Watch: Reunited GOD FORBID Plays First Show In More Than Nine Years

September 11, 2022

New Jersey melodic thrash-metal warriors GOD FORBID performed at this year's Blue Ridge Rock Festival last night (Saturday, September 10) at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia. The show marked GOD FORBID's first live appearance in over nine years.

GOD FORBID's lineup for the concert included Doc Coyle (guitar),Byron Davis (vocals),Corey Pierce (drums) and John "Beeker" Outcalt (bass),along with Nick Hipa (guitar; ex-AS I LAY DYING),who joined the group in July.

GOD FORBID officially called it quits in August 2013 following Doc's departure.

This past May, Doc told the "Drinks With Johnny" podcast that he didn't rule out putting out new music with GOD FORBID.

"I was kind of the main kind of riff writer [and] songwriter for the band for a good portion of those last few records," he explained. "So me as a writer, there's always stuff [I'm working on that] I'm, like, 'That sounds like a GOD FORBID thing.' So there's always stuff that I'll just kind of put to the side or kind of [have] in the back of my [head] that theoretically could be that. So there's definitely some material that definitely could exist, but I am very much taking it one step at a time.

"I have a tendency to have a lot of big ideas and go [down] a lot of rabbit holes [in] my head, but unfortunately — not even unfortunately — you want to make sure everyone's a part of that, not just it's my little kind of… Sometimes I get all hyped up in my head, but it's. like, it takes a village, and everyone has to be on board," he continued. "It's important to make sure everyone is excited about anything you're doing; that's just very, very important to me.

"I really enjoy the band dynamic and having everyone be involved and be excited about stuff because I really believe in the synergy of that. I think GOD FORBID was one of those bands where the sum was better than the parts, that everyone together made something that outpaced our actual talent and ability, you know, because of the chemistry."

GOD FORBID's latest album, "Equilibrium", was released in March 2012 via Victory Records. The bulk of the CD was recorded by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM),with Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER) stepping in during the the vocal-tracking stage. The effort was mixed by acclaimed Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who previously worked with such acts as KATATONIA, OPETH, PARADISE LOST and AMON AMARTH.

"Equilibrium" sold 3,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 156 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at No. 7 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

God Forbid what an amazing show. Thank you so much for blessing us with your talent once again. I hope to see more of you in the future. And special thanks to #blueridgerockfestival for bringing us amazing talent like these guys. Having a blast this weekend.

Posted by Ashley Taylor on Saturday, September 10, 2022

God Forbid 2022. Today is the day.

Photo by Subharmonic City Productions

Posted by God Forbid on Saturday, September 10, 2022

First full God Forbid rehearsal in 9 years. Getting these tunes tiiiiiight for Blue Ridge Rock Festival on Saturday. We hope you are all ready for this reunion. We are making history 🤘🤘🤘🤘

Posted by God Forbid on Thursday, September 8, 2022

Bad Wolves rolled through El Paso, TX last night and Doc Coyle and Byron got to catch up. We figured we’d give a little update before this reunion show.

Posted by God Forbid on Sunday, August 28, 2022

Doc Coyle and Nick Hipa ripping some “Anti-Hero”. Practice makes perfect.

Posted by God Forbid on Friday, July 22, 2022

Doc Coyle and Nick Hipa getting these riffs tight for Blue Ridge Rock Festival.

#GodForbid #reunionshow #asilaydying #doccoyle #nickhipa

Posted by God Forbid on Friday, August 19, 2022

Byron Davis is putting In work to get that voice ready for Blue Ridge Rock Festival 🤘

Posted by God Forbid on Tuesday, May 31, 2022

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