Review by Andy Valentine
Often cited as one of the pioneering bands within this “New Wave of American Heavy Metal” currently underway, God Forbid hasn’t yet shared the same mainstream success as acts like Killswitch Engage, Trivium, and Lamb of God. This is arguably because God Forbid’s music is consistently more layered, more complex, and ultimately more challenging than any of those other bands. What sets this band apart from the rest of the pack is what ultimately limits them commercially.
But hasn’t this been the plight of every kick-ass band in history?
As a genre, metal is essentially hamstrung on its dependency on cliché. Clean vocal/dirty vocal mash-ups. Drummers who use their crash cymbal like the way how you’re supposed to use a high hat, that kind of thing. Most of us metalheads love the cliché, and that’s why we keep coming back.
Still, it’s nice to hear something that doesn’t rely on any of those clichés. God Forbid plays metal like they’ve just discovered it for the first time. Like they have an idea of what metal is supposed to be, but they have heard or been influenced by any of the stuff that’s come before.
Just totally pure. Like uncorrupted.
Sure, the Coyle brothers’ guitar work on “Earthsblood” pure American heavy metal, but it’s played fast and loose with the technique of a hippie jam band – only with the precision of a watchmaker. That’s a difficult balance, to be sure, but on “Earthsblood,” God Forbid do it perfectly. The acid trip vibe of the track “The New Clear,” for instance, invokes the likes of Pink Floyd, while still coming off like the bastard son of the classic Machine Head track “Blank Generation.” This is damn good stuff.
This is an album built around professional, solid musicianship. Its riffage moves in and out, weaving through complex song structures – but without ever having to compromise accessibility. This is still music you can rock out to, for sure. The Slayer-ish staccato of the track “Shallow” plays both like an homage to classic thrash metal, but delivered in a more intricate, delicate, and brutal manner.
The same could be said for the 80’s arena rock vibe of the track “Walk Alone.” This is a track that is instantly groovy, endlessly catchy, and at the same time doesn’t rely on any of the old metal standards. You’ll find none of the clichés here. Just good goddamn heavy metal.
Pretty much my only gripe here is that until “Earthsblood,” God Forbid hadn’t put out a full length since 2005’s “Constitution of Treason.” This music is too fuckin’ good for this band to only put out albums sporadically. Next time don’t make me wait four years for a new full length.
My only reason for not giving this album a higher mark is that it’s not God Forbid’s masterpiece. It’s close, but not quite yet. This is the kind of band that with 5 or 6 more years of touring and hard work will eventually release a goddamn pinnacle album on us all.
And I can’t wait.