Forbidden Singer Russ Anderson Details Battle with Alcoholism


Forbidden singer Russ Anderson shared a post on social media detailing his battle with drinking and a recent stint in rehab. He posted to the Forbidden Facebook page that he entered a rehabilitation facility six months ago, saying he had hit “rock bottom” after “drinking heavily” most of his life. He also shared that his bandmates Craig Locicero and Mark Hernandez helped him get off the ground from rock bottom and go to rehab. He also mentioned late guitarist Tim Calvert who died in 2019, and Sacred Reich guitarist Jason Rainey, who passed away earlier in 2020. Forbidden’s second album Twisted Into Form (Combat) just turned 30 years old this past week. Russ is one of the greatest singers in Thrash Metal history and the bands’ last album was, 2010’s Omega Wave, released by Nuclear Blast. We wish him the best! Continue reading


Former Forbidden And Nevermore Guitarist Tim Calvert, Dead At Age 52


Sad news as Tim Calvert, who played on essential metal albums for both Forbidden and Nevermore, has passed away at aged 52 from ALS. Tim’s passing was shared on Facebook by his sister Vicky Calvert-Hawkins. Tim played on Forbidden’s Twisted Into Form, Distortion, and Green and Nevermore’s Dreaming Neon Black. Following a career in music Calvert served as a Pilot for United Airlines. We send out condolences to Tim’s family, friends and fans at this time. Continue reading


Josh Middleton (SYLOSIS): My Top 5 (Non “Big 4”) Thrash Albums


image003

To celebrate the upcoming release of dark, progressive thrash opus Dormant Heart (Nuclear Blast) Josh Middleton of Sylosis spoke of his love of Thrash, including his Top 5 (non-Big 4) Thrash albums…

In no particular order (except the first one, apparently):

 

SEPULTURA ‘Arise’ (Roadrunner)

016861876326

After upping the ante in a serious way with the seminal Beneath The Remains Max Cavalera and crew cemented their place in the annals with one of the heaviest and one of the best slabs of thrash known to man, beast or beyond. Produced by the legendary Scott Burns at Morrisound, Brazil’s greatest musical export refined their delivery while maintaining the aggression, with an album chock full of anthems from ‘Dead Embryonic Cells’ and its neck-snapping groove, to the epic ‘Desperate Cry’ and the crunching pace of closer ‘Infected Voice’, while the opening title track boasts one of the greatest heavy riffs of the last forty years and is a bone-fide extreme anthem. A genuine Death/Thrash classic.

 

VIO-LENCE ‘Oppressing The Masses’ (Megaforce)

oppressing-the-masses-51edc7d307a0d

There’s a certain writing team currently topping the metal charts (and coming in third in Ghost Cult‘s Albums of the Year 2014), a writing team that includes Messrs Philip Demmell and Robert Flynn. Back in 1990, Machine Head‘s creative force were cutting not just their teeth, but an album of jagged thrash intent with no lack of cerebral content, from stomping tour-de-force ‘I, Profit’ to closing title-track, more of a traditional thrasher operating in the Overkill ball park, replete with Sean Killian‘s Blitz-deranged vocals.

 

FORBIDDEN ‘Twisted Into Form’ (Combat/Relativity)

54320

Another band that operated as a stepping stone for some of its’ members, with drummer Paul Bostaph to move on to Slayer and Testament and highly-regarded guitar-wizard Tim Calvert to later join Nevermore for their defining album Dreaming Neon Black (Century Media). Twisted Into Form was the San Franciscan’s second opus, and with Calvert joining (at the expense of Glen Alvelias, who himself was later to also join Testament), saw a more melodic, technical and progressive approach to the debut.

 

 

HEATHEN ‘Victim of Deception’ (Roadrunner)

0016861933104_600

Another early 90’s great, “This is pretty much …And Justice For All Part 2!” states Middleton. Along with the Vio-lence and Forbidden selections, this is another sophomore album that saw a band at the top of its game really define their sound second time around. Widely regarded as one of the most technical thrash albums, Victim… is renowned for its many complex structures, time changes and guitar work, retaining little of the NWOBHM influence exhibited on their debut. Coming in at over an hour, with the majority of its tracks over six minutes in length, Heathen made a statement that thrash could be complicated and could be progressive.

 

TESTAMENT ‘First Strike Still Deadly’ (Spitfire)

76634bf23bc6973975986a040077b98c_full

“I haven’t had any Testament yet… and, you know what, I know it’s a cop out, but I really enjoy First Strike Still Deadly. I know it’s effectively a best of, but I like it.”

Featuring guest appearances from original vocalist/Exodus screamer Steve “Zetro” Sousa and Joey Tempesta, who had sat on the drum stool at various points in Testament’s career, as well as Alex Skolnick returning for the first time since 1992’s The Ritual, this compilation of re-recordings was Steve Di Giorgio‘s last with the band. Comprising of tracks from their classic first two albums, The Legacy and The New Order (Atlantic/Megaforce) and old demo track ‘Reign of Terror’, this was the start of the re-recording trend and has been widely panned by critics, which seems harsh as the tracks are, still, incredible. Besides, at least one person (Mr Middleton) likes it… Here at Ghost Cult we support First Strike… but would recommend getting hold of the first two Testament albums, if you don’t already own them. You can pick up pretty much every Testament release while you’re at it, too…

 

 

Words by STEVE TOVEY