FORBIDDEN (Bay Area Thrash Icons! – USA) – Release “Psyclops” Official Music Video via BLKIIBLK Records #forbidden #thrashmetal #bayareathrash #heavymetal
HomeNEWS - PRESS RELEASESFORBIDDEN (Bay Area Thrash Icons! – USA) – Release “Psyclops” Official Music Video via BLKIIBLK Records #forbidden #thrashmetal #bayareathrash #heavymetal
FORBIDDEN (Bay Area Thrash Icons! – USA) – Release “Psyclops” Official Music Video via BLKIIBLK Records #forbidden #thrashmetal #bayareathrash #heavymetal
FORBIDDEN (Bay Area Thrash Icons! – USA 🇺🇸) – Release “Psyclops” Official Music Video – Taken from their upcoming self titled album due out on October 23, 2026 via BLKIIBLK Records #forbidden #thrashmetal #bayareathrash #heavymetal
Forbidden Official Music Video for “Psyclops” taken from their 2026 Self-titled album “Forbidden” available through BLKIIBLK Records.
Release Date: July 22, 2026
Produced by Craig Locicero, Chris Kontos & Zack Ohren
Recorded and mixed by Zack Ohren at Shark Bite Studios
All Lyrics and Music by Forbidden
Directed by:
Chris Kontos
Edited by:
George Anderson
Thrash metal pioneers FORBIDDEN are proud to announce their new self-titled album, set for release on October 23rd via BLKIIBLK, marking the band’s first full-length release since 2010. To celebrate the announcement and offer fans a taste of what to expect, FORBIDDEN unleashes their new single, “Psyclops,” alongside an official video, available below.
About the new single, guitarist Craig Locicero shares:
“‘Psyclops’ was the final song completed for our newest self-titled offering. It was part of the last batch of music completed with Jeremy Von Epp & myself on the home stretch of our writing sessions & it came together quickly. The song itself is a hypnotizing stomper. Heavy footed like millions of people marching against how things stand in the status quo. Norman’s lyrics for ‘Psyclops’ should be left to the interpretation of the listeners. The chorus paints a vivid picture…’Forsaken, fast asleep and trapped inside a maze, Complacent eyes securely locked in an obscure gaze.’”
FORBIDDEN’s legacy is one of being the youngest, hungriest and most ambitious of the Bay Area brethren that has launched metal paradigm-shifters from Metallica to Machine Head. With a reconstituted lineup, guitarist Craig Locicero and bassist Matt Camacho, have crafted an hour-plus masterpiece of thrashy predilection, emotive musical movements, and prog-scraping sonic ambitions. From the intensity of opening track, “Single Point Failure” to the philosophical shades of the 9-minute closer, “Flower of Life,” this is FORBIDDEN not merely stretching beyond the steely foundations of 1988’s classic ‘Forbidden Evil’ or the quantum leap of 1990’s ‘Twisted Into Form,’ but the sound of a band with a new sense of scope and purpose. Produced by Locicero, Kontos & Zach Ohren (Machine Head), ‘Forbidden’ isn’t merely a revival for quintet, but full-blown reinvigoration and purgative endpoint for this Bay Area metal institution.
Locicero comments on the album:
“Making ‘Forbidden’ felt more like an odyssey than a typical recording process. We set out to create a record that reminds people why they fell in love with thrash and heavy metal in the first place, embracing raw energy, melody, and the imperfections that give heavy music its character. Every member brought their best, and having Brann Dailor (Mastodon) join us on ‘Sycophantasy’ was an incredible addition. ‘Forbidden’ is five lifetimes of experience forged into one piece of metallic art.”
FORBIDDEN is excited to be hitting the road in support of their upcoming self-titled album on a run of headlining tour dates supported by Heathen and Void.
About FORBIDDEN:
Formed in 1985 in Fremont, California as Forbidden Evil, FORBIDDEN quickly became one of the defining bands of the Bay Area thrash metal movement alongside the genre’s biggest names. Following lineup changes that solidified the classic lineup featuring vocalist Russ Anderson, guitarists Craig Locicero and Glen Alvelais, bassist Matt Camacho and drummer Paul Bostaph, the band released their landmark 1988 debut ‘Forbidden Evil’ before shortening their name to FORBIDDEN. Acclaimed follow-up albums ‘Twisted Into Form’ (1990), ‘Distortion’ (1994), and ‘Green’ (1997) showcased the band’s technical precision, melodic songwriting, and Anderson’s unmistakable vocals, while extensive tours with acts including Sacred Reich, Exodus, Death Angel, Testament, and Malevolent Creation helped cement their reputation as one of thrash’s most respected acts. After disbanding in 1997, FORBIDDEN reunited in 2008, released the acclaimed comeback album ‘Omega Wave’ in 2010, and toured internationally before going on hiatus once again in 2012.
FORBIDDEN returned in 2023 with founding guitarist Craig Locicero joined by longtime members Matt Camacho and Steve Smyth, alongside vocalist Norman Skinner and drummer Chris Kontos. The revitalized lineup made its live debut at Belgium’s Alcatraz Metal Festival before returning home for sold-out Bay Area performances supporting Death Angel’s annual Christmas shows. Focused on creating new music, the band entered a new creative era in 2025 with the release of its first new song in 15 years, “Divided By Zero,” with more new material set to follow in 2026 as FORBIDDEN continues writing the next chapter of its legendary career.
📸: Phil Emerson
FORBIDDEN are:
Norman Skinner – Vocals
Craig Locicero – Guitar
Matt Camacho – Bass
Chris Kontos – Drums
Jeremy Von Epp – Guitar
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About Frontiers Label Group:
Founded in 1996 by Serafino Perugino in Napoli, Italy, Frontiers initially specialized in distribution of indie Rock labels across the Italian market. The company, however, soon evolved into a leading global rock label, working with such important artists as Megadeth, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Skunk Anansie, Van Zant, Don Felder, Def Leppard, Journey, Yes, Mr Big, Biohazard, Night Ranger, Whitesnake and ELO, while also signing and developing tomorrow’s artists.
Today, the expanded Frontiers Label Group owns and operates the imprints Frontiers Music Srl (Mainstream and Classic Rock), FLG Records (Alternative Music) and BLKIIBLK Records (Metal and Hard Rock) with global digital and physical distribution via The Orchard (Sony Music). The company is headquartered in Italy with additional executive staff in London, NY, Boston, Raleigh, Los Angeles and Nashville. Hunter Cottingham PLLC provides legal representation in the US, with international legal under the direction of avv. Dario De Cicco of Studio Legale De Cicco Arts & Media in Rome.
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