AlbumsNovember 29, 201114,840 views

God Forbid IV: Constitution of Treason


IV: Constitution of Treason
01. The End Of The World 02. Chains Of Humanity AUDIO 03. Into The Wasteland 04. The Lonely Dead 05. Divinity 06. Under This Flag 07. To The Fallen Hero 08. Welcome To The Apocalypse (Preamble) 09. Constitution Of Treason 10. Crucify Your Beliefs
2005 Century Media Records
Our score 8

9/30/2005

As the once-invigorating genre of metalcore creates a more commercial position for itself, with underground acts like Unearth and As I Lay Dying being some of the first of the movement to perform in arenas (opening for Slipknot) and numerous others becoming "breakthrough" artists due to their labels' well-known funding of recent Ozzfest slots (paying upwards of $70,000 per band), the inevitable saturation of the genre has led to metalcore acts and their fans, old and new, coming under fire for well, simply enjoying metalcore. Now, picky young elitists unhappy with the increasing appeal of a genre they once considered dear to them have turned their backs on it, and headed for the newest hot underground movement: tech metal and grindcore. To remain a cutting-edge hybrid of metal and hardcore, groups must either become more easily digestible and chorus-based as Killswitch Engage have done to great success, or dig deeper into the back catalogues of eighties thrash for structural inspiration rather than merely scratching its surface for riffs, as the majority of metalcore bands have been doing in recent years. Wisely, both for the sake of their artistic growth and continuing appeal, God Forbid have gone the latter route on their fourth full-length IV: Constitution of Treason. Possibly the album's strongest point is the multi-faceted sense of structure underlying most tracks. Unlike the more unsophisticated and, unsurprisingly, commercially-lukewarm Gone Forever, IV: Constitution comes across immediately as their most mature and musically-intricate record to date. The aforementioned emphasis on vintage thrash song structuring, with their increased focus on extensive intros and solos, has provided the band with a solid enough foundation to finally succeed with integrating dual vocal harmonies into their once-inflexible sound. Examples of this synthesis of melody and riff are heard in slowed-down Testament tribute "Chains of Humanity," Metallica tribute "The Lonely Dead" (with intro/outro riff curiously coming straight from Load), title track "Constitution of Treason," and the wartime epic "To The Fallen Hero," in ways that they were formerly unsuccessful in accomplishing. The defining ingredient of eighties thrash was the breakneck pace at which guitar picking was delivered. The defining ingredient of progressive metalcore, as God Forbid is now performing (just listen to "Crucify Your Beliefs"), is a slowed down tempo, often in half-time, with which classic riffs are re-packaged and re-presented to young generations. "Into The Wasteland," "Under This Flag," "Crucify Your Beliefs," and the closest they come to Killswitch Engage-territory, "To The Fallen Hero," all contain riffs illustrative of this point. There will never be another Kirk Hammet, nor another Alex Skolnick. Nor will any modern guitarist even come close to changing how the world sees metal the way those two men did. But the Coyle brothers respectfully pay homage to their music, playing their hearts out in the process, thus making IV: Constitution an album even old schoolers could potentially get into. Bottom Line: It's no secret that the band nearly broke up towards the end of their touring cycle for Determination due to heated discussions regarding what direction the band should take in order to ensure future survival in the increasingly-cutthroat metalcore genre. Stemming from these discussions came some modifications to their sound, evident on the album they wrote after deciding to continue, which was Gone Forever; a departure for the band which saw them write instantly graspable songs and courageously insert largely hit-or-miss melodic vocal passages. Because that formula was more middle-of-the-road than anything, and met with a fitting commercial response, they sharpened their knives and carved an album with IV: Constitution that would hold up over the coming years and help them re-establish prominence which they somewhat lost on with the last album. This is the first time God Forbid have sounded as hungry as they did on their buzz-generating debut Reject The Sickness, and with intriguing song structures, memorable riffs, and melodic passages that actually work, they are finally ready to make a very visible ascent to the top of the modern metal movement.

70 comments

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papertigers_ 9/30/2005 10:41:46 AM

1st post

arty_mcfarty_ 9/30/2005 11:00:21 AM

how exactly did this piece of GARBAGE get an 8, a higher review than almost anything recently besides pelican.........i call bullshit and this place needs some reviewers with ears

anonymous 9/30/2005 11:10:05 AM

I second mcfarty's comment

todayistheday_ 9/30/2005 11:23:04 AM

enough with the singing already

anonymous 9/30/2005 11:26:00 AM

God Forbid is metalcore? More like borecore.

anonymous 9/30/2005 11:27:16 AM

i listened to the mp3. this band has lost it. but kudos to the reviewer for pointing out the truth about metalcore these days.

anonymous 9/30/2005 11:34:11 AM

anyone who is alive and observant can point out the truth about metalcore these days.

anonymous 9/30/2005 11:58:41 AM

yeah but no one is going to admit that a band like unearth was something new 5-6 years ago, let alone admitting that they liked them.

deframon_ 9/30/2005 12:03:09 PM

did you give an 8 to the album cover

XjohnnyXrebelX_ 9/30/2005 12:58:51 PM

An 8!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! What the f*ck? An 8 to Summer's End maybe, but not this band. YOU ARE FIRED Michael Gluck! GLUCK GLUCk GlUCK!!!!!!! GLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK! glucKKK!!!

tomorrownevercame_ 9/30/2005 1:10:44 PM

This is definitely a much better album than Gone Forever but it doesn't hold water when compared to Determination or Reject the Sickness for that matter.

iloveshittymusic_ 9/30/2005 1:41:31 PM

what a good album! \m/

thereapersson_ 9/30/2005 2:19:21 PM

You f*ckers all are taking this shit way too seriously. Lighten up and enjoy something different for once. It's not -that- bad.

thereapersson_ 9/30/2005 2:20:56 PM

And Summer's End is garbage. Get the f*ck over your trashed review already and move on.

anonymous 9/30/2005 3:01:39 PM

Killswitch is shit compared to these guys!

dutch_ 9/30/2005 3:29:25 PM

other than the gay ballads, this is a good CD. anyone who says differently is guilty of what the reviewer mentions in his last sentence of the first paragraph.

bernie_ 9/30/2005 3:32:30 PM

i would like to hear this.

rainbowsatan_ 9/30/2005 6:09:58 PM

This record is a HUGE improvement from Gone Forever. I'd give this record an 8. The concepts great and the music has definately matured. I've been listening to it none stop since I picked it up. For the record, SUMMERS END f*ckING SUCKS! I could write their next record with a used condom and a beer bottle.

anonymous 9/30/2005 8:55:35 PM

god, this band sucks and this record sucks even worse. how the hell is it getting soo much publicity? this is shit. 4/10 max.

anonymous 9/30/2005 9:00:47 PM

"You f*ckers all are taking this shit way too seriously. Lighten up and enjoy something different for once. It's not -that- bad." something different?? THIS is different?? are you kidding. tell me one thing that makes god forbid different from as i lay dying or killswitch or unearth or any metalcore for that matter. it's the entire genre rolled into one.

XOmeletX_ 9/30/2005 9:36:40 PM

This just sounds like In Flames. And it sucks.

thereapersson_ 10/1/2005 2:22:30 AM

OK, maybe I chose the wrong phrase when I worded that sentence (I admit different was the wrong word to use), but I still think it's not that bad of a CD. On the other hand, Gluck's comment about "Picky young elitists" was right. It seems people are either tired of the attention metalcore in general is recieving, or gays jump on the bandwagon because it's the easy thing to do.

arty_mcfarty_ 10/1/2005 5:43:02 AM

wow, a whole bunch of anonymous idiots and some dickholes that are too scared to post on the message board awesome

keepthechange_ 10/1/2005 1:09:22 PM

How did this get an 8 ??!?!!? only cds without vocals are worthy of 8s I have opinions on this cd but can nver understand someone else having a different opinion...bah god wtf

FuckFashioncoreKids_ 10/1/2005 1:29:12 PM

wow....do you actually think god forbid gives a f*ck about what you're saying on here?

XjohnnyXrebelX_ 10/1/2005 1:53:42 PM

You f*ckers all are taking this shit way too seriously. Lighten up and enjoy something different for once. It's not -that- bad. posted by thereapersson () on 9/30/2005 2:19:21 PM And Summer's End is garbage. Get the f*ck over your trashed review already and move on. posted by thereapersson () on 9/30/2005 2:20:56 PM You R TeH gayGit!11 OMGzzzzz You are f*cking dumb kid. I am the bandwagon. You are a wagon wheel whore.

killemOkids_ 10/1/2005 2:16:48 PM

wow....do you actually think god forbid gives a f*ck about what you're saying on here? posted by f*ckFashioncoreKids (scarlet_hourglass@yahoo.com) on 10/1/2005 1:29:12 PM SUMMER'S END SEEMED TO LOL!1111

XjohnnyXrebelX_ 10/1/2005 2:22:57 PM

OMGZzZzZzzz!!111!11@@1!!!!!!TWO God Forbid and Summer's End Tour of shitty metalcore 200666 I r FuNn-E

thereapersson_ 10/1/2005 2:47:51 PM

You f*ckers all are taking this shit way too seriously. Lighten up and enjoy something different for once. It's not -that- bad. posted by thereapersson () on 9/30/2005 2:19:21 PM And Summer's End is garbage. Get the f*ck over your trashed review already and move on. posted by thereapersson () on 9/30/2005 2:20:56 PM You R TeH gayGit!11 OMGzzzzz You are f*cking dumb kid. I am the bandwagon. You are a wagon wheel whore. Yeah. And typing like that makes you one smart guy. 'Cause we haven't seen

XjohnnyXrebelX_ 10/1/2005 4:26:04 PM

Summer's End called and said that they still suck.

thereapersson_ 10/1/2005 6:19:18 PM

Obviously....

anonymous 10/1/2005 7:03:38 PM

god forbid is the gayest band i ever heard

TJ_ 10/1/2005 7:45:21 PM

This albums owns fake metal shit like As I Lay Dying and Unearth. A band that gets better and better with each record i hope God Forbid get the recgonition they really deserve

Selvin_ 10/2/2005 12:39:45 AM

loves it

MARCEL_ 10/2/2005 3:36:24 AM

THIS IS AN AMAZING RECORD, U DONT LIKE IT? THEN MAKE SOMETHING BETTER, U f*ckS! A BUNCH OF SPOILED BRATS COMPLAINING ABOUT EVERYTHING, STOP SAYING SHIT AND DO SOMETHING...

Strongarm_ 10/2/2005 6:04:12 AM

If you think this album sucks, you obviously know nothing about good music and naturally listen to immature, uninspired garbage metalcore. If anyone can name a valid reason for this album sucking other than "they blow" or "they suck", I'm all ears, but Im sure its never going to happen by you dumb f*cks.

anonymous 10/2/2005 3:59:25 PM

good review. Even though I really didn't enjoyed the record.

TheWood_ 10/2/2005 4:01:41 PM

Determination was a damn good album. I can't comment on this new one because I haven't heard it yet...but apparently it's not cool to like God Forbid.

wyldweasil_ 10/2/2005 8:54:15 PM

I've only gotten to hear the album once, but I will have to agree in one listen I can definetly agree that this release had the same intensity of Reject the Sickness. BTW, why do they ignore that album? I loved that disc!

grizz_ 10/2/2005 9:30:21 PM

I understand why people don't really like this album after being predisposed to two incredible albums prior. However some people don't realize the pressure these bands are being put under these days. These boys had two months to write and record this album; if anybody here thinks that they can do better, then let me have a listen. I wasn't to impressed with this album either but I respect the fact that they are attempting something different because it leaves room for growth for later albums. Le

XjohnnyXrebelX_ 10/3/2005 2:01:14 AM

We do need evolution in metal. But it needs to go forward. Not backwards. I think that God Forbid took a few steps back with this recording. They were one of the bands that were doing something with a sound that they could say they inspired other bands to partake in. With this recording, it sounds as if they have listened to nothing but metalcore bands on solid state and facedown. Sorry... but I give this cd a 4/10 for the whole reason that we have already heard it before from Norma Jean

Byron_ 10/3/2005 9:41:21 AM

Hey buddy, no one cares about your "4/10"...all that matters is the 8/10. This writer knows what he's talking about. Are you stupid or something? We don't listen to norma jean...like the writer said, our main inspiration was testament and metallica, which we put a twist on by slowing everything down a bit. You stupid kids don't know anything. Props to the writer and Lambgoat. Hail!

anonymous 10/3/2005 1:50:09 PM

first of all why do the reviewers at lambgoat feel the need to give the bands that are cool to like good ratings and the bands that are cool to not like but make good records bad reviews. if u are going to review something do it the way it should be done, based on the album and not if liking the band is going to get u scene points. i used to love god forbid, but im sorry i think this album is garbage. i think they lost it once they got a little bit of recognition and it went right to thier he

XjohnnyXrebelX_ 10/3/2005 3:27:02 PM

HAHAHAHAHA... here we go. A band member on the goat getting pissed because someone does not like their band. Well mr "GOD FORBID THAT YOU GUYS PUT OUT SOMETHING ORIGINAL", get pissed all you want. The lambgoat review is what matters? For what? Scene kids? Gimme a break. What matters is a review from fans that actually used to buy your cds, merch, and even paid money to see your shows. I am sure that you would have said f*ck you if Lambgoat gave you a 4/10. At least you scored higher th

anonymous 10/3/2005 5:04:30 PM

Jesus Christ, want some cheese with your wine, you bunch of bitches. The only thing worse then scene kids are online scene kids. Most of you are probably listening to these bands as you bitch about them. Everybody hates all these bands, yet they always have half of you kids going to their shows. I know because you come on here and cry like little bitches about it. Are you in a band? Is your crap band on here? When you get off your lazy asses and actually make music (that's close to note worthy)

Byron_ 10/3/2005 5:13:34 PM

Dude, you obviously don't know our early shit if you accuse us of including 80's guitar solos only recently...Reject The Sickness had a bunch of those solos, but we used more of an early 90's death metal foundation then, rather than the thrash one we have now.

grindmyass_ 10/3/2005 7:07:40 PM

Great band. They have progressively become better and better with each new release, and this one suprised the hell out of me. Kudos to GF for the killer riffing and the engaging, often powerful, lyrical themes. Keep it up guys.

Corey_ 10/4/2005 12:55:48 AM

Uhh...Who?

anonymous 10/4/2005 6:18:25 AM

there's a slipknot banner at the top of the page. hahaha...take that you elitist lambgoat f*cks.

Chris_ 10/4/2005 11:05:16 AM

I used to promote this band back in the day on the megadeth boards, way before Determination even came out. What the hell happened after Determination? G4B have almost become unlistenable. People are saying this is better than Gone Forever? Far from it. And Gone Forever is no metal prize either. Determination & Reject the Sickness > all other G4B albums....combined.

Byron_ 10/4/2005 1:41:13 PM

Oh, you promoted us on the Megadeth board then? Funny because we have no record or awareness that you did that, which means it probably had little impact. And even then, around those years, Megadeth were commercially dead and very few people even visited their board. We're all huge fans so we have clear memories of this. What I'm saying is that your opinion doesn't matter. If getting popular will help us gain 10 positive fans for every elitist sucker like you, we will have accomplished our g

anonymous 10/4/2005 4:31:06 PM

yo byron get a f*cking life you dork. if u cant take negative reviews of your album dont read what people have to say. and the fact that you say if u gain ten new fans by making your shit more commercial and lose old fans then uve accomplished what u were trying to do then u have no business making music in this scene. it shows u have no respect for the fans that helped u get where u are today. f*ck god forbid, u guys used to be awesome, but youve shown your true colors that u dont give a sh

Byron_ 10/4/2005 5:15:50 PM

You fool. I never said that we were getting soft to get popular. The Coyle bros are just writing better songs than ever, like the reviewer said. The melody is not the focal point of the songs; METAL is. Lamb Of God are way more popular than us and they don't sing at all, which proves the fact that including some old school melodies here and there does NOT equal selling out. It just equals better songwriting by the Coyle bros. Man, I love Lambgoat but hate idiots like you.

Nail_Bombed_ 10/4/2005 6:52:57 PM

God Forbid have pretty much always done the thrash/death kind of stuff, evident on their Out Of Misery EP and Determination, which were more on the death side. Not heard Reject The Sickness so can't comment. The 'new era' stuff is equally as good as the old IMO, Gone Forever was a very decent and precise metal record but this new one just kills it, I feel, in terms of overall songwriting. Savage album. To, me God Forbid have always been metal. None of this toeing-the-line metalcore crap ala

KiteEatingTree_ 10/4/2005 7:42:24 PM

pretty god damn bad ass, call for hails to these guys!

Aaron_ 10/5/2005 10:14:47 AM

I don't like this album, but "it's gay", "it sucks"... those are great reviews. Dumb, just dumb. It's Gay, that's really quick, did it take you all day to come up with that?

Chris_ 10/5/2005 11:47:35 AM

"Oh, you promoted us on the Megadeth board then? Funny because we have no record or awareness that you did that, which means it probably had little impact. And even then, around those years, Megadeth were commercially dead and very few people even visited their board." While that is true that in 1999/2000 they were well past their commercial success, free press is free press. And if I do remember correctly, I ever recieved an Email or two from Dallas with a sincere "thanks" for giving you guy

FuckFashioncoreKids_ 10/5/2005 3:24:49 PM

damn...I thought the whole "posing as a member of the band people are currently talking shit about" deal was old. this is a good album...i'm not gonna come on here and say, "this guy's a gay!" or "so and so loves the c-ck if he doesn't like this album!" everyone's got opinions....and that's one of the things about the internet, it gives everyone a chance to slam others anonymously with hardly any repercussions. so don't get pissed if someone says, "anyone who likes this eats penis," or "if yo

Byron_ 10/5/2005 4:30:00 PM

I'm making an effort to correspond with people commenting on my band's review, and you have the nerve to doubt that it's me, Byron? Damn son, you're stupid and suspicious. Get bent. Hail!

Chris Kocuba_ 10/5/2005 9:48:12 PM

What, nothing else to say Byron? You were talking a big game.

rainbowsatan_ 10/5/2005 10:27:09 PM

There is some serious player hate'n goin on here! Damn! Every one on these message boards talks all this shit and most of you probably can't even play an instrument let alone are you in a band. Go to an atreyu show, packed. Go to see Killswitch, packed. So maybe instead of getting on the internet and bitching about how shitty some band is you should get off your f*cking ass, start a band of your own, prove to every one how easy it is to push the musical envelope, and then see if a bunch of pimpl

3InchesOfJizz_ 10/5/2005 10:57:33 PM

I highly doubt any of you would say any of this to Byron's face, coward ass bitches.

Byron_ 10/5/2005 11:19:10 PM

Yeeeeah, that's what I'm talkin' about! WHAT! Hail!

FuckFashioncoreKids_ 10/5/2005 11:31:19 PM

yeah....i do have the nerve to, because it's kinda hard to determine who's who when you can't see who the hell it is. you obviously didn't notice that i said this is a good album, but you seem so caught up in defending a reputation that's already a good one. so what if some homos on lambgoat don't like your music? it isn't going stop true fans from going to shows, buying merch, etc. plus...a lot of people would get on here and pose as members of the band to strike some form of intimidation w

FuckFashioncoreKids_ 10/5/2005 11:33:18 PM

P.S. Chains of Humanity is f*cking sick.

Chris_ 10/6/2005 10:02:24 PM

Hey, I was voicing my opinion and someone got smart with me. It is ony fair that it goes both directions. Last good show I saw: The End

Marc_ 10/8/2005 1:56:52 PM

If this record is not your cup of tea... word, I know people that are just not fans of it... BUT, if you have any knowledge of music and musicianship, there is no justifiable way you can speak down on this record... I’ve been a huge G4B fan since the Reject the Sickness days, and in my opinion, the records keep getting better. I know to a lot of people, it was kind of musical donkey-punch when melodic vocals were introduced on Gone Forever, which undoubtedly made their songs more accessible. But

christina_ 10/19/2005 6:42:02 PM

it was pretty decent i would say.

anonymous 3/14/2012 4:00:51 PM

Love this band. Pity I've only seen them once..

anonymous 3/7/2016 9:59:26 AM

Wow, what a great review for a mediocre and unoriginal band. they are like a swedish metal cover band, posing as original to the young and ignorant american audience. god forbid they get back together, lol. see what i did there?