UMUR "Twisted Into Form" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US, San Francisco, California based thrash metal act Forbidden. The album was released through Combat Records in March 1990. The band was formed under the Forbidden Evil monicker in 1985 as was an active part of the Bay Area thrash metal scene of the 80s (featuring in those days Rob Flynn from Machine Head on guitars), releasing several demos and playing quite a few live shows, before changing their name to Forbidden in 1987 shortly before recording their debut full-length studio album "Forbidden Evil (1988)". While Forbidden are often mentioned as an influential and important part of the 80s Bay Area thrash metal scene, they were one of the acts from those days, along with contemporaries like Exodus and Heathen, which never broke through to a mainstream metal audience, and probably as a consequence folded in 1997.

The music on "Twisted Into Form" is a technically well played and often melodic US thrash metal style. Compared to the band´s debut album "Forbidden Evil (1988)", the music on "Twisted Into Form" is slightly more sophisticated and at times (seldom) even touches semi-progressive territories. The focus on aggression and technically skilled playing hasn´t changed since the debut, but Forbidden have simply become better songwriters with more adventurous ideas.

The 9 track, 41:09 minutes long album is loaded with brilliant and cleverly written thrash metal tracks, featuring raw thrashy (yet sophisticated) riffing, melodic guitar solos, a rhythmically challenging rhythm section, and Russ Anderson´s skillfully executed vocals in front. He is a very talented vocalist, able to sing both raw staccato type thrash metal vocals, and higher pitched melodic ditto. There´s an edge to the delivery at all times though, so this is not pop oriented clean singing. The most valid reference I can come up with is Sanctuary/Nevermore even though Forbidden are generally more thrash metal oriented. But there is also that link to the most raw US power/thrash which the two mentioned artists deliver featured on "Twisted Into Form".

While the video track "Step by Step" is probably the most well known track from the album (and featuring some really heavy thrashy riffing and a memorable punchy chorus, deserves to be just that), there are many other great tracks on the album and it is one of those albums where the diversity between and within tracks makes the album a great listen throughout. The sound production is also clear, powerful, and raw, which suits the music perfectly and overall "Twisted Into Form" is a professional, and for the genre quite adventurous sounding release from start to finish. A 4.5 star (90%) rating is deserved.

Warthur Polishing the approach of their debut album to a fine art and unleashing a set of compositions which shatter any idea that they might have undergone a "sophomore slump", Forbidden's second album is a classic of the late first wave of thrash metal, worthy of the peaks of any of the Big Four. Compared to Forbidden Evil, the material is slowed down a little and the band's technical excellence and compositional craft are teased out a little more, but there's very little between them, and if you are at all keen on thrash metal then Twisted Into Form isn't just Forbidden - it's mandatory.

Kingcrimsonprog The second full length studio album from Forbidden, Twisted Into Form, sees the band in a progressive mood; Taking their trademark Melodic Thrash metal style and applying a high dose of what fans thrash bands towards the end of the eighties decide to call ‘epic experimentation,’ which essentially involved making songs longer, using varied tempos, occasional quieter moments and sometimes time signature shifts.

The direction that the band took with their songwriting ended up making this have that classic feel of albums such as Overkill’s fourth album ‘The Years Of Decay,’ or Metallica’s fourth album ‘…And Justice For All.’

As with their debut album Forbidden Evil, the musicianship is still top quality with flailing tom fills, incredible guitar solos and lead breaks, often with dual guitar harmonies as well as soaring melodic vocals over pure and simple thrash metal riffing. Adding to this are some interesting progressive overtones to help the album stand out from the crowd.

Overall this album is damn close in quality to their amazing debut album Forbidden Evil and has its own flavour by placing more of an emphasis on musicianship than on speed. Don’t be fooled however, they loose none of their metal power or aggression in the process, resulting in an overall very strong record indeed.

In summary; If you like your Thrash Metal melodic, catchy and musically impressive then Forbidden are a band that you should investigate and Twisted Into Form is an album that you should pick up, being as it is an absolute must have for fans of Forbidden and a great eye opener for new comers.