Forbidden: "Omega Wave" Now Available On The Rockband Network

FORBIDDEN’s “Omega Wave” for Xbox 360™ is now available for purchase from your gaming console at the RockBand Network’s online store.  The track comes from the album of the same name, which debuted at #27 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #83 on the Billboard Top Hard Music Albums chart, and #92 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart the week following its October 2010 release.

Metal fans are encouraged to submit artist & song requests for Rock Band here. 

View the “Omega Wave” video – directed by Jon Schnepp of Metalocalypse fame for Schneppzone Inc. – on YouTube.

FORBIDDEN performed at the Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance memorial event last month in Oakland, California with their new drummer Sasha Horn.

Visit FORBIDDEN online at www.facebook.com/FORBIDDENOFFICIAL, twitter.com/ForbiddenMetal, and www.myspace.com/FORBIDDENOFFICIAL.

Forbidden's Steve Smyth: NAMM Signing Schedule

FORBIDDEN lead guitarist Steve Smyth will be participating in the following Artist Signing Sessions and Meet-and-Greet appearances at this year’s Winter National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show, taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center from January 19^th – 22^nd:

 

In related news, Guitar World magazine recently reviewed the Steve Smyth Signature 6 B.C. Rich Bich Guitar in the February 2012 issue (out now!) and has awarded it the Gold Award in Performance.  Regarding his guitar’s prestigious review, Smyth states: “I AM STOKED BEYOND BELIEF!!!”  Watch Guitar World’s video review here! 

Three years in the making, both the 6-string and 7-string versions of Steve’s signature guitar are currently available now at retailers and will be on display at the NAMM show. 

Specs for the 6-string Bich:

• Neck Through Construction
• Mahogany Body
• Maple Neck
• Grover® Rotomatic Tuners
• Ebony Fretboard

• 24 Jumbo Frets

• 25 1/2" Scale

• B.C. Rich Quad bridge

• EMG® 81 bridge and 85 neck Pickups

• 2 Volume, 1 Tone, and 1 Three-way Toggle Controls

Specs for the 7-string Bich:

• Neck Through Construction
• Mahogany Body
• Maple Neck
• Grover® Rotomatic Tuners • Ebony Fretboard • 24 Jumbo Frets • 25 1/2" Scale • Floyd Rose® Original 7 Bridge • EMG® 81-7 bridge and 707 active Pickups • 2 Volume, 1 Tone, and 1 Three-way Toggle Controls

FORBIDDEN’s 2010 reunion album, Omega Wave, debuted at #27 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #83 on the Billboard Top Hard Music Albums chart, and #92 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart the week following its release.

Visit STEVE SMYTH online at www.stevesmyth.com, www.myspace.com/stevesmyth, www.facebook.com/stevesmyth01, www.twitter.com/stevesmyth01 &

www.youtube.com/stevesmyth01.

Visit FORBIDDEN online at www.facebook.com/FORBIDDENOFFICIAL, twitter.com/ForbiddenMetal, and www.myspace.com/FORBIDDENOFFICIAL.

Omega Wave Podcast Offers Video Footage From Occupy Oakland

Craig Locicero, guitarist & songwriter for the Bay Area thrash band FORBIDDEN and co-host of the Omega Wave Podcast, attended the Occupy Oakland demonstration on November 2nd and inaugurated a special video episode of the Omega Wave Podcast.  View the footage here.

“I’m here to ask questions,” states Locicero in his introduction.  “I don’t really have any answers… but I can tell you this much, in my opinion, and the one thing I know for fact: this is better than sitting on your ass and complaining about the world.”

 

People interviewed in this 43-minute segment include:

• Haroon, an injured protestor
• Rick, a carpenter & union worker
• Mary, a retired schoolteacher who works with the Oakland Education Association
• Musicians Allen & Barry, members of Contrast The Water from South Africa
• Calvin, an Occupy Oakland attendee

Craig Locicero, Bill Shields, and Jeff Schenck of Metalluminati.com (co-collaborators & producers of the audio/video versions of the Omega Wave Podcast) are currently seeking another producer/talent booker to assist with the show.  If you are interested, please contact Bill Shields at Barbedwirebill@gmail.com.

FORBIDDEN recently announced the addition of new drummer Sasha Horn into their ranks.  The band’s Omega Wave album debuted at #27 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #83 on the Billboard Top Hard Music Albums chart, and #92 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart the week following its October 2010 release.

Visit FORBIDDEN online at www.facebook.com/FORBIDDENOFFICIAL, twitter.com/ForbiddenMetal, and www.myspace.com/FORBIDDENOFFICIAL.

Drummer Chris Kontos Discusses A.F.A.R. On Ωmega Wave Podcast

The latest installment of Craig Locicero of FORBIDDEN’s Ωmega Wave podcast hosted former-Machine Head, former-Testament/current Spiral Arms & Attitude Adjustment drummer Chris Kontos.  Chris spoke about the A.F.A.R. coalition he founded (Alliance For Artist Rescue). According to A.F.A.R.’s statement: “Our mission is to assist metalhead refugees that are in dangerous cultural situations overseas; to help them settle in the U.S. by hosting and finding them jobs upon their arrival to the Bay Area.”

Chris shared some of the moving - and in some cases, horrifying - back-stories for these artists.  He and his partners are a selfless organization that has already helped bring artists from Iraq, Iran, and South Africa into the United States. It is a noble and amazing effort that should be respected and shared with everyone in the metal community.  

Listen to the podcast at this location, visit A.F.A.R. on Facebook and on YouTube, and see what you could do to help.

Locicero and his co-host "Barbwire" Bill Shields (former host for “In the Dark” Radio, professional wrestler, and current Ordained Minister of the Collective Conscious) will speak off-the-cuff on whatever controversial subject may come up. The goals of the Ωmega Wave Podcast are two-fold:

1) To speak to different compelling and controversial lyricists in Metal and Hard Rock weekly.  They will be asked about their motivation, their craft, and what exactly inspires them in these challenging times to do what they do.  Their thoughts & opinions on the most current affairs and intensely debated issues will also be discussed.

2) Have listeners sit in on a real conversation between good friends without censorship watering those thoughts down.  Hosts Bill and Craig will take questions & topic suggestions live and do not filter their reactions to them. These conversations can get very heated at times, depending on the topic.

Previous guests include: Neil Fallon of Clutch, Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth, Sons of Liberty), Peter Dolving of The Haunted, Henrik Ohlsson (Scar Symmetry), Barney Greenway & Mitch Harris of Napalm Death, C.J. “The Metal Motivator” Ortiz, Charles Elliott of Abysmal Dawn, and Mr. Axe from Anonymous.

Listen to the tracks “Forsaken At The Gates” and “Dragging My Casket” from FORBIDDEN’s 2010 reunion album, Omega Wave, here.

Purchase Omega Wave (digi-pak or vinyl version) at the Nuclear Blast USA webstore.

Visit FORBIDDEN online at www.facebook.com/FORBIDDENOFFICIAL, twitter.com/ForbiddenMetal, and www.myspace.com/FORBIDDENOFFICIAL. 

Forbidden Guitarist Steve Smyth: Insights On Phrasing And Solos

The latest installment of FORBIDDEN guitarist Steve Smyth’s column is now up at GuitarWorld.com.  In it, Smyth discusses favorite solos (“Gigs Eviction” by Vicious Rumors, “Cuts Like A Knife” by Bryan Adams, and “S.A.T.O. (Sailing Across The Ocean)” by Ozzy and Randy Rhoads) and the phrasing behind them.

 Live Photo of Steve Smyth by Dirt Junior

Check out the column and video lesson here.

FORBIDDEN’s reunion album, Omega Wave, debuted at #27 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #83 on the Billboard Top Hard Music Albums chart, and #92 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart the week following its October 2010 release.

Visit STEVE SMYTH online at www.stevesmyth.com, www.facebook.com/stevesmyth01, www.myspace.com/stevesmyth, www.twitter.com/stevesmyth01, &

www.youtube.com/stevesmyth01.

Visit FORBIDDEN online at www.facebook.com/FORBIDDENOFFICIAL, Twitter.com/FORBIDDENMETAL, and www.myspace.com/FORBIDDENOFFICIAL.