  
Here’s a band that’s been sliding
under the radar for a few years now, since I saw
them supporting Ill Nino on their UK tour in March
2009 promoting their 5th studio album “Earthsblood”
I haven’t heard or seen anything of them,
not even in the press. All of a sudden I get an
email with this new album attached to it and I’m
bewildered because I’ve seen absolutely
no advertising for it.
Speaking of “Earthsblood”, that album
was a major hit and miss with me; songs like “Rain”,
“War of Attrition”, “Bat the
Angels”, “Walk Alone” and “Empire
of the Gun” are still to this day some of
my all time favourite songs where as the rest
didn’t even give me a wiggle down there
if you catch my drift. “Equilibrium”
though I’ve felt from the very start a real
instant connection with, even on the first listen
I had a persistent boner that wouldn’t let
up, they’ve brought back musical elements
from the band they used to be but kept the distinctive
almost tribal feel that they explored on “Earthsblood”,
that’s what’s exciting me.
They used to be really dark heavy as hell metalcore
band but on the last release really lost some
of their roots as they favoured this more sinister
tribal feel, it was definitely a much more distinctive
style but judging by their decline in popularity
obviously people were disappointed with it. If
you were one of those people I suggest you give
them another chance; “Don’t Tell Me
What to Dream” kicks us off the way it should
always have been, thick bass and guitar tone which
keeps the sinister edge but also makes the song
that much heavier, the chorus as well is catchy
with memorable lyrics but most of all the placement
of random fills and slick techniques makes everything
that much more interesting to listen to its unreal.
I think what they were trying to drag themselves
away from being that generic metal band so they
opted to explore use of more melodic techniques
and tones but went a bit overboard at times previously,
with the title track “Equilibrium”
and “Overcome” they’ve nailed
the balance perfectly with those infectious melodies
and lyrics entwined perfectly around that dark
metal base, “Scraping the Walls” and
“Pages” as well are the perfect blend,
there aren’t really any down beat songs
other than the instrumental track “Awakening”
which they keep entertaining by showing off their
musical talents. This album proves that God Forbid
will not lay down and die, they’ve learnt
from their mistakes and have rose from the ashes
of their former selves on top form hoping to once
again take the world by storm, with this new material
added to their string on classic metal tracks
you can’t help but believe they’ll
accomplish it too.
4.5/5
Review by James Webb
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