There’s a giddy sense of occasion tonight because it’s release day for Orange Goblin’s immense comeback opus, ‘Science (Not) Fiction’. Thank you to Crash Records. The band has found themselves in Leeds, and we are not complaining!
There is no support act tonight, London’s finest will take it from here, erupting onto the stage with ‘The Fire At The Centre Of The Earth Is Mine’ and ‘(Not) Rocket Science’ from today’s brand new offering before letting us know that, whilst today is release day, they are not playing the album in its entirety and proceed to plunder golden goblin classics (of which there are many!). What becomes apparent is the huge amount of massive fun the band are having onstage, each member barely concealing their joy whilst giving this northern crowd both barrels, and as the living embodiment of heavy metal thunder, Ben Ward puts it, “Let’s have a fucking Friday night!” It’s so bloody good to have them back and with them some proper British steel, this is the kind of metal you only get in Britain. You get many variants all over the world, but this particular sound is indigenous to the UK, and no one can put their finger on how or why?
‘Sarumans Wish’ from their first album is bursting with classic rock style thanks to guitarist and riff lord, Joe Hoare being in possession of the greatest vintage tube amp tone I’ve heard in a long-time courtesy of a Gibson Les Paul, a backline of Marshall amps and a ton of attitude. Classic rock n roll stomper ‘Cemetery Rats’ is an absolute riot and thanks to Harry Armstrong’s thunderous low-end rumble, we’re united in screw faced rapture. ‘The Filthy and The Few’ is dedicated to the fans and that hardcore fan base will never leave Orange Goblin’s side, they are indeed lifers singing along to every word. New cut ‘Ascend The Negative’ is just groove incarnate and Goblin Version 2.0 certainly has a spring in its collective step as they take off, once again, to planet riff where they rule with an iron fist!
From ‘They Come Back’ and its low-slung swagger to the full pelt crack of ‘The Devil’s Whip’ everything glorious about Orange Goblin and indeed heavy fucking metal is showcased tonight. Bowing out with the gold-plated anthem that is ‘Red Tide Rising’ tonight Orange Goblin have owned Leeds in bold capital letters and underlined it three times! Welcome back ya legends!
Review & Photography By George Miller – https://www.facebook.com/oneflamemedia
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