Blab Music
Forbidden Announces 15-Year-Old Return with Self-Titled Album and Psyclops Video
Forbidden, the Bay Area thrash metal pioneers, announced on 22 July 2026 that a new self‑titled album will be released on 23 October 2026 through the BLKIIBLK label. The record is the band’s first full‑length release since 2010 and will be available for pre‑order on the label’s website.
To mark the announcement, Forbidden released the single “Psyclops” and an accompanying music video. Guitarist Craig Locicero described the track as a “hypnotizing stomper” that emerged during the final stages of the album’s writing process. Locicero added that the lyrics, written by vocalist Norman Skinner, are open to interpretation and that the chorus paints a picture of people trapped in complacency.
The album, produced by Locicero, veteran drummer Gene Hoglan and engineer Zach Ohren, runs more than an hour and blends the band’s classic Bay Area thrash roots with progressive elements that reflect the members’ experience over their career. The lineup on the record consists of Skinner (vocals), Locicero (guitar), Matt Camacho (bass) and Chris Kontos (drums). A guest appearance by Brann Dailor of Mastodon appears on the track “Sycophantasy.”
According to the band’s official statement, the production process felt “more like an odyssey than a typical recording process.” The record’s track list is: 1. Single Point Failure 2. Burning The Lungs of Earth 3. Divided By Zero 4. DCLXVI 5. Psyclops 6. Jisei 7. Mutually Assured Dysfunction 8. Sycophantasy 9. The Burden 10. Sol Grave 11. Flower of Life (Chaos By Design)
The album’s release is accompanied by a fall tour that will see Forbidden share the stage with Heathen and Void. The tour schedule, announced on the band’s website, includes 23 October in Las Vegas, 25 October in Salt Lake City, 26 October in Denver, 28 October in Iowa City, 29 October in Minneapolis, 30 October in Chicago, 31 October in Lakewood, 1 November in Pittsburgh, 2 November in Leesburg, 4 November in Worcester, 5 November in Brooklyn, 7 November in Albany, 8 November in Lititz, 9 November in Greensboro, 10 November in Greenville, 12 November in Orlando, 13 November in Atlanta, 15 November in Destin, 17 November in Austin, 18 November in Dallas, 20 November in Albuquerque, 21 November in Tucson, 22 November in Los Angeles.
BLKIIBLK, a metal‑focused imprint launched by Frontiers Records in 2024, has positioned itself as a home for established and emerging heavy‑music acts. The label’s roster includes bands such as Megadeth and Mastodon, and it offers a distribution network that reaches both physical and digital markets.
Gene Hoglan, who co‑produced the album, is a well‑known drummer in the metal community, having played with Dark Angel, Testament, and several other high‑profile projects. His involvement adds a layer of technical credibility to the production.
With the album’s release and the upcoming tour, Forbidden marks a significant return to the scene after a 15‑year gap between full‑length releases. The band’s announcement has been met with interest from fans of the Bay Area thrash legacy and from listeners who followed the group’s earlier work in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The album will be available for streaming and purchase on major platforms starting 23 October, and the tour will continue through November, concluding in Los Angeles. No further releases or side projects have been announced at this time, but the band’s official channels will provide updates as the tour progresses.
To mark the announcement, Forbidden released the single “Psyclops” and an accompanying music video. Guitarist Craig Locicero described the track as a “hypnotizing stomper” that emerged during the final stages of the album’s writing process. Locicero added that the lyrics, written by vocalist Norman Skinner, are open to interpretation and that the chorus paints a picture of people trapped in complacency.
The album, produced by Locicero, veteran drummer Gene Hoglan and engineer Zach Ohren, runs more than an hour and blends the band’s classic Bay Area thrash roots with progressive elements that reflect the members’ experience over their career. The lineup on the record consists of Skinner (vocals), Locicero (guitar), Matt Camacho (bass) and Chris Kontos (drums). A guest appearance by Brann Dailor of Mastodon appears on the track “Sycophantasy.”
According to the band’s official statement, the production process felt “more like an odyssey than a typical recording process.” The record’s track list is: 1. Single Point Failure 2. Burning The Lungs of Earth 3. Divided By Zero 4. DCLXVI 5. Psyclops 6. Jisei 7. Mutually Assured Dysfunction 8. Sycophantasy 9. The Burden 10. Sol Grave 11. Flower of Life (Chaos By Design)
The album’s release is accompanied by a fall tour that will see Forbidden share the stage with Heathen and Void. The tour schedule, announced on the band’s website, includes 23 October in Las Vegas, 25 October in Salt Lake City, 26 October in Denver, 28 October in Iowa City, 29 October in Minneapolis, 30 October in Chicago, 31 October in Lakewood, 1 November in Pittsburgh, 2 November in Leesburg, 4 November in Worcester, 5 November in Brooklyn, 7 November in Albany, 8 November in Lititz, 9 November in Greensboro, 10 November in Greenville, 12 November in Orlando, 13 November in Atlanta, 15 November in Destin, 17 November in Austin, 18 November in Dallas, 20 November in Albuquerque, 21 November in Tucson, 22 November in Los Angeles.
BLKIIBLK, a metal‑focused imprint launched by Frontiers Records in 2024, has positioned itself as a home for established and emerging heavy‑music acts. The label’s roster includes bands such as Megadeth and Mastodon, and it offers a distribution network that reaches both physical and digital markets.
Gene Hoglan, who co‑produced the album, is a well‑known drummer in the metal community, having played with Dark Angel, Testament, and several other high‑profile projects. His involvement adds a layer of technical credibility to the production.
With the album’s release and the upcoming tour, Forbidden marks a significant return to the scene after a 15‑year gap between full‑length releases. The band’s announcement has been met with interest from fans of the Bay Area thrash legacy and from listeners who followed the group’s earlier work in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The album will be available for streaming and purchase on major platforms starting 23 October, and the tour will continue through November, concluding in Los Angeles. No further releases or side projects have been announced at this time, but the band’s official channels will provide updates as the tour progresses.
