God Forbid

God Forbid still has something to prove. Guitarist Dallas Coyle says, "It's intriguing. It's almost like we're cheating. Everyone in this band knows that we're good at we do. But like a lot of people check us out because it's like a taboo. They think, 'Oh my god! They're black.' It's like Kittie being checked out because they are girls."

If you expect God Forbid to bust a rhyme or drop phat grooves into its sound, it's best to go demand a refund at the door. If you're wondering what issues might creep into God Forbid's lyrics, given the religious connotations of its name, cease looking. Just stop, mosh 'n roll.

Indeed, while God Forbid -with the exception of bass technician Beeker, whose work would make Cliff Burton and Geezer Butler proud- might look like Living Color, they sound like early Sepultura, Pantera, and Morbid Angel with a dash of Hatebreed's hardcore breakdown sensibility and the dynamic, stylistic change ups of Eurometal pioneers At The Gates and current torch bearers In Flames. On Determination, God Forbid double dips with its sound, manufacturing both Eurometal melodics and chunky breakdowns that will have the diehard metal fan with a Testament patch on his jacket banging his head alongside the moshpit maniac sporting a Dillinger Escape Plan hoodie. This is metalcore as it was meant to be.

While that might seem like too high of a standard for a relatively new metal band to set for itself, God Forbid, who has existed for nearly 4 years in its current incarnation, aims high and sets expectations that might make a band of lesser caliber crumble. But God Forbid are tech-heads, students of music who keep their collective ear tuned to not only the music that surrounds them, but their own sonic output.