Orange Goblin play their last show in Manchester – a celebratory night full of heavy metal emotion as the band sign off in style.

OFGB

Orange Goblin are a complete workhorse of a band. They’ve never compromised their principles and after thirty years, they are signing off. It’s sad to see such a great band moving on, especially when there are so many sub par bands scaling the heights.

Although they’ve decided to end things, one more run around the UK and Ireland is the perfect antidote to the daily grind of forced festivities at this time of year. Manchester is sold out, on a Saturday; conditions are perfect. It’s business time.

URNE

Urne were playing in support of Orange Goblin when COVID hit. Consequently, everything changed for everyone. Now, Urne are back supporting, completing that tour with Orange Goblin.

They play a four song song that is technically excellent. Be Not Dismayed opens proceedings to an already full venue. Urne clearly have a loyal fanbase already with plenty of punters representing them with their attire. Around each corner is an interesting musical passage, be it a change in vocal style, a solo or a punishingly heavy rhythm.

The Spirit, Alive is a shorter cut with The Burden following. Set closer, Harken The Waves, is the highlight however. Recorded with Troy Sanders of Mastadon, the song is a hulking prog-metal piece that the band clearly love, due to the fact they were working with Mastadon. With three quarters of the set coming from their forthcoming album, due in January, Urne are clearly a band to keep an eye on.

GRAND MAGUS

It has been around nine months since Grand Magus last appeared in Manchester, supporting Opeth. Anyone that knows Grand Magus will know exactly what they are getting into. The true spirit of heavy metal runs through the DNA of everything that band does. The trio create a brilliant blend of heavy metal that gets the blood pumping.

Ten albums in, Grand Magus, like Orange Goblin, are band that have grafted over the years. How do you surmise yourself in thirty minutes with the plethora of songs you have? Answer…just dish up the hits. I, The Jury opens proceedings to an already fervent crowd. It’s fist pumping brilliant.

Steel Vs Steel is a bonafide highlight. Manchester is challenged to sing louder than the previous nights crowd. Obviously, Manchester rules. They are loud with their “Steel versus steel,” chants. The title track from their latest album, 2024’s Sunraven, is a another success, but it’s the closing duo of songs that step things up a notch.

Like The Oar Strikes The Water is brilliant. It sets up the set closer; the almighty Hammer Of The North. Manchester turns out in full voice in the middle of the song as the band halt playing to let the crowd run with it. It’s a beautiful moment that leads into the main event of the evening.

ORANGE GOBLIN

And so, it comes to pass. Orange Goblin’s final show in Manchester. As the saying / AC/DC track states, it’s a long way to the top…if you wanna rock and roll. It’s this mantra that plays the band onstage. The reception the heavy metal heroes get when they step out on stage is huge. There is already a euphoric feel in the air, that Ben Ward adds, is bittersweet. It’s a mutual feeling.

Opening with Solarisphere, Orange Goblin waste no time in throwing down their marker. It is full on infectious energy. Following it up with Saruman’s Wish only furthers the fervour. It’s a brilliant song that saw release way back when, on Frequencies From Planet Ten.

Ben Ward comments that it’s great to be back in Manchester having played probably all the venues in the city. This writer can attest to seeing Orange Goblin in a fair few; Sound Control (now a stack of student flats), Moho (now a fun pub), the main Academy venue (supporting Down), the Ritz…they’ve certainly got their ticks from Mancunian venues.

From starting out digging straight back to the beginning, Orange Goblin also sprinkle in a couple of tracks from their last album, Science, Not Fiction. (Not) Rocket Science and Ascend The Negative both sit well with the classics; it’s a testament to just how consistent the heavy metallers have been over their three decades of glorious music.

THE BALANCING ACT

Songs for the final Orange Goblin transmission were influenced by posts on social media with fans getting involved in selecting their favourites. It’s fairly obvious how some of the selections would transpire. Scorpionica, from The Big Black, is dished up early doors. It sparks a flurry of crowd surfers going over the top. Props to the security for their work with this. It’s a sentiment shared from the stage. Orange Goblin have always stood for having a good time and everyone involved on this night is clearly in for a good time.

Back From The Abyss is acknowledged with a furious version of The Devil’s Whip before a deadly version of the Carpenter inspired The Fog. Although it has been played over the years, Ward comments that they haven’t played it for a while. It’s a stunning choice as it is a song choc full of drama. It has crushing doom passages and blistering solo parts. Taken from A Eulogy From The Damned, their 2012 album saw their most commercial success. It is no surprise that a large chunk of tonight’s set comes from that album.

Acid Trial and Stand For Something are two other huge tracks from the album. Prior to the latter, Ward talks about the integrity and honesty they have as a band. The words ring incredibly true. As the band head down the final furlong, Quincy The Pigboy is sandwiched in-between two other smashers from ‘Eulogy;’ The Filthy & The Few and the bombastic, Red Tide Rising, which closes things out in rapturous fashion.

ORANGE. FUCKING. GOBLIN. BABY.

Orange Goblin will never be forgotten in heavy metal circles. Tonight demonstrated why they are such a revered band amongst the community. Whatever the reasons for hanging it up, you can bet your last shilling that Orange Goblin will live on forever.

Who knows? They might be tempted to dust it off a few years down the line, such is the appetite for reunions, album sets at festivals and the fact that there aren’t many like Orange Goblin. One thing for sure is that if there is ever another opportunity to witness the might of Orange Goblin, you’d better believe we’ll be there.

OFGB…forever.

Orange Goblin: Website

Grand Magus: Website

URNE: Website

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