FORBIDDEN — Twisted Into Form (review)

FORBIDDEN — Twisted Into Form album cover

Album · 1990 · Thrash Metal

4.5/5 · 2017-10-13
UMUR

"Twisted Into Form" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US, San Francisco, California based thrash metal act Forbidden. The album was released through Combat Records in March 1990. The band was formed under the Forbidden Evil monicker in 1985 as was an active part of the Bay Area thrash metal scene of the 80s (featuring in those days Rob Flynn from Machine Head on guitars), releasing several demos and playing quite a few live shows, before changing their name to Forbidden in 1987 shortly before recording their debut full-length studio album "Forbidden Evil (1988)". While Forbidden are often mentioned as an influential and important part of the 80s Bay Area thrash metal scene, they were one of the acts from those days, along with contemporaries like Exodus and Heathen, which never broke through to a mainstream metal audience, and probably as a consequence folded in 1997.

The music on "Twisted Into Form" is a technically well played and often melodic US thrash metal style. Compared to the band´s debut album "Forbidden Evil (1988)", the music on "Twisted Into Form" is slightly more sophisticated and at times (seldom) even touches semi-progressive territories. The focus on aggression and technically skilled playing hasn´t changed since the debut, but Forbidden have simply become better songwriters with more adventurous ideas.

The 9 track, 41:09 minutes long album is loaded with brilliant and cleverly written thrash metal tracks, featuring raw thrashy (yet sophisticated) riffing, melodic guitar solos, a rhythmically challenging rhythm section, and Russ Anderson´s skillfully executed vocals in front. He is a very talented vocalist, able to sing both raw staccato type thrash metal vocals, and higher pitched melodic ditto. There´s an edge to the delivery at all times though, so this is not pop oriented clean singing. The most valid reference I can come up with is Sanctuary/Nevermore even though Forbidden are generally more thrash metal oriented. But there is also that link to the most raw US power/thrash which the two mentioned artists deliver featured on "Twisted Into Form".

While the video track "Step by Step" is probably the most well known track from the album (and featuring some really heavy thrashy riffing and a memorable punchy chorus, deserves to be just that), there are many other great tracks on the album and it is one of those albums where the diversity between and within tracks makes the album a great listen throughout. The sound production is also clear, powerful, and raw, which suits the music perfectly and overall "Twisted Into Form" is a professional, and for the genre quite adventurous sounding release from start to finish. A 4.5 star (90%) rating is deserved.

more than 2 years ago
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Vim Fuego wrote:

more than 2 years ago

For me this one came across as a bit of the old second album blues. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it, but it just wasn't as good as the debut, and it's hard to put a finger on the exact problem.