San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans FORBIDDEN have announced "Forbidden", a new self-titled album due out on 23 October via BLKIIBLK, the metal imprint of Frontiers Label Group. It marks the band's first new studio record since 2010's "Omega Wave", and comes with the release of a new single, "Psyclops", accompanied by an official video. The announcement matters to fans of the genre as FORBIDDEN were among the pioneering acts of the Bay Area thrash scene alongside bands such as Metallica and Machine Head.

The 11-track album was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland with engineer/co-producer Zack Ohren, and produced by guitarist Craig Locicero, drummer Chris Kontos and Ohren, with Mastodon's Brann Dailor guesting on the track "Sycophantasy". Locicero described the "Psyclops" single as a "hypnotizing stomper" completed late in the writing process with guitarist Jeremy Von Epp, while singer Norman Skinner's lyrics are left open to listener interpretation. FORBIDDEN will support the album with a headlining North American tour beginning in Las Vegas on 23 October, running into November with support from Heathen and Void.