“URNE are the future of British metal.”
Ben Ward doesn’t waste words, and it’s hard to argue with him. Opening the night at KK’s Steel Mill, URNE make an immediate impression with a set that feels dense, deliberate and quietly commanding.
There are clear Mastodon vibes running through their sound – complex without being self-indulgent, heavy without being blunt – and even within a short opening slot they leave a mark. “Be Not Dismayed” and “Serpent and Spirit” grind with purpose, while “The Burden” carries a distinctly Gojira-ish weight. “Harken the Waves” closes things out with confidence, and with a new album arriving in January, URNE look ready to take a significant step forward.
GRAND MAGUS follow, and the contrast in experience is immediate. Thirty years into their career, they remain absolute masters of the form. Watching Grand Magus live is to witness a masterclass in what heavy metal is supposed to be – what it means, what it sounds like, and how it should feel. There’s a pleasing sense of symmetry too, with JB Christoffersson reminding the crowd that their very first tour was alongside Orange Goblin.
Christoffersson, joined by Fox Skinner and Ludwig “Ludde” Witt, lead with total authority. They are the epitome of heavy metal, and from the opening charge of “I, the Jury”, the room belongs to them. And frankly, if you can’t bang your head to “Steel Versus Steel” and can’t get your fists in the air for “Ravens Guide Our Way”, then metal might not be for you.
With time limited, the set order is shifted slightly, but nothing loses impact. “Like the Oar Strikes the Water” arrives earlier than usual, before the weight and grandeur of last year’s “Sunraven” title track lands exactly as it should. “Hammer of the North” closes the set in familiar, thunderous fashion, its chants echoing long after the band have left the stage. It’s close to perfect support for Orange Goblin.
And then there’s ORANGE GOBLIN.
This tour is being billed as their final run, and Goblin singer – and absolute man mountain – Ben Ward doesn’t shy away from that reality. With ten albums behind them and limited time, tough decisions have clearly been made, but what follows is a set that underlines exactly why Orange Goblin matter.
They tear straight into “Solarisphere” before the rolling groove of “Saruman’s Wish” locks the room in place. Before “(Not) Rocket Science”, Ward grins and simply declares, “It’s heavy metal,” and the band duly deliver. Heavy it certainly is, but as always with Orange Goblin, there’s far more going on beneath the surface.
“Your World Will Hate This” and “Ascend the Negative” push the aggression, while “Cozmo Bozo” – an oldie dusted off for this run – and “Stand for Something” showcase the depth of their songwriting. Ward reminds the crowd they’ve been doing this for thirty years, and “Round Up the Horses” proves exactly why that longevity has been earned.
“Aquatic Fanatic” hits especially hard, its significance impossible to ignore – Orange Goblin’s debut single, originally released as a split with Electric Wizard. A crushing cover of Black Sabbath’s “Into the Void” feels entirely natural, a nod to the roots that first set the band on this path. “Time Travelling Blues” shifts the dynamic once again, highlighting the band’s range without a hint of rock-star pretension.
There’s no encore break. Orange Goblin don’t do that. They stay onstage and plough straight through “Scorpionica”, “Quincy the Pigboy” and the closing “Red Tide Rising”, hammering home just how formidable they still are. Underrated by some, perhaps – but never by those who truly understand.
If this really is the end, then Orange Goblin leave on their own terms. No grand gestures, no false drama, just riffs, volume and absolute belief in what they’ve always been. They’ve never chased trends, never pretended to be anything other than a heavy metal band, and that honesty is why they’ve lasted.
Thirty years on, they stand as proof that commitment matters, that integrity matters, and that heavy metal done properly never needs to explain itself. If this is goodbye, it’s a proud one – and an ending worthy of the band they’ve always been.
Thanks to Emma for the setlist picture
