Formed in 1995, Orange Goblin built their reputation on a foundation of no-nonsense, hard-hitting heavy metal, blending elements of stoner rock, doom, and classic rock ‘n’ roll. Over the years, they have released ten studio albums, from their debut ‘Frequencies From Planet Ten’ (1997) to their latest and arguably most accomplished work, ‘Science, Not Fiction’ (2024). Throughout their career, they have been a staple in the metal community, earning respect for their relentless touring schedule and unwavering commitment to their craft.

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In a heartfelt statement, frontman Ben Ward reflected on the band’s journey, saying, “We feel that now is the right time to step away. We have always given our all to the fans, and we want to go out on a high note.” The reason for the split? The band’s instagram cited perhaps the most important reason of all: family. “It’s not been an easy decision for any of us, we have all given 30 years of our lives to this incredible band, but we feel that now is the right time for us to focus our attention on our families and other interests outside the band.” Despite their decision to part ways, Orange Goblin assured fans that they will fulfil all scheduled commitments, including appearances at major festivals such as Bloodstock and Hellfest. 

The departure of long-time bassist Martyn Millard in 2020 marked a significant turning point for the band. His replacement, Harry Armstrong, brought fresh energy and contributed to the songwriting process on ‘Science, Not Fiction,’ which many fans and critics consider a fitting swansong for the band. Orange Goblin’s music has always resonated with themes of perseverance, rebellion, and camaraderie, values they have embodied both on and off the stage. Their live performances, characterised by raw power and unrelenting energy, have been a testament to their passion and dedication. “We’ve always been an honest band,” Ward remarked. “We know what we are, and we’ve never tried to be anything else.”

Not a chance they call it a day imo,too much a fantastic band will definitely get the odd tour and special show to celebrate album anniversary’s.

If they are the last shows then it’s been a fantastic journey and they have made brilliant music along the way.

— mark skelton (@Skelly2505) January 22, 2025

While this chapter of Orange Goblin’s story is coming to a close, the band has not ruled out future one-off appearances or special projects. “Who knows what the future holds?” Ward teased, leaving a glimmer of hope for fans.

As they prepare to take their final bow, Orange Goblin’s legacy is secure. They will be remembered as one of the most steadfast and genuine acts in British heavy metal, leaving behind a catalog of music that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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Sonic Blast Festival, which celebrates its 10^th anniversary this year, is an event that has, since its inception, played host to the stoner and doom metal genres’ finest roster of groups, and this upcoming 2022 event is no different. Performing at the festival this year-as announced in October of 2021-are legendary Dorset fuzz-pedal connoisseurs Electric Wizard, Nashville stoner/psychedelic rockers All Them Witches, Greek stoner metal band 1000mods, long-running North Carolina doom metal outfit Weedeater, and most recently, London heavy metal band Orange Goblin. After the 2021 festival was cancelled due to COVID-19, as was the case with many a festival around the world, Sonic Blast 2022 looks to be a great one indeed.

Orange Goblin, one of the most exciting recent additions to the line-up, have been at it since 1995, and since then, have put out a steady stream of records, commencing with 1997’s Frequencies from Planet Ten. The band’s latest album was 2018’s The Wolf Bites Back, a record which was well-received by critics and fans alike. Distorted Sound Magazine praised the group on their consistency and staying true to their sound, saying: “The Wolf Bites Back is potentially the most outstanding effort from the band in truly showing what they have got to offer. It’s nothing fancy, there’s nothing on there that makes it a one-trick pony, it is plain and simply an ORANGE GOBLIN album that has been amped up to 11.”

Orange Goblin has also been teasing some new music as of late, posting a picture of guitarist Joe Hoare on Instagram, accompanied by the caption: “Two weeks running in the rehearsal studio! That hasn’t happened for about 10 years but we have the best part of 4/5 new songs in the pipeline and we’re excited for the world to hear what we are cooking up!”

The band has a busy schedule ahead of them for 2022, with a whole host of tour dates and festival appearances, including Desertfest in London, New York and Berlin, Into The Grave Festival in the Netherlands, Barcelona Rock Fest in Spain and Steelhouse Festival in Wales. Full information for the group’s show schedule can be viewed here.