Earthsblood Review

Release Date: Feb 17, 2009
Label: Century Media
Genres: Thrash metal, metalcore
Number Of Tracks: 10
New Jersey quintet finally makes the album their talent always promised but never delivered. This is Swedish influenced death metal done right.

Sound:	8
Lyrics:	7
Impression:	8
Overall rating:	7.7
Users rating:	8.5
Comments:	34

overall: 7.7

Reviewed by: UG Team, on february 26, 2009

Sound: Like many other American metal acts that sprouted up from the underground in the last decade, God Forbid has fully embraced the sound of Swedish death metal. The New Jersey quintet’s four previous full-lengths have helped build them a respectable following throughout the world. Their potent mix of twin-guitars, driving drum patterns, and air-tight rhythms has always shown of a band with formidable playing chops. That said their earlier albums never fully delivered on the promise that their musicianship obviously had been hinting at. Their brand new effort, Earthsblood, is another animal all together. God Forbid not only arrives with the strongest material of their career, they also do it with a fluidity that makes it all look easy as cake. Siblings Doc and Dallas Coyle bounce one relentless riff after the other off each other like a true guitar duo should. They never seem to run out of interesting parts to play but more importantly, every new guitar riff complements the other. This is the kind of assured songwriting that usually comes with years of experience and the band come off like veterans. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: Frontman Byron Davis has a screechy vocal delivery but he manages to maintain a clarity that serves the band’s striking lyrics well. While he maintains this type of attack for most of Earthsblood, he also introduces a lot more melody through the use of cleaner vocals in sections. Sure, he’s far from the first person to go with this kind of approach in modern metal, but the way he adorns certain songs is a revelation. The vocals were produced by Fear Factory’s Christian Olde Wolbers and hiring a separate set of ears to work on this aspect of the group’s sound has paid off. The way Wolbers’s captures Davis’s chameleon-like performance is one of Earthsblood’s best attributes. We wouldn’t be surprised if the band elects to go with even more of the unaffected vocal style on their next album because Davis proves he has the skill to lead them in that direction. // 7

Impression: Dallas Coyle has been talking up Earthsblood in the press for months so expectations were rightfully high. Like a classic thrash release from the 80’s, God Forbid opens the album with a gorgeous instrumental. “The Discovery” was orchestrated by Michael Romeo, from progressive metal greats Symphony X, and features piano by Kevin Coyle (Dallas and Doc’s father). The album then continues with the sprawling melodic death assault of “The Rain” which sets the tone for the remainder of Earthsblood. The track is jam-packed with icicle-sharp guitar riffs, shifting tempos, and Corey Pierce’s thunderous drumming which brings to mind the work of Nick Barker (Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir). Not only do these songs find the band firing on all creative cylinders, there are also some daring experiments on the album. “The New Clear” is the kind of thing you wouldn’t have seen God Forbid even trying to attempt on their earlier full-lengths. The song has a tribal rhythm running beneath it during the first section with Davis caressing it with a Mike Patton styled vocal. The song then unravels in a completely harsher direction revealing a wall of guitars and acidic vocals ending everything in epic fashion. Thrilling moments like this are all over the place on Earthsblood. It might have taken God Forbid five albums to find their footing but when the outcome is this strong, we can’t complain too much. // 8

- Carlos Ramirez (c) 2009

Comments

[grille]

Frist post.

And i can say the album wasent bad. but i hoped for more!

[manulus2002]

it was okay

[Metal Onslaught]

I enjoy this album quite a bit. The riffing is top notch, and the solos are plenty. There are a few riffs which i foud to be somewhat similar to some of those found on their last album (constitution of Treason), but over all a very solid album. I have been waiting for this one since the release of their last effort, and I am not in anyway disappointed. I con only see these guys getting better from here. If you are a guitar player and want to learn some cool riffs that aren't going to be over the top with difficulty, there are a bunch on this album which are worth knowing. I recommend giving this one a listen! 8/10 (oh yeah, it's much better than the new LoG IMO...that shit was disappointing)

[IRONMAIDENTLICA]

i agree this was better than Wrath, although i didnt think it would be, dont get me wrong wrath was awesome but i think i just hold Lamb of God to a higher standard, i expected ok things from God Forbid and was very pleasantly surprised with this cd, i think they can still improve, and will improve, id keep an eye on this band

[metal4ever6328]

Metal as Fuck!!

[postmortem2006]

Note to UG - Stop calling this thrash!!

[GaijinFoot]

I must say I do like God Forbid. great live band as well. Haven't checkout out their stuff for a long time. what album was before this? I have Constitute of Treason.

[metal4ever6328]

I would check out Gone Forever, I love that album!

[ShredGodsUnite]

The review is spot on. I also wish they would lay off the death metal vocals a bit more next time out. Solid release and it's growing on me more with time.

[mosh_rocker2006]

I just have to say...why the hell do people have to say they're the first post?! Do you get something out of it? Does it make your day knowing you came first in something. Please stop..it's pathetic

[deadlights]

It also sucks when you're the #1 post and you spell "first" wrong. Fail!

[RazorbackCody]

haha, good point, i have high hopes for these guys, their shits sick

[Metal Onslaught]

postmortem2006 wrote:
Note to UG - Stop calling this thrash!!

I think the genre label of "Thrash" is in part accurate. there are a lot of thrashy elements in this band's style. it might not be total thrash, but the thrash influence is quite obvious.

[jetfuel495]

Cool. I didn't really like them before, but maybe I'll give this a spin.

[nido]

review wise the album should be excellent,, buying it now..

Ive always kept albums like determination and gone forever very close to my heart.hopefully they havent wandered off too far.

[dan1985smith]

I need to request the reviewer. I have opened for God Forbid with my band AblicK and can tell you that Davis does very little singing, he mainly just screams. Doc and Dallas are the ones who do all the singing and melodies. If you watch their DVD you will see that as well.

[Sgt Killswitch]

Definitely their best album so far. They took a dare with an instrumental intro, some ballads, and 5 songs over 6 minutes long. The result was awesome. I believe that they've matured musically. Plus I've always loved this band because they're comprised of mostly black musicians. In my opinion, Earthsblood > Wrath.

By the way, I'm pretty sure that's Dallas doing the melody parts, not Byron.

[Eternium]

And to think this awesome band is going to be touring with Lamb of God (and As I Lay Dying and Children of Bodom). That will be an amazing show.

[metal_666_man]

Eternium wrote:

And to think this awesome band is going to be touring with Lamb of God (and As I Lay Dying and Children of Bodom). That will be an amazing show.

YES THEY ARE AND IM SEEING LAMB OF GOD, AS I LAY DYING, GOD FORBID AND MUNICIPAL WASTE!!!!!, COB decided to skip the show in my town

[AXE187]

I wonder if this interviewer knows anything at all about metal.

I see no swedish death metal or melodeath influence at all in god forbid. They are more akin to bands like As I lay Dying, All that remains or Unearth.

The Constitution of Treason was an absolutely amazing album. Riff after riff.

This album totally falls short of even coming close to touching Constitution.

There is maybe 3 good riffs on this album, sandwiched between many forgettables and an abundance of really lame vocals. Byron Davis is made to take a back seat in this album to pave the way for a more commercial sound that the clean vocalist (can't remember which cole it is) doesnt have the chops to back up.

Bands like Soilwork and Trivium and a few others can get away with using a lot of clean vocals because they have pretty good singers who write pretty good melodies. God forbid seemed to be aware of their inability in this field on their previous releases and subsequently used clean vocals more sparsely, so that when they did use them the melodies/lyrics were appropriate.
But in this release never is my point better made than in Bat the Angels Out the Sky. This song has major potential. Awesome riffs in places. But it is utterly ruined by some of the lamest vocals ever. "We bat the angel's out the skyyyyy,..... skyyyyy." That is so lame words cant describe.

Anyway I am seeing them with C O B and L O G and A I L D. I hope they play the Constitution of Treason classics that I will listen to for the rest of my life.

[boyan89]

They have a new album? Why didn't I hear of this?

[HagstromSpeed]

lol ^ "The rest of my life," seriously...? Classics? C'mon bro..

[Lohnanmilitia]

Ill have to get this!

[Bob.Loblaw]

I need to request the reviewer. I have opened for God Forbid with my band AblicK and can tell you that Davis does very little singing, he mainly just screams. Doc and Dallas are the ones who do all the singing and melodies. If you watch their DVD you will see that as well.

I like the subliminal pugging of your band! I just might check it out; both that is.

[Bob.Loblaw]

dan1985smith :
I need to request the reviewer. I have opened for God Forbid with my band AblicK and can tell you that Davis does very little singing, he mainly just screams. Doc and Dallas are the ones who do all the singing and melodies. If you watch their DVD you will see that as well.

Nice subliminal pugging of your band! I just might check it out ; both bands that is.

[devilex121]

postmortem2006 wrote:

Note to UG - Stop calling this thrash!!

true
this is NOT thrash!
doesnt mean i hate this record though
i love swedish death metal!

[aznrockerdude]

It's pretty cool to see them incorporate some Meshuggah/Tool/Gojira influences there.

[metallica2354]

if your gonna say your the first post.... at least spell it right....

[metallica2354]

on topic i just discovered this band and i love their sound! love the riffs and the overall feel of their music

[dan1985smith]

Bob.Loblaw wrote:

dan1985smith :
I need to request the reviewer. I have opened for God Forbid with my band AblicK and can tell you that Davis does very little singing, he mainly just screams. Doc and Dallas are the ones who do all the singing and melodies. If you watch their DVD you will see that as well.

Nice subliminal pugging of your band! I just might check it out ; both bands that is.

I was hoping somebody would catch on to that.

[mtllica]

I love this album, especially the songs "The Rain", "Empire of the Gun", "Walk Alone", and "Earthsblood"
goddamn awesome album!

[GoToSleep]

It's pretty good, just as good as their last. Best songs: The Rain, War of Attrition, The New Clear, Bat The Angels, and Earthsblood.

[stevo_92]

Damn this is amazing stuff. I thought these guys were just gonna be a random crappy band opening for LoG, CoB, and As I Lay Dying, but this is turning out to be the sweetest lineup I've ever seen!

[mlceltic]

RazorbackCody wrote:

haha, good point, i have high hopes for these guys, their shits sick

what do you mean hope for them ? as if they aren't already massive ?

gone forever and constitution of treason were both critically acclaimed.