ORANGE GOBLIN
Healing Through Fire
Sanctuary Records
As with all Orange Goblin fans, any album is an essential purchase, but with this regard, I will say that this new album is not inaccessible for people who have not heard their music before.
Orange Goblin began over ten years ago, with deep roots in the Stoner Rock scene pioneered somewhat by the likes of Kyuss. Working with Electric Wizard, originally called Our Haunted Kingdom, Orange Goblin chose the current moniker and the rest is history.
The Stoner Rock label has helped the band garner well-earned respect from around the globe, allowing the band to work with luminaries such as John Garcia, Scott Reeder, and Billy Anderson and tour stadiums with QOTSA, Nebula, Danzig, and more.
The underlying theme for the album is that of the Great Plague and Fire of London … something the lyrics display with vigor.
This new album is a return to form for Orange Goblin’s new chosen path of heavy rock (taking the meandering path of stoner and punk along the way) and the first song “Ballad of Solomon Eagle” (by no way an actual ballad) kicks in with a huge heavy STOMP. Ben Wards‘ Guttural vocals match the guitars, bass, and drums punch for punch.
“Vagrant Stomp” is a punk drive-with-your-top-down-and-let-them-all-hear song to get pulled over by the police for rocking on the road to fast.
“The Ale House Braves” is classic heavy stoner rock shout.
With a change in pace, “Cities of Frost” (perhaps a homage to Celtic Frost?) with a slower paced metal offering with death-metal throat scratching vocals with lyrics that depict the demise of London … “A generation wiped out in one day.”
“Hot Knives and Open Sores” and “Hounds Ditch” — other NONE-filler tracks (like all the tracks on the album — show the world the kind of heavy-rock playing by the likes of Jo Hoare, Martyn Millard, and Chris Turner …instru-MENTAL playing to rival the greats.
“Mortlake (Dead Water)” is an instrumental departure for the band, but at least it shows the band’s not scared to try something absurd/different/interesting.
“They Come Back (Harvest of Skulls)” contains one of the greatest lyrics to be shouted at a live gig … “ROTS! WRITHES! They come back to take the Living! ROT! WRITHES!” Completely immersive at a live gig, played the same here!
The final track “Beginners Guide to Suicide” is not all doom and gloom as the title suggests … moreover admiration for bands such as ZZ-Top including, let’s just say, guitar playing you wouldn’t expect! Perhaps a harmonica as well.
GO OUT AND BUY THIS ALBUM, BEFORE THE WORLD SINKS BENEATH A DELUGE OF FASHION-EMOTIONAL ROCK! REVEL IN WHAT REAL ROCK IS!
TURN IT UP PAST ELEVEN!
EXTRAS
The audio CD comes packaged with a limited-edition bonus DVD, which includes:
- Live footage from the band’s headline show at London’s Mean Fiddler in December 2006.
- An interview with the band.
- Unseen studio footage.
Album also available on import.
Bravo Manic Rage!
This review covers something we don’t see enough of in “Geeks Of Doom” — the music scene. I mean, what self-respecting Geek DOESN’T crank up the tunes?
I’m also interested in the UK rock scene and in discovering new bands. On your recommendation, I will be listening to Orange Goblin and looking for their work. I especially liked your comments about the song “Vagrant Stomp” and “Cities Of Frost.”
One of the most valuable services Geeks Of Doom offers is information about projects that you just don’t hear about ANYWHERE else. Your review not only offers interesting criticism but valuable information.
I’m off to see what else I can find on the ‘net about this interesting band….
very cool! this’ll be going into my collection soon.
@T.E. — you are right about there NOT being enough music represented here, but we’re working to change that! D3 and I are big-time metalheads and musicians as well, so we’re thrilled to have people join the Doom ranks to contribute more music content.
HEY HEY! I BLAG THE MUSIC REVIEWS ASWELL! SHOTGUN!
I discovered this band through my other half Sam (Manic_Rage) and went to see them in Manchester, UK my hometown just over a month ago now.
I thoroughly enjoyed their performance, it was breathtaking and brusing, a true heavy metal ensemble. The album including the artwork is stunning.
[...] the band to work with luminaries such as John Garcia, Scott Reeder, and Billy Anderson source: Music Review: Orange Goblin, Geeks of [...]