Orange Goblin Interview with Joe Hoare (Guitars)

“There’s no point in dressing it up. We’re a meat and potatoes heavy metal band. There are so many genres around these days, people have funny ideas about what heavy metal is. But to me, it’s an attitude, it’s a lifestyle, it’s not something you decide to dip into. You either are or you’re not. And it’s for life.”

Honest, hard-working, humble and true, Orange Goblin are easy to spot in a world fuelled by bullshit. For the last 30 years, these London-based diehards have tirelessly flown the flag for balls-out heavy metal and maximum rock ‘n’ roll. Driven by passion, persistence and heartfelt love for metal’s dark magic, Orange Goblin have always been a vital force and a risk-free bet. From the boisterous stoner rock uproar of debut album Frequencies From Planet Ten (1997) and the deeper, doomier rumblings of The Big Black (2000), to more recent critically-acclaimed triumphs A Eulogy For The Damned (2012) and The Wolf Bites Back (2018), their contribution to British metal has been vast and enduring, earning them legendary, tribal treasure status among the denim ‘n’ leather legions of the UK and beyond.

Orange Goblin have made many great albums in the past, but none as deep and dynamic as Science, Not Fiction. From the explosive death-boogie of opener “The Fire At The Centre Of The Earth Is Mine” onwards, the band’s tenth album crackles with energy and belligerence. With the new line-up fizzing with chemistry, the hard rocking likes of “(Not) Rocket Science”, “The Fury Of A Patient Man” and “The Justice Knife” breathe new life into some classic Orange Goblin tropes. Meanwhile, twisted prog-doom detours like “False Hope Diet” and “Cemetary Rats” take the Londoners into epic new territory, with everything from skull-shattering punk ‘n’ roll to transcendent space rock hurled into the swirling brew.

“It is a continuation of what we’ve been doing, and that’s because when we write, it’s a big mixing bowl of all of our influences and favourite artists, and we try and create the perfect band that we always wanted to hear,” Ben states. “This album, it’s just more accomplished and mature, I guess. None of us are spring chickens anymore and we’ve got ten albums under our belts now. I feel like we’re more professional in the recording studio, I feel like we’re better musicians and writers, and now with me looking after myself, I feel like my performance is better as well. It’s all moving in the right direction.”

I got to sit down with guitarist Joe Hoare where we talked about the Orange Goblin coming to an end, the final tour and how the band got their name.

With great stories, chats and banter this is not one to be missed.

Avalible on all streaming platforms.

Check out Orange Goblin here: https://www.instagram.com/orangegoblinofficial/
Track played: '(Not) Rocket Science', ©️ all rights reserved Orange Goblin

Edited by Richie Duhig of The Metal Cell Podcast.
Like, subscribe and always support the scene. Horns up and stay safe 🤘🤘

The Smashing Skull Sessions: https://www.instagram.com/thesmashingskullsessions/