Forté

Forté is an American metal band from Oklahoma City, active from 1987 to the present. The group works in thrash metal and related power metal and speed metal styles.

Early releases and lineup

The band first appears with the 1990 demo tape Dementia By Design. It then signs to Germany’s Massacre Records for its debut album, Stranger Than Fiction, released in 1992. That line-up includes singer James Randell, guitarist Jeff Scott, bassist Ghames “Reverend” Jones and drummer Greg Scott. Jones also has experience as a touring bassist with Gammacide.

Albums and personnel changes

In 1994, Forté releases Division, by which point vocals are handled by Bill Dollins, another former Legioned Marcher member. The album includes a cover of Accept’s “Fast As A Shark”. A further line-up shift follows for 1997’s Destructive, which features vocalist David Thompson and bassist Richard Sharp.

The band later stabilises its line-up and records Rise Above in 1999. After this period, it parts ways with Massacre Records. Original singer James Randell returns in November 1999 to record a cover of Queensrÿche’s “Prophecy” for a Frontiers Records tribute album released in 2000.

Live activity and touring

Forté tours with a number of major metal acts, including Dream Theater, Pantera, Overkill, Sepultura, Savatage, Watchtower and Flotsam & Jetsam. After Destructive, the band also supports Testament, King Diamond, Exodus, Machine Head, Saxon and Skinlab. The Rise Above period includes an appearance at the Powermad festival and touring with Death, Testament, HammerFall and Manowar.

Later line-up

In January 2002, the band announces a new line-up that includes Dream Kings vocalist Kevin Valliquette and bassist Greg Nicholson alongside the Scott brothers. Under this configuration, Forté works on a new studio album projected for release in early 2003.

Related projects

Former members continue in other metal projects. Jones joins Black Symphony in 1997 and later appears in the Michael Schenker Group on Be Aware Of Scorpions in 2001. Richard Sharp and Greg Nicholson form The Kill in 2003 with Valliquette and drummer Ezra Darrow. Jones later plays live with Fuel and starts Barney Fifer in 2005.