ALBUM REVIEW: Orange Goblin, "Science, Not Fiction"

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: July 17^th, 2024
Label: Peaceville Records

“Science, Not Fiction” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. The Fire At The Centre Of The Earth Is Mine
2. (not) Rocket Science
3. Ascend The Negative
4. False Hope Diet
5. Cemetary Rats
6. The Fury Of A Patient Man
7. Gemini (Twins Of Evil)
8. The Justice Knife
9. End Of Transmission
10. Eye Of The Minotaur (Bonus Track)
 
The Review:

Orange Goblin return, after a lengthy few years between albums and once again prove why they have become- effectively- the Motorhead of their chosen genre. Each album delivers what you want, but, unlike the mighty ‘Head the breaks between records make each Orange Goblin album an “EVENT” and not just ‘another’ album.
 
Founding bassist Martyn Millard has departed- some years ago- and has been replaced by Harry Armstrong (Blind River), elsewhere Joe Hoare, Chris Turner and Ben Ward are as solid, dependable and recognisable as ever. The band sounds so strong here and the enthusiasm and care put into this album really comes through in the songs.
 
From the opening bass riff of “The Fire at The Centre Of The Earth Is Mine” to the closing “End of Transmission”, the band is rocket propelled, jet fuelled, firing on all cylinders and burnin’ up the atmosphere. It’s an assured set of performances and songs.
 
In between the opener and closer, the band don’t put a foot wrong. This is a very strong record from front to back, advance track “(Not) Rocket Science” is brilliant, “Ascend The Negative” is superb, “Cemetery Rats” is speedy and shows the punk side of the band, The Justice Knife is dark and harrowing and the aforementioned “End of Transmission” is as good an epitaph for the band as any they have ever written.
 
Throughout, Joe Hoare puts in a man of the match performance (again) with tasteful and song-serving playing. Ben Ward, a man reborn, is on gruff and powerful form. Ben’s battles with alcohol, depression and his health have been documented by the big man himself on social media, but now he is lean and mean, counting his calories and training hard. Truly, he has become a man remade and his muscled appearance matches the strength of his vocals here.
 
The band’s recent performance at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds for the album launch was one of the best times I’ve seen the band; they were on top form and dealt out a set of new and old tracks which displayed their experience. It showed that the band are at the top of their game.
 
The mix of stoner, heavy rock, punk, Motorhead infused swagger and darker influences from more extreme genres on this album works beautifully. Hopefully, the band won’t wait so long until the next album- but if this is to be the last one, or even the last one for a few years, the band can and should be very proud of what they’ve achieved here. It’s a rare band that has no bad albums in their catalogue, but Orange Goblin join Motorhead, Overkill, Death, Bolt Thrower and a handful of others who can make that claim.  A must listen.
 
“Science, Not Fiction” is available HERE

Band info: facebook 

ALBUM REVIEW: Morta Skuld - "Wounds Deeper Than Time"

By Theron Moore

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/02/2017

Label: Peaceville Records

When Dave Gregor screams, concrete walls get cracked and foundations become unstable.  Nothing on “Wounds Deeper Than Time,” sounds forced, rather, the music commands itself.   When a part in a song has to be slow, its juggernaut slow.  When it has to be fast, it’s like a machine gun, and just as deadly.  Start to finish, the record is crushing. 

“Wounds Deeper Than Time” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Breathe in the Black
2. Hating Life
3. My Weakness
4. Against the Origin
5. In Judgment
6. Wounds Deeper than Time
7. Scars Within
8. Devour the Chaos
9. Becoming One Flesh  

The Review:

I’ve been a fan of Morta Skuld since 1990.  I reviewed their demo, “Prolong the Agony” in my ‘zine “Louder Than God.” (BI.  Before internet.)  A few years ago I included the band in my book, “All My Friends Are Rock Stars.”  So when I hear Morta Skuld is releasing a new disc, I’m excited.  It’s been 20 years since Wisconsin’s finest have released a new record.  Back in the day the band couldn’t be touched, they were that good.  Question is, have they stood the test of time?

Five tracks into “Wounds Deeper Than Time,” my question is answered.  Yes.  They have.  I never expect a record to be good beginning to end.  There’s always a clunker, always a song that I personally don’t care for.  “Wounds…” proved me wrong.  Big time.  Start to finish, the record is crushing.  Singer, Dave Gregor’s vocals are spot on, perfect, raging with anger, frustration and aggression.  And it feels genuine, that’s the vibe I got, he conveyed.  When he screams, concrete walls get cracked and foundations become unstable.

I firmly believe this is the best record the band has made, and I’m still a big fan of “Through the Eyes of Death,” my favorite, still.  The music is brutally heavy, reminiscent of Obituary, but better, and yeah, I’m a fan of Obituary as well.  Nothing on “Wounds Deeper Than Time,” sounds forced, rather, the music commands itself.  When a part in a song has to be slow, its juggernaut slow.  When it has to be fast, it’s like a machine gun, and just as deadly. 

“Wounds Deeper Than Time” is available here

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

Katatonia - "The Fall of Hearts" (Album Review)

By: Phil Weller    

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 20/05/2016
Label: Peaceville Records

These songs are harmonised and bolstered by each member, with each instrument vital without ever dominating and as such, this feels like one of Katatonia’s most well rounded releases to date.  Ten albums in and they sound fresh, replenished and polished, throughout the album as a whole, are some perfectly placed and executed riffs. You feel a lot of the time they are holding back, never fully going for the jugular, and that caged beast approach makes these songs utterly compelling.

“The Fall of Hearts” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Takeover
2). Serein
3). Old Heart Falls
4). Decima
5). Sanction
6). Residual
7). Serac
8). Last Song Before The Fade
9). Shifts
10). The Night Subscriber
11). Pale Flag
12). Passer

The Review:

As I write this, I write on the dawn of a changed Britain. Amid the dramatic shifting of both the British and the European political landscape, there is, despite a majority vote for Britain to leave the EU, a gloomy sense of dread residing over this little island, a sense of not knowing where our future lies and how it will all pan out. Rain patters against my windows pane and Katatonia’s tenth studio album, ‘The Fall Of Hearts’ provides a fittingly greyscale soundtrack this morning.

Yet, beneath their frowns and sighs is a sense of hoping, a light piercing through the dark. From the raw emotion of the uplifting guitar leads in ‘Serac’ to the delicate doting of ‘Decima’, decorated by genteel acoustic and soothing strings, here is a record endorsed by the Swedish band’s worldly experience and musicianship. Ten albums in and they sound fresh, replenished and polished.     

The record starts to unfold instantly, Jonas Renkse, who also takes on co-production duties, purring atop cascading clean guitars. Sprinkled throughout the track, and indeed the album as a whole, are some perfectly placed and executed riffs. You feel a lot of the time they are holding back, never fully going for the jugular, and that caged beast approach makes these songs utterly compelling. These songs are harmonised and bolstered by each member, with each instrument vital without ever dominating and as such, this feels like one of Katatonia’s most well rounded releases to date. The light and shade of ‘Takeover’, which boats some excellent guitar work betwixt serene acoustics and dark, ominous piano introduces the album perfectly.

Preceeded by the aforementioned ‘Decima’, ‘Sanction’, hinging on a monster riff, benefits from the calm before the storm and stands as one of the record’s standout moments. ‘Passer’, for those wanting a little more meat and potato offers just that – more savagery in the form of relentless blast beats and gruff guitar work amongst the breezing vocals.

Yet, as much as there are stand out moments pocketed throughout the record, the greatest success is just how well it flows from start to finish: It sucks you in and before you know it all 12 tracks have passed by. This is achieved through their signature overcast atmosphere, that blackened mood that, contrary to first impressions, isn’t wholly surrendering. There is hope and an inner strength lurking within and on a day like today it is both cathartic and empowering. An excellent record.

“The Fall of Hearts” is available here

Band info: facebook