God Forbid – Beneath the Scars of Glory and Progression

The only honest black metal band left standing, God Forbid has pieced together a career spanning DVD filmed in their home city of New Jersey. Dubbed Beneath the Scars of Glory and Progression. Fronted by some seducing artwork and a tantalizing set list, on paper it does not look half bad, however some things are left to be desired…

Performance wise, God Forbid prove their pace, power, and the throaty Bryon Davis doesn’t fail to deliver when it comes to making 1+1=2 on the mic. Alas, where the Jersey boys fall short is on the actual stage itself.  Let it be known that a stagnant presence cannot be masked by pretty flashing lights, and for the brothers Coyle, the clean vocal patterns from IV: Constitution of Treason never seemed to make the trip out of the studio and out on to the road.  

The decision to not step outside the box and record a gig outside of their hometown does usher in some questions surrounding their given popularity from coast to coast. Is anywhere but yee ol’ hometown not good enough? Constant allusions to strife and struggle exist outside of the 4 walls of Jersey, and I’m sure even the Canadians would like to have the chance to search for a ‘better day’.

On the positive front, top tunes from Gone Forever and an oldie but goodie from Determination (‘Divide My Destiny’) make the set list cut. Led by the MyGoodEye team, the filming is A+. It’s a thrashy and pretty ‘metal as fuk’ put together DVD. The best piece of adoration must be reserved for the accompanying 2^nd disc, which provides a fans with the true biography of how God Forbid started out, and how they made it to where they are today. It is a humble outlook on band life, and is a worthy addition to this DVD package.

Rating: 6/10
Label: Century Media Records
Website: www.godforbid1.com

(14 votes, average: 2.64 out of 5)

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