Looking over your shoulder
Orange Goblin: like a mighty dreadnought never taken out of service they possess old fashioned but extremely powerful and reliable components. Or if that doesn't conjure the correct image think Arnie in Terminator 2 - he's obsolete in technological terms but still comes out on top against the young sleek pretender in the guise of T-100. Rise Above records are re-issuing the Goblin's first five albums in a black box-set with the attendant add-ons such as band patches and the expected demos, b-sides and rarities. The kind of treatment usually afforded to the grand old dames of rock and roll but everyone gets the deluxe treatment now as record companies struggle for a way to sell physical product. Having said that this set definitely has its moments and demonstrates why this bunch of tattooed bruisers are held in such affection by rockers on this Island.
Essentially, if you have ever banged your head, shouted 'fuck yes!' to a skycraping guitar solo or teamed a black band shirt with unwashed denim you'll find some worthy ammunition here to continue such practices. Orange Goblin are adherents to an old code the same one followed by peers Spiritual Beggars and Cathedral – the songs are blues based and turned up to 11, they concern drug taking, heavy riffs, display instrumental virtuosity (kicking arse basically), a dose of unfettered masculinity and little else. Not much has changed in philosophical terms in their chosen genre – heavy narcotic doom rock – since Tony Iommi strapped on his SG and banged out that diminished fifth riff to 'Black Sabbath' in 1970.
Drawing from a palette of ten-tonne drums, fuzzed up guitar and Ben Ward's lead lined lungs the band's early work is a little one dimensional but not without the odd highlight such as the rollicking 'Saruman's Wish' and the excellently titled 'Song of the Purple Mushroom Fish'. By the time of album number two "Frequencies From Planet Ten" they'd mastered their craft sustaining long-players more readily and providing bigger kicks. The difference between hash and skunk you might say. The major criticism to be levelled at the Goblin is a simple one: they are always competent but sometimes uninspiring. This may sound unexciting and, at times, it is. However, a progression can be charted from the stoner cuts of their first two albums to the more punk and hard rock influenced grooves of later albums 'Coup de Grace' and 'Thieving from the House of God'. Highlights in more recent times include the Melvins esque stomp and grind of 'The Big Black' the acoustic trip of 'Graviton', the welter of riffs that is 'Cozmo Bozo' and the soul infused 'Black Egg'. The extras scattered across the discs consist of homage paying covers like Leaf Hound's 'Freelance Fiend', 'We Bite' by the Misfits and a couple of Sabbath tunes. The live tracks convey the infectious power of their live show which in all honesty is probably the best showcase for their talents.
Dedicated avoiders of fashion they may be but Orange Goblin know which side their bread is buttered on and have stuck to a reliable formula: if you want heavy, swinging grooves galvanised by punk attitude then this is a useful purchase. But it is telling that the band have shelved recording for the time being. They still continue to tour like dogs and maybe this time away from the studio will recharge their creative batteries but if not, this box set is a fitting relic. Whatever happens though, Orange Goblin like that Dreadnought will always be capable of unleashing a welter of power and volume.