God Forbid Gone Forever
Century Media CMR8166-2 - 2004
By Rodrigo Escandon
These truly are better days for God Forbid. Their Century Media debut Determination hinted at what the band was capable of doing, it was a solid release but it did not warrant a lot of listens. Yet God Forbid plowed on, they were featured in many national tours and they performed a very energetic live performance. The hints and the promise of better things were shown; this was a band capable of doing something great.
A few months ago, they released the teaser EP Better Days. It was meant to wet the appetites for Gone Forever and wet them they did. The two new songs were just better than anything of Determination and the band definitely showed a strength in songwriting as those two songs were vastly different, if this was a promise of things to come then God Forbid would be in business.
Guess what? God Forbid has delivered on the promise of the EP, on the hints of their past work and of the experience of their live performances to come out with a monster of an album. With Gone Forever, God Forbid have crafted an album that sounds original, fresh, exciting and one that cant leave your CD player. While one can hear the influences of the thrash and hardcore genres, God Forbid manages to come out with their own sound and one that should appeal to fans of those respective musical styles.
Singer Byron Davis still is ferocious with his delivery but he sounds more confident than before and he really has improved his singing. Clean vocals have also been thrown in the mix and are provided by the Coyle brothers, Doc and Dallas. They are used in a back-up role and they really enhance the songs. Doc and Dallas are also the bands guitarists and this is the area where God Forbid has improved the most. Not that there was anything wrong with them before but in Gone Forever everything about what they do is better. They now have the confidence to belt out more solos in the songs and they still feature plenty of melodies and breakdowns but like I said, they just sound better, more mature and generally of much higher quality. Corey Pierces drumming has also improved and joined by Jon Outcalts bass, they provide an excellent rhythm section and they plenty of opportunities to have the spotlight thrown their way.
With a slot on the second stage at this years Ozzfest and thanks to this amazing album, God Forbid is primed to break through, its going to be fun watching them do it!
9/10
God Forbid Official Website
Century Media Official Website
Century Media CMR8166-2 - 2004
By Rodrigo Escandon
These truly are better days for God Forbid. Their Century Media debut Determination hinted at what the band was capable of doing, it was a solid release but it did not warrant a lot of listens. Yet God Forbid plowed on, they were featured in many national tours and they performed a very energetic live performance. The hints and the promise of better things were shown; this was a band capable of doing something great.
A few months ago, they released the teaser EP Better Days. It was meant to wet the appetites for Gone Forever and wet them they did. The two new songs were just better than anything of Determination and the band definitely showed a strength in songwriting as those two songs were vastly different, if this was a promise of things to come then God Forbid would be in business.
Guess what? God Forbid has delivered on the promise of the EP, on the hints of their past work and of the experience of their live performances to come out with a monster of an album. With Gone Forever, God Forbid have crafted an album that sounds original, fresh, exciting and one that cant leave your CD player. While one can hear the influences of the thrash and hardcore genres, God Forbid manages to come out with their own sound and one that should appeal to fans of those respective musical styles.
Singer Byron Davis still is ferocious with his delivery but he sounds more confident than before and he really has improved his singing. Clean vocals have also been thrown in the mix and are provided by the Coyle brothers, Doc and Dallas. They are used in a back-up role and they really enhance the songs. Doc and Dallas are also the bands guitarists and this is the area where God Forbid has improved the most. Not that there was anything wrong with them before but in Gone Forever everything about what they do is better. They now have the confidence to belt out more solos in the songs and they still feature plenty of melodies and breakdowns but like I said, they just sound better, more mature and generally of much higher quality. Corey Pierces drumming has also improved and joined by Jon Outcalts bass, they provide an excellent rhythm section and they plenty of opportunities to have the spotlight thrown their way.
With a slot on the second stage at this years Ozzfest and thanks to this amazing album, God Forbid is primed to break through, its going to be fun watching them do it!
9/10
God Forbid Official Website
Century Media Official Website
