Distortion (album)
Encyclopedia
Distortion is the third album from San Francisco, California
thrash metal
band, Forbidden
.
It comes five years after their second, Twisted into Form
, was released. It expands on the increasing "dark" and "moody" feel of Twisted. Many do not consider Distortion to be truly a thrash album, as it has many mid and slower paced songs, many of which have more modern groove metal influences, and also some very long, heavy and dark progressive tracks that evoke Nevermore
and, to a lesser extent Train of Thought
era Dream Theater
. A single was made for the track "No Reason", that also featured a video.
The album was released through the years from 1994 to 1997 three times, on three different labels (Gun Records, Massacre Records and, finally, Fierce Records) with three different cover artworks. There is then a fourth, much more simple artwork featured on the cover for the promotional version of the album, hosted in cardboard sleeve.
The only line-up change for the recording of "Distortion" was Steve Jacobs replacing Paul Bostaph
who had since left for Slayer
.
unless otherwise stated.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band, Forbidden
Forbidden (band)
Forbidden is a thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, the group was founded by Russ Anderson and Craig Locicero, who are both permanent members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes...
.
It comes five years after their second, Twisted into Form
Twisted Into Form (album)
Twisted into Form is the second album from San Francisco, California thrash metal band, Forbidden. It features one line-up change from their debut – 1988's Forbidden Evil – with Tim Calvert replacing Glen Alvelais on guitar. The result is a more melodic and progressive affair with many acoustic...
, was released. It expands on the increasing "dark" and "moody" feel of Twisted. Many do not consider Distortion to be truly a thrash album, as it has many mid and slower paced songs, many of which have more modern groove metal influences, and also some very long, heavy and dark progressive tracks that evoke Nevermore
Nevermore
Nevermore is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1991, they are known to incorporate elements from styles such as thrash, power, progressive, and neo-classical metal into their songs, and also makes use of acoustic guitars and a wide range of vocal styles.-Early years...
and, to a lesser extent Train of Thought
Train of thought
The train of thought, stream of thought, trail of thought, or chain of thought refers to the interconnection in the sequence of ideas expressed during a connected discourse or thought, as well as the sequence itself, especially in discussion how this sequence leads from one idea to another.When a...
era Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
. A single was made for the track "No Reason", that also featured a video.
The album was released through the years from 1994 to 1997 three times, on three different labels (Gun Records, Massacre Records and, finally, Fierce Records) with three different cover artworks. There is then a fourth, much more simple artwork featured on the cover for the promotional version of the album, hosted in cardboard sleeve.
The only line-up change for the recording of "Distortion" was Steve Jacobs replacing Paul Bostaph
Paul Bostaph
Paul Bostaph is a heavy metal drummer. His drumming career began in 1984, when he was 20 years old, and he had since worked with bands like Slayer, Forbidden, Exodus and Systematic. He is from Newark, California and currently drums for Testament...
who had since left for Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
.
Track listing
All tracks written by ForbiddenForbidden (band)
Forbidden is a thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, the group was founded by Russ Anderson and Craig Locicero, who are both permanent members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes...
unless otherwise stated.
- "Distortion" – 5:59
- "Hypnotized by the Rhythm" – 4:56
- "Rape" – 5:22
- "No Reason" – 6:23
- "Feed the Hand" – 6:41
- "Wake Up" – 3:57
- "Mind's Eye" – 4:31
- "All That Is" – 4:17
- "Undertaker" – 6:24
- "21st Century Schizoid Man21st Century Schizoid Man"21st Century Schizoid Man" is a song by progressive rock band King Crimson from their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King.-Personnel:* Greg Lake – Vocals, bass guitar* Ian McDonald – saxophone* Robert Fripp – guitars* Michael Giles – drums...
" – 7:21 (King CrimsonKing CrimsonKing Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
cover) - "Rip Ride" – 2:06 (VenomVenom (band)Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
cover)
- Most copies of the album feature "21st Century Schizoid Man" 10:33 in length with "Rip Ride" as a hidden track after a minute of silence.
Personnel
- Russ Anderson – vocals
- Craig Locicero – guitar
- Tim Calvert – guitar
- Matt Camacho – bass
- Steve Jacobs – drums
- Recorded at Music Annex, Menlo Park, CaliforniaMenlo Park, CaliforniaMenlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
, USA - Produced by Patrick Coughlin and ForbiddenForbidden (band)Forbidden is a thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, the group was founded by Russ Anderson and Craig Locicero, who are both permanent members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes...
- Engineered by Patrick Coughlin