Bryon brutalizing the mic and the guitarists dueling each other. It sounds GREAT. You can't go wrong. Pinch harmonics, :eek:, first time I've ever heard them, the whole album, which I have to hand to God Forbid, have tried not to use them as fillers (something alot of bands do), over all, this songs and its solos is amazing.
5/5
Buy. This. Cd.
Its totally worth it. I award Gone Forever a
5/5.
God Forbid have obviously made this their best cd yet, its without a doubt. This cd doesn't get boring, and the riffs alwasy sounds new, the originality is superb, as well is the production. Perfect crystal clear production, the drums hit you like humans hitting the hard cold concrete. The guitars rip through your eardrums, and the solos captivate and hypnotise you. Bryons shreiks will also leave you haunted for days. You can feel the horror on such tracks as Precious Lie or Judge the Blood. BUY THIS ALBUM. You can catch them live on Ozzfest this summer.
