AND THE NEW TOURING GUITARIST FOR GOD FORBID IS…

…Matt Wicklund, formerly of the now-defunct Himsa. He also played on Praises to the War Machine, the excellent solo album Nevermore’s Warrel Dane released last year.

Truthfully: I always respected Himsa and own a couple of their records, but I was never very passionate about the band. Whatever cliché you wanna use – “didn’t hit me on a gut level” or whatever – that was Himsa for me.

That being said, Wicklund is clearly a gifted guitarist. And even though I’d obviously love, as a God Forbid fan, for Dallas Coyle to still be in the group, there’s something kind of fun about this rotating line-up of all-star axe slingers filling in. First it was Darkest Hour’s Kris Norris, now Wicklund… who knows what other colorful personalities could potentially play with GF before the Earthsblood touring cycle comes to an end?

In other news, because Trivium bassist Paulo Gregoletto just had his wisdom teeth removed (as you’d know if you were following Paulo on Twitter!), God Forbid’s Doc Coyle will be filling in on bass for Trivium, on the first Mayhem Fest date in Sacramento. I would actually love to see how that goes down. If anyone attends the show, drop us a line and let us know how it was.

-AR

[via Metal Underground]