FORBIDDEN To Play Entire 'Twisted Into Form' Album On Upcoming Tour

Guitarist Craig Locicero of reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrashers FORBIDDEN has issued the following update:

"Once again, it's about time for us to check in with everyone and let them know what we've been up to. This time it's quite a bit with something special for our fans to top it off.

"First thing people have been poking and prodding us about is new music. Yes, we have it and are writing even more all the time. No, it's not the actual record that we're recording. We are still in the demo process and are making damn well sure that it lives up to our standards. It seems that most fans feel some sort of ownership to a different era of FORBIDDEN's catalog and everyone has an opinion of what they think we should try and sound like. Well, we don't really try. We just do. Having two new and very talented members [guitarist Steve Smyth (ex-NEVERMORE) and drummer Mark Hernandez (HEATHEN, DEFIANCE, RE:IGNITION)] that were also longtime fans doesn't hurt! It certainly brings some perspective to the table and keeps things fresh. We feel the material is very strong and that's what works for us.

"We're almost finished with the first demo of new songs in a long, long time. We probably would have been done a little while earlier, but schedules between band members studio time and engineer availability puts a little space in between everything. Which, in this case, suits us just fine. The two songs we chose to record are very much in the melodic thrash genre that we evolved into on 'Twisted Into Form'. Keep in mind, we have a lot more material then we've recorded and are going to keep writing until we think we've got more then enough. There will be all kinds of songs and we intend on showing our fans some new tricks up our sleeve as well.

"But probably the most important element that makes it FORBIDDEN is Russ's vocals. I can tell you all right now that Russ is singing his ass off! He sounds great and has as much power and range as I've heard out of him in years. Not like Russ is a kid with brand new bright and shiny vocal cords, but like a man who has his confidence and self-awareness back. I think people forget that he didn't sing metal like FORBIDDEN in over a dozen years. When I see the greatest singers in metal like Halford, Dio, Dickinson and so on...they all have had changes in their voices that were gradual and people watched them over a long period of time. So, everyone grew with them and got used to it. With Russ, he was there, then he went away for a dozen years. Then he was back and most people expect exactly the same as they remember, which is understandable. But it's also completely unrealistic. It took some time time find his voice again. Consider it found!

"We'll finish the last of this demo once we return from Europe the first week of June. Then we'll give you all a preview! Now let's move on to the immediate future.

"We have a number of show that start this weekend with a very small but special gig in a little club called the Octopus Lounge in Pacifica, California this Friday night. It's a tiny room that only holds 150, which will be perfect to try out what we're gonna pull off here... We're going to play the entire 'Twisted Into Form' album front to back!!! That's something we'd never tried before and it seems like the perfect time to do it. So anyone who wants to be a part of this special night for us should arrive as early as they can, it's first come first serve as far as tickets at the door. It will be a night to peel the paint off of the walls for sure!

"If all goes well with that in the set, we will continue doing it onto our tour in Europe that starts next week that includes the Rock Hard Festival and Sweden Rock! What we hope to accomplish on this run of shows is to kind of, close the book on just the past and move into the future with a great sense of what made up tick in the first place. Kinda giving all we have to the fans who let us come back into their lives again after being gone for so long.

"It's been made clear to us recently that ticket sales are down for most everyone throughout the world because of the economy. We understand this and feel very fortunate to still have as many people that have been showing up to our gigs and supporting our trip back into the metal community. It's an honor that we don't take lightly.

"By us playing almost everything that got our foot in the door in the first place, hopefully our fans will feel the admiration we have towards them. We respect the past immensely and cherish that we have a chance to make a future with new recordings and music.

"Thanks to all of you that have welcomed us back and we hope you come out and share our enthusiasm and gratitude. See you all 'out there!'"

Upcoming FORBIDDEN shows:

May 22 - Pacifica, CA - Octopus Lounge
May 23 - Santa Rosa, CA - Last Day Saloon
May 24 - Sparks/Reno, NV - New Oasis
May 29 - Uden, Netherlands - De Pul
May 30 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Rock Hard Festival
Jun. 01 - London, UK - Underworld
Jun. 03 - Vosselaar, Belgium - Biebob
Jun. 04 - Hellendoorn, Netherlands - De Lantaarn
Jun. 06 - Sölvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival

The band's last studio LP, "Green", was released in 1997 on the G.U.N. label.

For more information, visit the band's official MySpace page.

Professionally filmed video footage of FORBIDDEN's June 28, 2008 performance at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium can be viewed below (clip uploaded by YouTube user "Sebastos1").