God Forbid at Blondie's

I recently had a chance to sit down and have a quick chat with Doc Coyle from God Forbid.
I do mean a quick chat, things were a little up in the air due to mechanical issues
with their bus, but we did manage to squeak in a few quick questions.

MCB: God Forbid just released a new album titled Equilibrium.
Would you like to tell us a little about your latest release
and what newer fans can expect to hear?

DOC: This is our 6th album. We just signed a new deal with Victory Records.
So this is our first album with them. This is our first record without my brother
(Dallas Doyle) who was our other guitar player and our first album with our
new guitar player Matt Wicklund. It’s a lot of new, ya know, we haven’t
toured in a while. I think it’s our best album. We just really focused on writing
just really catchy songs while still keeping it heavy. Still keeping it metal,
but really having hooks and choruses that people could remember
and melodies that stuck with you. We got to work really hard and prepare a
lot so by the time we left the studio we were pretty well tuned.

MCB: I realize that bands are not big fans of labels, but if you
had to how would you describe the God Forbid sound?

DOC: I think we are a metal band. Some people call us metal core or new wave o
f American heavy metal. I think you can put us up there with Slayer or Slipknot.

MCB: So are some of those your biggest influences?

DOC: These are just bands that I consider to be metal bands,
you can say they are thrash, but whatever, it’s not that complex to me.

MCB: It’s just heavy

DOC: Ya, it’s heavy music, but we still have songs. We focus on something
you can sink your teeth into, not just a bunch of parts to get people going,
it’s really about having good songs.

MCB: Where did the title ‘Equilibrium’ come from?

DOC: Byron the singer wrote lyrics for a song and the title was Equilibrium and I thought it just fit with everything else that happened with the band. It’s very simple. There wasn’t’ a lot of thought behind it like oh were at a place of balance or anything like that. I think it’s just something that you are always striving for, always working for. It just made sense, here we are just let it be.

MCB: This is your first tour in how long?

DOC: Two years. Last time we toured was in April 2010. That is the longest stretch we’ve gone without touring.

MCB: What is in store for God Forbid after this tour?

DOC: We are lucky. Today they just announced the Trespass America tour. It’s in July, August. It’s Five Finger Death Punch, Kill Switch Engage, Trivium, Pop Evil, Emmure, us and Battle Cross. So it’s a big arena tour.

MCB: Hopefully you will be hitting Detroit?

DOC: ya, i saw one, I think Battlecreek, MI. It’s gonna hit everywhere. I know they haven’t announced all the dates yet. That’s really exciting for us, more of a mainstream audience for the band. It’s always great to play for the diehard metal fans, but when you get a tour like that, it’s a great opportunity.

***8/03- Battle Creek, MI @ Kellogg Arena***

MCB: It must be nice to get back out on the road again after being off for so long?

DOC: We have a break between this tour and that tour and just get back and rehearse and get other affairs in order and plan out the rest of the year and get organized.

MCB: Ok, you have to get ready for your set. Thanks much for chatting with me today and have a great show.

DOC: Thank you, enjoy.