Rambling prose o' praise aside, God Forbid are back after about a year and a half and "Gone Forever" may just be, uh, gone forever in light of their newest offering: "IV: Constitution of Treason." This thing smokes from start to finish with all the quality you would expect from the mighty God Forbid. If you didn't try 'em out last year, do it now. They've got all the melody, crushing riffs, blazing leads, killer percussion, strong vocals, and pummeling bass that Killswitch Engage and Shadows Fall employ, but something else is in operation here. The aggression is more akin to Lamb of God, though with slightly more melody. Okay, lots more. Regardless, these bands form the "Big Four" of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal (NWOAHM), so put that in your pipe, Metal historians.

Back to the album, "IV: Constitution of Treason" crushes. Ten songs appear in three "Articles" to play out the Constitutional metaphor on this concept album and if you liked the band before, you should like 'em still. If you never heard 'em before, what rock have you been living under and in which hole? Get with the times, junior! God Forbid will abuse your eardrums with a blend of that infamous Gothenburg sound, plentiful Hardcore breakdowns, and boatloads of potent Thrash. Some cleanly sung vocals and piano interludes offer a brief respite from the brutality, but all parts work well together. A more noticeable borrowing of components from labelmates and current tour partners The Haunted can be heard here but that's fine by me. Catch 'em on tour if you can. You will be chuffed.

written by Tony Belcher

Playing time: 49.33