Artist: God Forbid
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 2/24/04
Listen to the track "Antihero" (Courtsey of Century Media)
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Title: Gone Forever Artist: God Forbid Label: Century Media Release Date: 2/24/04 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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4 | ||
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5 | ||
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4 | ||
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Listen to the track "Antihero" (Courtsey of Century Media) | |||
Abyss's Review:
I've always been a little lukewarm when it came to this band. I'm not really sure why. I, like many others, thoroughly enjoyed their Century Media debut, Determination, but it's not one of those albums I thought of when it wasn't being played. Perhaps that's due to all of the touring the band did at the time. It feels like I've seen this band fifty times. Actually, I'm pretty sure they opened for every metal show between 2001 and 2003, even if there were two shows on opposite coasts at the same time, they opened both of them. Either that or maybe it's because I live in NYC and they're a Jersey band. I'm personally leaning toward a space-time manipulation theory, but you draw your own conclusions.
"One word review: Irresistible." Regardless of how many times I've seen them, Gone Forever is nothing if not a compelling record. The band's knack for composing catchy hooks remains firmly intact, all the while maintaining a solid low end that invokes the thrash and death bands that came before them. The new album sees the band maintaining the same basic sound, but there is no doubt they are expanding their sound as well. They seem to be drifting a bit from their metalcore base and into melodic death territory. Whatever you want to call it, it's infectious - music that is so easy to listen to it almost feels like it should be called pop. You would almost expect your non-metal friends to enjoy it, despite its weight.
And while the guitars lead the show, the rhythm section is tight and pummeling. No matter how melodic the leads get, the rhythm section is there to remind you that this is still a metal band through and through. Also of note on this record is the vocals. Byron Davis still shreds flesh with his well-known growl, but we're also treated to some soulful clean vocals. But take heart, the clean vocals actually work pretty well and give the band a completely different dimension that can be seen as an asset (unless they fuck it up on their next album and let the clean vocals dominate like so many other bands have).
The end result is that this band is still on the rise, and the legions of fans that they won over a few years ago should be more than satisfied. The songwriting here is a notch or two above where they were on the last record, and Gone Forever proves God Forbid to be a solid band when looked at from any angle. One word review: Irresistible.
Death's Review:
I'd seen this band live a bunch of times through the years and thought of them as once promising, but now just a mediocre metalcore band. No offense intended to God Forbid, mind you, it's just that my interest in the oversatured metalcore genre has been steadily waning and at the same time I've been swamped with what seems like dozens of mediocre new bands monthly. I'd also heard breakup rumors and the like, so I was definitely lukewarm on a new God Forbid album and was not prepared for what I was about to hear.
"God Forbid have improved their sound and style in almost every respect..." Thankfully, the good folk at Century Media publicity wouldn't let this one slip by me. I'm glad they did not. God Forbid have improved their sound and style in almost every respect, delivering an album that is much better than I could have ever hoped for and that is a contender for my year-end top ten. Gone Forever features vastly improved production and songwriting. Most stunning is the occasional use of soulful clean vocals as heard most prominently on the single and video "Better Days." Sure, there is a bit of a Sevendust element in there, but let's face it - the vocals are well done and it works. And musically, the Sevendust comparison does not fit at all, as this is technical, thrashy music a la Shadows Fall's The Art of Balance - guitar solos and cool riffs are mixed in liberally with the hardcore breakdowns and screaming.
All in all, this is a great effort by a band that I thought was on the decline but in fact is coming back in a big way. The album scanned enough to put this one on the Billboard independent albums chart and with slots on the Jagermeister tour and Ozzfest coming up, the comparisons to Shadows Fall and their metoric rise in 2003 seem even more on point.
Hel's Review:
The ever-increasing amount of hardcore bands cropping up lately has whittled away at my patience for this genre, and I had very little to begin with. I have now discovered a hidden danger in this insidious proliferation. You see, for years I’ve loved God Forbid – a “do no wrong” kind of love. Much to my chagrin, when I first placed this disc into my player, all I could hear was the ‘core part of their brand of metalcore. Fortunately, after the first track this effect began to diminish, primarily, I think, because it is now less prominent in their overall style. Instead, they seem to be leaning more heavily to the melodic side of things, which is something I absolutely approve of.
"The new tunes carry a solid punch and are catchy without being wimpy." The songs on Gone Forever are very well written, and the musicianship of the band members continues to be outstanding. Occasionally you will find clean vocals scattered throughout the record, but when there are people in the band that can actually sing, as these guys absolutely can, then they certainly should, and the generally understated way in which they are used is even better - preventing their overuse and therefore keeping the songs from becoming utterly sappy.
God Forbid has always been primarily a metal band, and I’m glad to see they clearly have not forgotten that. The new tunes carry a solid punch and are catchy without being wimpy. Despite my ongoing issues with hardcore and everything resembling it, God Forbid has won me over yet again. I will always hope for them to be more metal and less ‘core – but then that’s my standard operating procedure – and in this case, they have done just that. I’m glad to see God Forbid back in action with a rockin’ new record, and as always, I’m rooting for them to succeed. You go, boys.
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