Review by Ben for Forbidden - Twisted Into Form (1990)

Forbidden was never the type of band that got me overly excited. That’s not to say that they weren’t great, as they were. But they weren’t highly technical, not all that intense and don’t really do anything that hadn’t been done before. They didn’t really have any absolute classic, standout tracks either in my opinion. But what they were to me is a highly consistent, reliable band that produced two enjoyable thrash metal albums that resemble the slightly better Testament in their prime.

Plain old good song writing is the order of the day here. Overly technical musicianship takes a backseat to catchy choruses and well thought out song structures. Solid performances from all involved, a good production and intelligent lyrics all add up to an entertaining if not amazing album. Highlights for me are R.I.P., Infinite and Step by Step, but it’s all good really. If you like lighter thrash metal bands such as Testament and Metallica, then you’ll almost certainly get into Forbidden’s first two albums. If you prefer your thrash more aggressive like Kreator or Sadus then this may not necessarily be for you.