This is the debut-album from a thrash-metal band known as Forbidden, unfortunatly this band is now disbanded but they left some albums including EP's and live albums. For those who haven't heard about this band I will give a short description how this band sounds like (though I have only listen to this album so I will refer to this album only).
The band plays fast and technical Bay-Area thrash-metal with skilled vocals. The vocalist sounds very similar to Anthrax's Joey Belladonna but this singer named Russ Anderson has more bad attitude in his vocals. The instruments in this album are well-balanced, no instrument is not dominating over an other, you can hear the bass good, the guitars are good and so on. The songs are intensive, technical, not so catchy but of course that depends on the listener.
Russ Anderson - vocals
Craig Locicero - guitars
Glen Alvelais - guitars
Matt Camacho - bass
Paul Bostaph - drums
Chalice Of Blood (4:33)
The song starts with a very fast riff section along with intensive drumming. Russ uses many high-pitched shouts in this song which I don't like so much. The song is quite intensive throughout the entire song but the song is not so catchy. The verse is better than the chorus when Russ sings:
¨Chalice Of Blood,
Waits To Fill Us,
Chalice Of Blood¨
The guitar solos in this song is quite impressive and the vocals are though very good here. A very good opening track and a very good song. 4/5
Off The Edge (4:18)
This song starts with a slow bass intro section mixed with some pick scraping, the song later gets faster and thrashier. This song is the one on the album that I don't enjoy because of the annoying chorus when Russ shouts the track title. The song is a good thrash-metal song but it is the chorus that drags the song down, thankfully it is saved by some really good guitar solos. 3/5
Through Eyes Of Glass (6:26)
Starts with a small vibrato solo, the riffing starts soon right after and it rocks! The riffing is technical and catchy but the intro is a bit to long. Anyway the song is fast and the drums is not so fast, the vocals from Russ reminds of power-metal singers because of his great singing skills. This song is great in almost any aspect and this is one of my favorite tracks. 4.5/5
Forbidden Evil (5:45)
The song starts with a haunting riff along with fast drum beats, the riffs here are also quite technical but the main riff is the best because it sounds similar to Metallica's ferocious riffs in ¨Disposable Heros¨. The drumming is great and the song structure is very good. The vocals are very good here and the solos are also very good, the song is catchy and is worth checking out. 5/5
March Into Fire (5:14)
This song has been claimed to be a thrash-classic and I can understand that, the song enters with marching feet and later the song bursts out into a thrashing assault. Russ vocal work is great, the drums are fast but the riffing is ultra-fast (almost). The song is not very catchy but it hooks you anyway, the song pattern changes a little here and there but this is also a song worth checking out. 4.5/5
Feel No Pain (5:14)
Sounds of war makes the intro in this song, I guess the sounds has been taking from a WW scene or something like that, you can hear tanks rolling, machinegun fire and explosions. This song is not a real highlight song in my thoughts, it is the chorus that don't gets alright in my ears but the rest of the song is very good. The chorus feels bumpy and lagging if I say so, one cool thing in this song is when Russ delivers these screams of agony and pain, very good screams! The solos are average to me and so is some part of the song. 3.5/5
As Good As Dead (4:16)
Tis song starts with some complex riffing and some drum beats, this song is also one that I don't enjoy so much because of the bumpiness, it sabotages the song and makes it less catchy. The song is indeed good thrash-metal but the end is also bad, Russ screams the track title and it sounds just annoying, the guitar solos sounds pretty much like Exodus solo style but it doesn't help this song. 2.5/5
Follow Me (7:01)
Eerie and melodic acoustics is the intro of this song, the acoustics changes it pattern a bit when the song starts to take shape and it sounds really good. Now heavy drum beats starts along with the guitars, the vocals are very good and it makes the verse very cool. The song is quite catchy and this is one of my favorite tracks, and one more thing that is cool with this song is the deep growls that sings along with Russ at some moments. 4.5/5
End of story, hope you liked this. This album was made in 1988 but it still sounds fresh to my ears, as I said this band was disbanded but they did very good music im my opinion. I would recommend this band and album to all thrashers and especially to people who like skilled vocals and technical riffing even though these riffs are not super-technical.
PROS
+ Well balanced between instuments and vocals
+ Great and skilled vocals
+ Very good thrash metal even if it sounds similar to other bands
+ There is still some freshness in this album
+ This album would suit many thrash metal fans
CONS
- Some of the songs can get on your nerves
- Some of Russes shouts can be annoying
RECOMMENDED TRACKS
Forbidden Evil
Through Eyes Of Glass
March Into Fire
Chalice Of Blood
Final overall album rating will be: 4/5
