Metal Storm logo
Forbidden - Forbidden Evil review



Reviewer:
8.5

248 users:
8.52
Band: Forbidden
Album: Forbidden Evil
Release date: 1988


01. Chalice Of Blood
02. Off The Edge
03. Through Eyes Of Glass
04. Forbidden Evil
05. March Into Fire
06. Feel No Pain
07. As Good As Dead
08. Follow Me
09. Feel No Pain [live] [re-issue bonus]
10. As Good As Dead [live] [re-issue bonus]
11. Through Eyes Of Glass [live] [re-issue bonus]
12. Chalice Of Blood [live] [re-issue bonus]

Diamond in the dirt.

Finding and making it their own, Forbidden are of a niche that sits between the technically-focused style of thrash of Defiance and the traditional sounds forged by bands like Testament. Forbidden Evil is a landmark release in the genre that unfortunately had its shockwaves dulled by it coming out in '88, when the genre was starting to reach critical mass. In hindsight, it is a release that deserves all the praise it gets and one of the strongest Bay Area releases by a band not in the Big 4.

Featuring some of the most underrated musicians in the genre, Forbidden are no slouches when it comes to putting their talent to tape. With the guitar kinship between Alvelais and Locicero, the band forge some of the sharpest riffs of the genre at that point in time, with the riffs to "March Into Fire" and "Follow Me" being some of the catchiest thrash tracks outside of the Big 4. Ably supported by Camacho's fluid and adventurous bass work and future Testament, Exodus Slayer member Bostaph, who made his start here, and fronted by Anderson, who deserves a spot alongside Chuck Billy as one of the strongest vocalists in the genre, and you have a solid pool of talent here.

If you want some immediate classics, then check out "Chalice Of Blood" (in part co-written by Robb Flynn, yes, that Robb Flynn, who was briefly a member of the band), "Through Eyes Of Glass" and "Forbidden Evil", which won't fail to disappoint as they manage to make a compelling and exciting mix of technical and technical thrash. Aside from one track, you will find much to enjoy on this album, which will have you hitting the replay button reguarly.

For as strong and talented songwriters as the band are, they have one sore spot that is unfortunately square and centre for much of the album, that being they do have some awful choruses that seem quickly scribbled down, whereas the rest of the album sounds like it has a lot of thought put into it. "Off The Edge" and "Feel No Pain" sound very amateur for a band with such evident quality in the music; indeed the rest of the songs sans the chorus are very well written. Added to this is the harmonic and disturbing refrain at the start of "Feel No Pain", which sounds like the band had ripped it straight off of "Nobody's Fault" by Aerosmith; compounding this issue is how they quickly move on from this refrain in such a cut and run way that makes its inclusion feel unnatural and unnecessary.

While it may go down in history as yet another solid but not a breakout album in the Bay Area thrash scene, Forbidden can at hold their heads up high in the knowledge they crafted one of the most fierce, technical yet accessible albums of the genre. Forbidden Evil is a good stepping stone for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge and limits in the scope of the genre.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Production: 9





Written on 02.02.2021 by Just because I don't care doesn't mean I'm not listening.



Hits total: 823 | This month: 6