Search - Orange Goblin :: Healing Through Fire (W/Dvd)

If this isn't hell it's the next best thing

doomsdayer520 | Pennsylvania | 07/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Orange Goblin illustrates the problems with sub-categories in metal. They've been categorized as both stoner metal and doom metal, and these days they've got some cowpunk in 'em too. But they probably don't care about narrow labels, so why should you? All that matters is that Orange Goblin delivers a pummeling good time with sludgy riffs and brutal beats that aren't messing around. Singer Ben Ward earns extra props for avoiding that annoying extreme metal growl that makes everyone sound the same, and he sings with true force and personality.



This album shows Orange Goblin adding more and more power to their formerly stoner-ish sound, especially in the unforgiving opener "The Ballad of Solomon Eagle" and the mesmerizing "Cities of Frost," though the band does slow things down occasionally to make their points clearer, like in portions of "Hot Knives and Open Stores." The only misstep on the album is the short interlude "Mortlake (Dead Water)" in which the band lets their British roots show with a fey medieval instrumental. It's musically impressive but derails the force of the album a bit. But Orange Goblin then gets back on track without delay, finishing up with the weird western-fried epic "Beginner's Guide to Suicide." Add in the gruesome and occasionally creepy lyrics about mass death in the plague, and Orange Goblin have delivered a throbbing slab of metal that should be getting more respect from in-the-know fans. [~doomsdayer520~]"