San Franciso Bay Area metallers FORBIDDEN check in with the following update from guitarist Craig Locicero:

"Hey everyone,

We just wanted to give you all an update on what's been going on in the Forbidden Camp.

First off we have to let everyone know that Gene Hoglan (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) WILL be playing our first few gigs in February, not Paul Bostaph. Paul has been busy doing the TESTAMENT gig and was non-committal about Forbidden practices and shows. We had to make a choice and we feel we made the correct one. The last thing we would have wanted to do is go out there in front of everyone unrehearsed and unprepared. So, Gene is going to spend all of February with us getting the Beast off the ground! Both Glen and I have played with Gene in Testament and DEATH respectively. So we're pretty familiar with each-others styles and we're also great friends. Hopefully Paul's and Forbidden's paths will still cross in the near future. In the meantime we're going to CRUSH people with Mean Gene behind the kit!!!

About the shows. Obviously most folks already know that we're doing DEATH ANGEL's CD release gig at Slim's in San Francisco as a co-headlining bill. This is a very important show for us because it's in our home town and it's with our Bro's D.A.!!! But, we'll also be playing a couple of other gig's before that. We need to knock some of the rust off! No better way to do that then playing live.

We're going to be playing at the Fat Cat in Modesto California on February 24th with SKINLAB and KAOS! This show should be a blow-out. It gives some of the folks from the South East part of the Bay and further down a chance to see Forbidden since the Death Angel show is already almost sold out.

We'll also be announcing a gig at a secret location before the Modesto show in a few weeks. This will be in a small venue and it's purpose will be to try out some of the material for the select few that can get inside. We'll also make it a meet and greet for some lucky fans to get pictures and sign some stuff as well. We figure that this Gene Hoglan backed line-up might as well get our feet wet as much as we can before the big Bay Area smash-up. So when we announce this "secret show" those who want to go better jump on the chance ASAP!!!

The last thing I want everyone to know is that Glen and I have been working like mad dogs on the songs! We're trying to get together a few times a week to work out the details. Glen already knows all of Forbidden Evil and some of the Twisted Into Form material. Those are the records we're really concentrating on for the time being. Now we're getting all of the parts down as the guitar duo we used to be, but much better! We have so much more wisdom and experience (OK, we're older) then we did as the kids just out of High School that we were when we recorded F.E. I have to admit that I'm a little surprised that my picking hand is getting up to speed as quickly as it is. It really is like riding a bike, just really fast! We should be a lot tighter of a band then we ever were with all of the preparation that we're taking. I can't wait to get Russ, Gene and Matt with us all in the same room to bash it out.

We want to give everyone that spends one red penny on seeing Forbidden live in 2008 there money's worth!!!

See you all soon,

Craig."