Biography
God Forbid merges the abrasive, snarling venom of American death metal with the melodic accents of the so-called New Wave of Swedish Death Metal advanced by In Flames, Arch Enemy, and the late, lamented, and legendary At the Gates. Drawing equally from Pantera, Hatebreed, and early Sepultura, the central New Jersey-based outfit has built its identity through tours alongside the likes of Cradle of Filth, Nile, and Candiria plus shows with an assortment of acts ranging from Sevendust and Sick of it All to Soul Brains and Shadows Fall. The music carves a direct, savage line across metal’s genre divisions in the same way the band’s mixed ethnic makeup spans color lines. The members—hulking, imposing vocalist Byron Davis, bassist Beeker, drummer Corey Pierce, and the brotherly guitar team of Doc Coyle with his older sibling Dallas—first surfaced via the Out of Misery EP in 1998. Their debut full-length, Reject the Sickness, arrived in 2000 on the small but fierce indie label 9 Volt Records. Airplay on the New Jersey/New York-area metal radio powerhouse WSOU eventually drew the notice of Century Media Records’ L.A. offices, which promptly offered God Forbid a worldwide deal. The outcome was 2001’s Determination, a sharp, crisp, and intensely focused release that spotlights the band’s songwriting strengths and taste for varied musical interplay alongside technical wizardry. Additional touring with major metal and hardcore acts followed, securing God Forbid’s place as an emerging contender for elite status among metal’s top ranks. Cradle of Filth vocalist Dani Filth voiced his admiration for the group’s intensity, remarking on it nightly from the stage during U.S. dates together. That same year the Reject the Sickness EP was reissued with extra tracks as the band joined Opeth on the road and crossed the Atlantic for sold-out U.K. and European performances.
Albums
Singles
