2023’s return of these Bay Area Thrash icons brought a flutter to many an old Thrashers heart. Founding member Craig Locicero brought long-time members Matt Camacho (bass) and Steve Smyth back into the Forbidden fold, with new singer Norman Skinner and Chris Kontos on drums.
Forbidden – Forbidden
Release Date: 23 October 2026
Words: Paul Hutchings
European festivals, including a curtailed set at Bloodstock, saw the first glimpses of the new line-up, now settled with guitarist Jeremy Von Epp replacing Smyth. But it is new music that the fans want, and now, 16 years after Omega Wave, it is finally time to embrace and immerse yourself in the self-titled album.
I will admit I was underwhelmed on first listen. It felt patchy and did not hang together that well. But repeated plays have seen Forbidden creep into my consciousness with much better form.
I will be the first to admit that Skinner’s vocals are not my favourite at times. His high-pitched histrionics on Divided By Zero grate a little, although his gruffer delivery works well for me.
Whilst it is right to pin the Thrash label on Forbidden, there is plenty more than heads-down riffage. Opener Single Point Failure ticks the old school box but move forward to DCLXVI, and you get a more eclectic sound, sludgy albeit with some neat Thrash edges to draw blood from.
The guitar work on this album is impressive, with some tasty dual lead work on DCLXVI echoing early Maiden.
And that might be the thing about Forbidden that makes it an appealing repeat listen. The progressive nature of several tracks, and the multi-layered shades of the nine-minute finale in Flower Of Life all prove that this is a more complex and carefully crafted album than some of their peers may have delivered in recent times.
There are some curve balls to consider. Jisei is full of haunting atmosphere but does not really go anywhere. It is one of the weakest tracks in my opinion, but that is maybe because it takes a left turn and is quite unexpected.
Set between the crunch of Psyclops and the out-and-out mayhem of Mutually Assured Dysfunction, which sits very much in the Flotsam & Jetsam ballpark, it is a strange one alright.
Technically, Forbidden is excellent. Kontos has nothing to prove, but his precision drumming is on point throughout, whilst the combined guitar work of Locicero and Von Epp is razor sharp, yet full of passion, emotion and melody.
The work on tracks such as Mutually Assured Dysfunction and Burning the Lungs Of Earth is ferocious. And the addition of Brann Dailor’s vocals on Sycophantasy makes it one of the standout tracks on the album.
It is clear that the band are rightly proud of the record. Locicero states, “Making Forbidden felt more like an odyssey than a typical recording process. We set out to create a record that reminds people why they fell in love with Thrash and Heavy Metal in the first place, embracing raw energy, melody, and the imperfections that give heavy music its character.
“Every member brought their best, and having Brann Dailor (Mastodon) join us on Sycophantasy was an incredible addition. Forbidden is five lifetimes of experience forged into one piece of metallic art.”
Ending the album is Flower In Life. At nine minutes in length, it has scope to be much more, and it delivers with a progressive twist and turn or two that makes it much more than Thrash Metal, expansive and creativity wrapped around a fiery Thrash heart.
Forbidden is going to be divisive. For me, it is an enticing listen that worked in parts. It is solid for sure, and I really liked the more expansive and experimental parts.
I can see why the band are pleased with it. This is an album for Metal fans, not just Thrash aficionados.
Forbidden will release their self-titled album on 23 October 2026 via BLKIIBLK. Pre-orders are available from ffm.bio/forbidden-forbiddenalbum.
