FORBIDDEN: 'We Are Extremely Excited About STEVE SMYTH Joining Us For Our Newest Chapter'

As BLABBERMOUTH.NETfirst reported on January 9, reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrashers FORBIDDEN have now officially confirmed that they have parted ways with guitarist Glen Alvelais and have replaced him with Steve Smyth (TESTAMENT, NEVERMORE).

Commented the group in a statement: "Throughout the years, FORBIDDEN has had many great players contributing to the music. In 2008 we came together for the first time in 12 years for a short reunion tour that included Russ Anderson on vocals, Craig Locicero and Glen Alvalais on guitar, Matt Camacho on bass, Mark Hernandez and the great Gene Hoglan on drums. Even [original FORBIDDEN drummer] Paul Bostaph [formerly of SLAYER and EXODUS; now in TESTAMENT] sat in for three shows. Of course, we will never forget all of the amazing work that [former FORBIDDEN members] Tim Calvert [guitar] and Steve Jacobs [drums] brought to the table even though they could not be a part of this reunion. Everyone was equally invaluable through out the history of FORBIDDEN, though the core of the band on every record has always been Russ, Matt and Craig.

"After the shows were completed in 2008, four of us were motivated and inspired enough to start working together closely and create music once again. A conscious decision was made to continue moving forward and write a new FORBIDDEN album, our first in 13 years! After many conversations and soul-searching we decided on the following lineup to accomplish this...

"We would like to proudly announce that the lineup for this album and all of our upcoming shows are Russ Anderson, Craig Locicero, Steve Smyth, Matt Camacho, and Mark Hernandez. That being said, the reunion is now over and the future of FORBIDDEN has begun. Mark and Steve are officially members of FORBIDDEN!

"We are extremely excited about Steve Smyth joining us for our newest chapter! Steve has been jamming and writing with us already and is a perfect complement to the new material. The chemistry between the five of us has been a real inspiration, Steve is just the fresh blood we needed to carry out such an endeavor. Yes, the new material will be what you would want and expect with more then a few surprises. It will absolutely be FORBIDDEN.... evil and twisted!!! Not far down the road, new music will do our talking."

Steve Smyth (pictured below) said of his addition to the FORBIDDEN lineup: "I am very happy to have been invited to join FORBIDDEN! Having been a longtime fan of the band, it's great to have been presented the opportunity to perform with them, like at the Thrash of the Titans show in 2001. I look forward to touring in the near future with Craig, Matt, Russ and Mark, and also to have a hand in the creation of a new album with such a talented and creative bunch of individuals. Let's tear it up!"

FORBIDDEN's new drummer, Mark Hernandez, has previously played with HEATHEN, DEFIANCE, RE:IGNITION, VIO-LENCE, TORQUE, TECHNOCRACY and SOCIAL UNREST.

The band's last studio LP, "Green", was released in 1997 on the G.U.N. label.

For more information, visit the band's official MySpace page.

Professionally filmed video footage of FORBIDDEN's June 28, 2008 performance at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium can be viewed below (clip uploaded by YouTube user "Sebastos1").