Bay Area thrash veterans ‘Forbidden‘ have announced that bassist ‘Matt Camacho’ and drummer ‘Chris Kontos’ will sit out the band’s upcoming “Chaos By Design” US tour due to personal reasons, temporarily replaced by ‘Avery Thurman’ on bass and ‘Eli Lucas’ on drums for the October-November run alongside ‘Heathen’ and ‘Void’.
The band released the following statement:
“Hello, Forbidden People. We’re letting you all know that Matt and Chris unfortunately can’t be a part of our upcoming US tour with Heathen and Void, starting on October 23rd. They both have personal reasons that they can’t make this trip. Please respect their privacy as we do and support their decision. That being said, they’re both planning on being back in the fold in 2027, as we have a full slate of touring coming up to support our first new album in 16 years, a record that both Chris and Matt are a part of and made amazing contributions to.”
The band has already been rehearsing with both replacements for several weeks. ‘Eli Lucas’ was the runner-up in ‘Forbidden’s’ international drummer search back in 2011, narrowly missing the cut due to his age and experience at the time, and has since built a reputation as one of the Bay Area’s best drummers. ‘Avery Thurman’, on loan from ‘Blind Illusion’, is a 21-year-old bass prodigy quickly earning recognition for his technique and stage presence.
‘Camacho’ addressed the situation personally:
“There is nothing more satisfying than playing for Forbidden fans, which is why it pains me, due to circumstances out of my control, that I will miss the upcoming US tour. I want to thank Avery Thurman from Blind Illusion for stepping in for me, and thank Team Forbidden for understanding. This is the first tour I will miss since 1987, and I’ll be super excited to rejoin my brothers in 2027. HORNS UP!!!! You’re in good hands. This lineup is insane!”
‘Kontos’ echoed those sentiments:
“It all comes down to some very important family and personal commitments, as well as timing that just doesn’t line up right now. Please show my replacement, Eli Lucas, the same respect and support you would show me. Eli is a fantastic drummer who will certainly deliver an outstanding performance on this tour.”
The tour arrives alongside the release of ‘Forbidden’s’ self-titled album, out October 23 via BLKIIBLK, the heavy metal imprint of Frontiers Label Group. The band’s first new full-length in 16 years was tracked at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with engineer and co-producer ‘Zack Ohren’, and features a guest appearance by ‘Brann Dailor’ of ‘Mastodon’ on the track “Sycophantasy.”
Guitarist ‘Craig Locicero’ described the sessions:
“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 join us on ‘Sycophantasy’ was an incredible addition. Forbidden is five lifetimes of experience forged into one piece of metallic art.”
“Forbidden” tracklist:
- Single Point Failure
- Burning The Lungs Of Earth
- Divided By Zero
- DCLXVI
- Psyclops
- Jisei
- Mutually Assured Dysfunction
- Sycophantasy
- The Burden
- Sol Grave
- Flower Of Life (Chaos By Design)
Formed in 1985 in Fremont, California as ‘Forbidden Evil’, ‘Forbidden’ became one of the defining acts of the Bay Area thrash metal movement, releasing landmark albums including 1988’s “Forbidden Evil” and 1990’s “Twisted Into Form.” After disbanding in 1997 and reuniting in 2008, the band returned in 2023 with founding guitarist ‘Craig Locicero’, ‘Camacho’, ‘Norman Skinner’ on vocals, and ‘Kontos’, releasing “Divided By Zero” in 2025, their first new song in 15 years. Beyond the fall tour, ‘Forbidden’ are also confirmed for 70000 Tons of Metal 2027.
“Chaos By Design” US tour dates:
23 Oct – Las Vegas, NV – The Usual Place
25 Oct – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
26 Oct – Denver, CO – Federal Theatre
28 Oct – Iowa City, IA – Gabes
29 Oct – Minneapolis, MN – Turf Club
30 Oct – Chicago, IL – Reggies
31 Oct – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Lounge
01 Nov – Pittsburgh, PA – Preserving Underground
02 Nov – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater
04 Nov – Worcester, MA – The Palladium (Upstairs)
05 Nov – Brooklyn, NY – TBD
07 Nov – Albany, NY – Empire Underground
08 Nov – Lititz, PA – Mickey’s Black Box
09 Nov – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
10 Nov – Greenville, SC – Radio Room
12 Nov – Orlando, FL – Conduit
13 Nov – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Altar)
15 Nov – Destin, FL – Club LA
17 Nov – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live
18 Nov – Dallas, TX – Trees
20 Nov – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
21 Nov – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
22 Nov – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom.
Find more on Forbidden.
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