Combining creative conceptualization with expert metallic instrumentation, New Jersey’s God Forbid brought an arena-caliber show to the cozy confines of the Whisky-a-Go-Go on Wed., Jan. 24, capping an eight-band barrage that energized enthusiasts and rattled rafters. Touching down in L.A. on their nationwide “Chains of Humanity” tour, the Century Media artists pumped the house with the focused force that continues to make them such potent players in the modern metal market.
Whisky visitors with a taste for all that’s hard, fast and loud certainly got their money’s worth with the lineup provided for the God Forbid show. The core confederation of bands accompanying GF for much of the “Chains” tour consisted of Goatwhore, Mnemic, The Human Abstract, and Arsis, which would seem to provide sufficient substance for most metal-heads. But the Whisky gig was supplemented with sets from Aten, Amyst Darkness, and Sangre, thereby adding up to an octet of high-octane rock band bedlam.
In a chat before the show, guitarist Doc Coyle spoke of the musical-family roots that nurtured him and his guitar-playing brother, Dallas. In contrast to his brother’s somewhat shaggy appearance, Doc had a clean-cut look that was reminiscent of actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and like Johnson, Doc was well-informed and well-spoken, as he discussed the various influences contributing to God Forbid’s heavy sound. It was interesting to learn that the Coyles’ father is a teacher of piano and music, and has in fact 
contributed keyboard support on a studio track, “The Lonely Dead.”
All Access Magazine pointed out that the current “Chains of Humanity” tour appeared to have been going on for quite a while, noting that the tour title comes from a track on 2005’s “IV: Constitution of Treason” disk. Doc explained that the album was in fact a very late 2005 release, so he and his bandmates were basically just dealing with one full year of touring – not too excessive, all things considered.
When asked about the range of audience sizes the band has played in front of, Doc observed that some God Forbid has played to some of their biggest crowds ever at the Ozzfest, which of course features a cast of thousands, but when he was asked if a slot on the Ozzfest lineup was in the works for this year, he said no. Doc stated that the Chains of Humanity tour would be coming to a close by the end of February, and work would be in progress for a new DVD, scheduled for release sometime in late summer of this year, at which point production could possibly commence on a new studio release. When asked whether the band might be considering another concept album, Doc said that it wasn’t out of the question, but he indicated that such decisions could still be a long way off. He made clear that he and Dallas and the whole band place a great premium on continuing to evolve and improve as writers, composers and performers, making it clear that no matter what might be forthcoming from God Forbid in the future, fans can expect it to be good.
The evening’s boatload of headbanging began early, with Aten, a quartet of screamers from El Centro, kicking things off while the Whisky was still filling up. The floor-crowd was still sparse, and it seemed that the would-be moshers on hand didn’t yet have the critical mass necessary to generate a pit. Next up was Sunland’s Amyst Darkness, who had somewhat better success with their ominous, keyboard-accented sound, as nodding heads led to busy bodies, and the vibe stayed strong 
with Inland Empire fave shredders Sangre, who got the horde hopping and bopping with songs such as “Thinning the Herd.” Then, all the way from Virginia, up stepped Arsis, a band claiming the “melodic death metal” genre, which was delivered as advertised, from the moment the taped symphonic intro turned into a scream from Celtic-cross-tattooed guitarist James Malone. L.A.’s The Human Abstract followed Arsis with a similar intro, supplemented with tympani drums and strobe-lights, but took a somewhat less aggro tack in their set, giving the moshers a break until the great Danes in Mnemic stirred things up, paving the way for their successors, the category-of-one band from Louisiana known as Goatwhore. The raging Cajuns paraded their dark prowess in studded leather, spurring a sea of “devil-horn” hand-signs from the crowd, ensuring that a high level of energy remained for the headliners.
God Forbid came on amid streaming mist and blazing spotlights, with their big banner unfurled above the stage. Singer Byron Davis stepped to the forefront in a black Draven t-shirt, his long dreadlocks flowing free around his back and shoulders. He asked the audience, “What are we waiting for?” – and the band burst into “Force-Fed,” one of their many articulate metallic tirades in advocacy of free thought. God Forbid is a thinking person’s band, and of course much of the set focused on the thought-provoking content of their conceptual “Constitution of Treason” release.
Brothers Doc and Dallas Coyle played with potent precision, sometimes executing twin leads before letting Doc fly solo. Black-clad bassist John Outcalt stayed steadily intent on his playing, laying down rock-solid rhythms in conjunction with bearded drummer Corey Pierce. Byron continued to give his all to the audience, pressing the flesh, giving high-fives all the way down the front-line
of the stage. When he said, “I want to see movement, all throughout this place,” he got it, even in the rafters, where heads nodded and fists pumped. An approving roar erupted when Byron announced, “This one goes out for Dimebag Darrell – and also to the soldiers,” which provided the perfect tie-in for “To the Fallen Hero.” “The End of the World” made a fitting follow-up, beginning with a middle-Eastern-sounding melody, similar to the Doors’ “The End.” But the real end came after the final brain-stirring song, “Crucify Your Beliefs,” performed in ear-ringing earnestness by a band that gripped the groove like a bone it didn’t want to let go. Letting go can be hard, but by time God Forbid left the stage at last, the audience had certainly received full value from the evening’s high-decibel deliveries, perhaps leaving some rockers thinking, “God forbid that God Forbid should ever relent!”
