Forbidden

Emerging from the Bay Area alongside Testament, Death Angel, Vio-Lence and similar acts, Forbidden belonged to thrash metal’s second wave yet never achieved the breakthrough many anticipated despite clear early promise. The band began in 1985 under the name Forbidden Evil, assembled by vocalist Russ Anderson, guitarists Robb Flynn and Craig Locifero, bassist Matt Camacho, and drummer Paul Bostaph. They spent years grinding through local club dates alongside countless other garage outfits shaped by Metallica, Slayer, and especially Exodus. Robb Flynn soon exited to launch Vio-Lence before forming Machine Head, and Glen Alvelais stepped in on guitar. Under the new configuration the group steadily cultivated a following and landed a contract with Combat Records. Their 1988 debut, Forbidden Evil, drew largely favorable notices and led to extensive touring with Exodus, Death Angel, and Testament. They next documented a 1989 appearance at the Dynamo Festival in Eindhoven on the live EP Raw Evil: Live at the Dynamo. Unlike Testament, whose parallel move two years earlier had strengthened their European audience, the release generated little additional interest. Alvelais departed to join Testament shortly before the sessions for 1990’s Twisted into Form, a tighter set of technical thrash that proved less inventive and still broke no fresh ground. As thrash interest waned sharply in the early ’90s, the 1992 best-of collection Point of No Return suggested the end had arrived. The members nevertheless carried on, even after Paul Bostaph joined Slayer in 1994. Steve Jacobs took over the drum chair for 1995’s Distortion, and the band dissolved soon after issuing 1997’s Green. Guitarist Calvert later joined power metal band Nevermore, while Locifero, Camacho, and Jacobs formed Manmade God.