GOD FORBID - Interview by Dave Wolff - Music - http://maxpages.com/aeazine/GOD

What initially led to the formation of God Forbid? Where is the band based and when you first got together to write songs how well did your ideas speak to one another?
My brother and I who both played guitar met our current singer and drummer through a mutual friend. We sucked for a long time under a couple different names. I really don't count those years as the same band. God Forbid didn't start until our bass player Beeker joined in 1997. We changed the name to God forbid shortly after. We're from New Brunswick, NJ. As far as the writing process is concerned, Corey, the drummer, Dallas, and I write 90% of the material. It didn't start easy, but we've grown into each others styles. Writing is weird. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's impossible. Beeker and Byron write all of their parts, and help alot in finishing songs.

How does God Forbid go about composing material?
Writing for us usually starts out as a jam session. Someone comes to practice with a riff, or we come up with something on the spot. Writing for Determination was hard as hell. We'd written 2 albums back to back with no break. It was tough.

Which recording artists would you cite as direct influences, and do you plan to develop this influence on your own terms?
Big influences for us have been At The Gates, Meshuggah, Mettalica, Carcass, Pantera, Morbid Angel, a band from NJ called For The Love Of... who broke up a couple years ago, Sepultura, Megadeth. Anthrax, and many others. The fact is that we love playing metal that is diverse. We like melody, heaviness, speed, groove. All of our influences our evident, but you can't say we sound like any one band.

Which part of the metal scene do you seek to break into?
We plan to break into all realms of metal and hardcore. I think any fan of heavy music can find something they like in our music.

How many releases do God Forbid have out altogether?
We have an EP called Out of Misery. An LP called Reject the Sickness, and a new LP on Century Media called Determination.

Have the band been progressing the way you envisioned so far or would you like to progress further?
I'd always hoped to do what we're doing, but that fact that we're a full time touring band, and getting pushed by century media is unreal. At the same time, I feel like we deserve it because we work so hard.

You've played live with bands like the Bad Brains and Sick of It All. Are you generally more popular within the hardcore scene? Would you prefer to cross over into other scenes in addition to those who have already received you?
We are more popular in the hardcore scene now because that is the only exposure we've had. In NJ, it is really hard to get good metal shows. There was always package tours and you'd have to sell tickets. The hardcore scene allowed us to play regularly. We're a metal band, but we feel like anyone can get into us. Right now we're on tour with Nevermore and Opeth which is 100% metal heads, and we seem to be going over very well. If a guy is just into Iced Earth and power metal, than they might not like us but most people seem to dig it.

Describe your latest effort on Century Media, Determination.In what ways do the album title reflect the current mind-set of the band?
Determination is a thrash record. A more updated sound from traditional thrash metal, but it was the album we wanted to make. It's very heavy, and melodic. Definitely not boring.

What sort of subject matter do the band tackle on this release?
Byron's lyrics are personal. He often writes about loss, and lost love, but he also writes about his inner will to succeed. That's a big reason why the name of the album is Determination.

What is God Forbid's full lineup? My name is Doc and I play lead guitar. Dallas on guitar. Beeker on Bass. Corey on drums. Byron on vocals.

Collectively and as individuals, how much effort do you put into arranging your music? We take a very long time to write songs. We don't like to be rushed, but we also seem to write our best material under pressure. The song Broken Promise was written in 2 practices before we recorded the album.

Does this generally come over well on record, or in what manner would you most like to perfect this?
I honestly don't think that our sound and true heaviness has been captured perfectly on record, but I hope to make that step on the next record.

Are the band making a name for themselves overseas as well as in the States?
We seem to be getting very good press in Europe, and we're touring in England with Stampin Ground in June. Everyone seems to tell me that we have a good buzz over there. We'll see how it goes.

How well are your live performances generally received?
I think we're a good live band whose getting better all the time. We are pretty intense. Sometimes I think we stun people and they don't know what to think. You'd have to see us for your self.

How has the band's official website contributed to God Forbid's popularity? It's helped us get out to a lot of people all over the country. I have no idea what numbers it's helped us sell, but I know in every city we play, a kid tells me he found out about us though the Internet.

In what ways has the Internet had an effect on the metal scene as a whole in your opinion?
It has hurt the metal scene in that it allows alot of spineless punks to talk shit behind their computer, and spread rumors. It's good for new bands because you can get out to a lot of people really quickly. With all these big metal sites. Bands are getting hyped and signed is a few months.

Which bands would you most like to perform live and hang out with in the future? Can you envision this happening at some point?
I'd love to tour with Candiria, Meshuggah, Slayer, Hatebreed, Pantera, In Flames, the Haunted, Soilwork, Testament, Slipknot. And I honestly think all of that can happen. In due time.

Have the press received God Forbid well overall?
I haven't seen one negative review. It's doing very well in the press. Hopefully it'll continue to do well.

Where would you most like to see the band after the next few years?
I'd like to see God Forbid as powerhouse in the metal scene. Bring true metal to the forefront.

Any final remarks?
Just want to thank you for the interview.

GOD FORBID
1801 Willow Ave
Weehawken, NJ 07087
www.godforbid.com

http://www.centurymedia.com

Mazur Public Relations
PO Box 360
East Windsor, NJ 08520 USA
www.mazurpr.com

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Page Updated Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:40pm EDT