Orange Goblin is a heavy metal band from London, England. Formed in 1995, the band's lineup currently consists of singer Ben Ward, guitarist Joe Hoare, drummer Chris Turner, and bassist Harry Armstrong.
History
Orange Goblin was originally formed in 1995 under the name Our Haunted Kingdom, with original bassist Martyn Millard and fifth member Pete O'Malley on rhythm guitar. The band released a split 7-inch single, ''
Electric Wizard/Our Haunted Kingdom
''Electric Wizard/Our Haunted Kingdom'' is a split-single released by the English stoner metal bands Electric Wizard and Our Haunted Kingdom, who changed their name to Orange Goblin after this release. It was released during 1996 on 7" vinyl thr ...
'', with
Electric Wizard
Electric Wizard are an English doom metal band from Dorset. The band formed in 1993 and have recorded nine studio albums, two of which have been considered genre landmarks: '' Come My Fanatics…'' (1997) and ''Dopethrone'' (2000). Electric Wi ...
in 1996 on
Rise Above Records
Rise Above Records is a London-based independent record label owned by Lee Dorrian (of the band Cathedral and formerly of Napalm Death).
Founding
Lee Dorrian started Rise Above Records in 1988 without the intention of the label being an ongoi ...
The Big Black
''The Big Black'' is the third full-length album by British stoner metal band Orange Goblin, released in 2000 on Rise Above Records.stoner metal
Stoner rock, also known as stoner metal or stoner doom, is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of doom metal with psychedelic rock and acid rock. The genre emerged during the early 1990s and was pioneered foremost by Kyuss and Sleep. ...
and
doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...
genres, and have also been described as
space rock
Space rock is a music genre characterized by loose and lengthy song structures centered on instrumental textures that typically produce a hypnotic, otherworldly sound. It may feature distorted and reverberation-laden guitars, minimal drummin ...
hard rock
Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...
, and other influences to their sound. Their album ''
Thieving from the House of God
''Thieving from the House of God'' is the fifth full-length album by British stoner metal band Orange Goblin, released in 2004. The album features a cover of ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. For 51 ye ...
'' was released in 2004 and included a cover of
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. For 51 years, they comprised vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and vocalist-bassist Dusty Hill, until Hill's death in 2021. ZZ Top developed a signature sound ...
's "Just Got Paid".
Their first five releases were issued by Rise Above Records. O'Malley left the band in 2004 to pursue a career as an artist and was not replaced. Their 2007 album ''
Healing Through Fire
''Healing Through Fire'' is the sixth full-length album by British stoner metal band Orange Goblin, released in 2007. This is their first album released on Sanctuary Records, and their first not to be released by Rise Above Records. Ben Ward sai ...
'' was released on Mayan/
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and is as of 2013 a subsidiary of BMG Rights Management solely for reissues. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest m ...
. In 2008 the band announced that they had signed with Candlelight Records. Two new songs were revealed in May 2009, though the associated album was delayed until 2012.
In mid-2010, the band's back catalog was reissued on Rise Above Records in
digipak
Optical disc packaging is the packaging that accompanies CDs, DVDs, and other formats of optical discs. Most packaging is rigid or semi-rigid and designed to protect the media from scratches and other types of exposure damage.
Jewel case
A ...
form. Their long-delayed seventh album ''
A Eulogy for the Damned
''A Eulogy for the Damned'' is the seventh studio album by British stoner metal band Orange Goblin. It was released by Candlelight Records in 2012.
Reception
''Metal Hammer
''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website ...
'' was released in February 2012. The album earned the band critical acclaim, including being voted No. 3 in
Metal Hammer
''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions available in numerous other countries. ''Metal Hammer'' features news, reviews and long-form ...
magazine's Top Albums of 2012. The same year the group was voted Best Band by the readers of
Terrorizer
Terrorizer is an American grindcore band formed in 1986 in Los Angeles, California. After disbanding, its members gained recognition by playing in influential extreme metal bands, such as Morbid Angel ( David Vincent, Pete Sandoval), Napalm ...
magazine. The band then embarked on a world tour in 2013, playing 161 shows across 28 different countries.
In March 2013, Orange Goblin released ''A Eulogy for the Fans: Orange Goblin Live 2012''. The CD/DVD package included the band's complete performances at Bloodstock Festival on 11 August 2012 and
Hellfest
Hellfest (), also called Hellfest Summer Open Air, is a rock festival focusing on heavy metal music, held annually in June in Clisson, France. Its high attendance makes it the French music festival with the largest turnover. It is also one of ...
in France on 15 June 2012. In October 2014 the band released the studio album ''
Back from the Abyss
''Back from the Abyss'' is the eighth studio album by British heavy metal band Orange Goblin
Orange Goblin is a heavy metal band from London, England. Formed in 1995, the band's lineup currently consists of singer Ben Ward, guitarist Joe Ho ...
'' through Candlelight Records.
In December 2015, the band undertook a 13-date 20th anniversary tour of the United Kingdom. In December 2016 singer Ben Ward received national media coverage in the UK for setting up a
JustGiving
JustGiving is a global online social platform for giving. The firm's headquarters are located in Bankside, London.
History
In 2000, Zarine Kharas and Anne-Marie Huby founded JustGiving, (initially clickforaction.com) a company to provide on ...
campaign aiming to raise money for the staff of music publisher TeamRock who were laid off when the company went into administration. As part of the fundraising effort Orange Goblin played a gig at the Black Heart in
Camden, London
The London Borough of Camden () is a London borough in Inner London. Camden Town Hall, on Euston Road, lies north of Charing Cross. The borough was established on 1 April 1965 from the area of the former boroughs of Hampstead, Holborn, and ...
on 5 January 2017 with all proceeds going to the campaign.
Orange Goblin's ninth studio album '' The Wolf Bites Back'' was released in June 2018. In October 2020, bassist Martyn Millard announced he would be departing amicably from the band. He was replaced in mid-2021 by Harry Armstrong.
Band members
Current lineup
*Ben Ward – vocals (1995–present)
*Joe Hoare – guitars (1995–present)
*Chris Turner – drums (1995–present)
*Harry Armstrong – bass (2021–present)
Former members
*Pete O'Malley – guitars (1995–2004)
*Martyn Millard – bass (1995–2020)
Session musicians
*Duncan Gibbs – keyboards on ''Frequencies from Planet Ten''
*Jason Graham – keyboards on ''Healing Through Fire''
Timeline
The Big Black
''The Big Black'' is the third full-length album by British stoner metal band Orange Goblin, released in 2000 on Rise Above Records.Coup de Grace'' (2002)
*''
Thieving from the House of God
''Thieving from the House of God'' is the fifth full-length album by British stoner metal band Orange Goblin, released in 2004. The album features a cover of ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. For 51 ye ...
'' (2004)
*''
Healing Through Fire
''Healing Through Fire'' is the sixth full-length album by British stoner metal band Orange Goblin, released in 2007. This is their first album released on Sanctuary Records, and their first not to be released by Rise Above Records. Ben Ward sai ...
'' (2007)
*''
A Eulogy for the Damned
''A Eulogy for the Damned'' is the seventh studio album by British stoner metal band Orange Goblin. It was released by Candlelight Records in 2012.
Reception
''Metal Hammer
''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website ...
'' (2012)
*''
Back from the Abyss
''Back from the Abyss'' is the eighth studio album by British heavy metal band Orange Goblin
Orange Goblin is a heavy metal band from London, England. Formed in 1995, the band's lineup currently consists of singer Ben Ward, guitarist Joe Ho ...
'' (2014) UK #98
*'' The Wolf Bites Back'' (2018)
;Live albums
*''A Eulogy for the Fans'' (2013)
*''Rough & Ready, Live & Loud'' (2020)
;EPs
*''
Electric Wizard/Our Haunted Kingdom
''Electric Wizard/Our Haunted Kingdom'' is a split-single released by the English stoner metal bands Electric Wizard and Our Haunted Kingdom, who changed their name to Orange Goblin after this release. It was released during 1996 on 7" vinyl thr ...
'' (1996)
*'' Nuclear Guru'' (1997)
*'' Chrono.Naut / Nuclear Guru'' (1997)
*''The Time'' (1998)
*'' Orange Goblin/Alabama Thunderpussy'' (2000)
;Singles
*"Some You Win, Some You Lose" (2004)
;Compilation appearances
*"Saruman's Wish" on ''Dark Passages II'' (1996)
*"Aquatic Fanatic" on ''Stoned Revolution – The Ultimate Trip'' (1998)
*"Quincy the Pig Boy" on ''Rise 13'' (1999)
*"Black Shapes of Doom" on ''Bastards Will Pay: Tribute to Trouble'' (1999)
*"No Law" on ''High Volume'' (2004)