Later this month, God Forbid will release a video for the song "War of Attrition," from their new album Earthsblood. Click "more" to watch a teaser of the clip: Read more...

Just two days before launching a tour with Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Children of Bodom and Municipal Waste, God Forbid have announced that guitarist Dallas Coyle has quit the band. In a statement, his brother, guitarist Doc Coyle, said there was a "mutual disagreement" that "became angry on both sides, and [Dallas] decided to sit out the tour the day we were supposed to leave."

His ex-bandmates assumed the rift would be temporary, then, according to Doc, they "learned later he did not want to tour anymore at all." (Click "more" to read the rest of the story and listen to HeadbangersBlog.com's podcast interview with Doc Coyle, in which he described the musical differences he was having with his brother before the split.) Read more...

Slayer look forward to another bloodbath with Manson

While Ozzfest hasn't popped back out from the crypt in which it has been hiding, two major spring and summer festivals have announced the first set of acts on their lineups, and both bear striking resemblance to Ozzfests of old.

Music As a Weapon IV will be headlined by Disturbed and will also feature Killswitch Engage on the main stage and Chimaira and Lacuna Coil on the second stage. And Like past Ozzfests, the event will feature tattoo artists, extreme sports and videogames. Read more...

Last week, Doc Coyle, guitarist for God Forbid, told us that his band was lined up for what he called "one of the biggest tours this year," but he wouldn't tell us the other groups involved. And when we asked if the headliner rhymed with Slam of Mod he said, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Liar, liar, pants on fire!

Starting April 2, God Forbid will, indeed, hit the road with Slam of Mod -- err, Lamb of God. God Forbid will actually be in a rotating support slot with Municipal Waste. Direct support on the bill will come from As I Lay Dying and Children of Bodom. Not a bad way to spend a romantic spring evening.

The No Fear Energy Music Tour will launch April 2 in Phoenix, Arizona and will run through May 15 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Click "more" for dates and videos. Read more...

Lots of things changed between the end of God Forbid's tour for 2005's IV: Constitution of Treason and the beginning of 2009, and not all for the better.

For the first time in years, the band members found that their tour receipts, merch sales and songwriting royalties weren't enough to pay the bills, and they were forced to search the "Help Wanted" section for day jobs. Guitarist and songwriter Doc Coyle suffered an ugly breakup with his girlfriend, who discovered he was cheating on her on the road. And when Doc and his brother Dallas (guitar) sat down to write new songs, they found they had different ideas about where the band should go and wound up bumping horns like rams to come up with a unified vision.

Fortunately, the result of their efforts, Earthsblood (out February 24), reveals a band that has harnessed its strengths and written music to please itself instead of some marketing demographic. Simultaneously heavy and melodic, filled with barreling, uncompromising rhythms, tuneful vocals and undeniable hooks, the disc is cathartic and clever, capitalizing on the promise God Forbid have been making since 2001 -- to deliver songs that are memorable, dynamic and bruising.

Just days after God Forbid premiered the single "War of Attrition" on their MySpace and Web site, we hooked up with Doc Coyle to talk about the creation of Earthsblood, the metal public's prejudice against melodic vocals, the difficulty of staying faithful on the road and how being forced to work day jobs might have inspired God Forbid to write such a killer record.

Click "more" to stream or download the podcast. Read more...

To christen their press kit web site, the dudes behind the blog Talking Metal, John Ostronomy and Mark Strigl, have teamed up with God Forbid vocalist Byron Davis, Halford guitarist 'Metal' Mike Chlasciak and ex-Death and Iced Earth drummer Richard Christy to record a pretty authentic cover of Slayer's "South of Heaven."

Click "more" to download the MP3. Read more...

New Jersey-based modern metal band God Forbid have been dropping some computer science to get fans excited about their fifth full studio album, Earthsblood, which comes out February 24. Anyone who signs up for a free membership to their official Web site will receive an MP3 of the new album track "War of Attrition."

"It's one of the most intense songs from Earthsblood, and sure to be a staple in the live set for years," said guitarist Doc Coyle. "We will probably do a video for the track at some point as well. Enjoy and please send us messages and commentary on what you think."

Click "more" for the MP3 and to hear other cuts from Earthsblood. Read more...

In one of Megadeth's best songs, "Peace Sells," Dave Mustaine defiantly sings, "What do you mean I couldn't be the president of the United States of America/ Tell me something, it's still we the people, right?" Whoever thought Mustaine and president elect Barack Obama would have a lot in common?

Just two years ago, the thought of an African American becoming president was, sadly, unimaginable. The prevailing belief was that the people of the United States would support black actors, musicians and sports heroes, and they'd accept African Americans like Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice as advisers to the president, but the top spot -- uh-uh, out of the question and almost as ridiculous as having a woman chosen as a party's Vice Presidential nominee. Thankfully, all of that's changed.

And "change" was the centerpiece of Obama's campaign. The same can't be said for John McCain. Though he tried to escape being connected to the current administration, to the people of this country, McCain meant more of the same, and the thought of continuing on the path we've been in for the last eight years was just unacceptable. African Americans unanimously voted for Obama, as did Latinos and other minorities, but so did the white working class and intelligentsia.

Obama's victory is a historic one and a breakthrough moment in African American history, but it's equally a great moment in American history. Now, let's hope that the next president will be able to repair the damage that's been done over the last eight years, unify and protect the country, heal our international image, fix the economy, keep our taxes from going up and keep his nose out of our First Amendment rights. And now that we've had our say, here's what some heavy metal artists have commented about the election. Read more...