God Forbid

God Forbid

God Forbid is an American heavy metal group from New Jersey, formed in 1996 and active until 2013. The band plays melodic death metal, metal, metalcore and thrash metal, with a style rooted more firmly in thrash metal than many other metalcore acts.

Formation and early activity

The band begins in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and builds a following in the late 1990s by touring with Cradle of Filth, Nile and Candiria. Its early releases come through 9 Volt Records, and the group develops a reputation on heavy rotation at WSOU-FM in the New York City area.

Albums and label history

God Forbid releases its first full-length album, Reject the Sickness, in 1999. It then signs to Century Media Records and releases Determination in 2001. Gone Forever follows in 2004 and helps raise the band’s profile. In 2005, the group releases IV: Constitution of Treason, a concept album centred on the end of the world. Earthsblood appears in 2009. The band is also associated with 9volt Industries.

Tours and collaborations

The band appears on the MTV2 Headbanger's Ball tour with Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Lamb of God. It also supports Machine Head with Caliban in the UK in 2004, and tours the UK with Trivium, Mendeed and Bloodsimple in 2005 and 2006. To promote Earthsblood, the group tours with August Burns Red, DevilDriver and Anthrax.

Members

The band’s members include Dallas Coyle, Doc Coyle, Byron Davis, John Outcalt, Corey Pierce and Matt Wicklund.