ALBUM REVIEW: The Wolf Bites Back – Orange Goblin
ORANGE GOBLIN have become a staple name in the hard rock scene for some years now. Their back-catalogue features classics that are held high in the hearts of fans. Four years on from their last release Back From The Abyss, they have released The Wolf Bites Back. The album is one of the band’s darkest approaches to their sound and lyrical aspect, even if they weren’t consciously thinking about it. With a new producer in tow as well, this is all systems go.
Setting things off in true ORANGE GOBLIN style is Sons Of Salem. The song sound-wise is what’s expected from the band, just with a bit more spice. Aforementioned this is the darkest approach to their sound and it’s noted from the get-go, especially lyrically. This continues throughout the album and makes for a nice little venture without straying too far from the sound that has made this band who they are.
One thing that’s pleasant to hear is the influences that have poured in from every angle on this record. From MOTORHEAD to BLACK SABBATH to WISHBONE ASH, this has it all. It’s obviously notable that there are similar vibes to MOTORHEAD strung in there from the guitar work of Phil Campbell who guests on Zeitgeist and title track The Wolf Bites Back. The legendary guitarist brings outstanding solos to the table which add ferocity and speed to the album. ORANGE GOBLIN makes pretty gritty music as it is, but Phil Campbell somehow adds a little bit of extra dirt to the mix. His solos are something listeners won’t know they wanted until they hear them.
As the latest producer for The Wolf Bites Back, Jaime Gomez Arellano is also another welcome addition to the album. Throughout the recording process he pushed the band to reach the best of their abilities but also found the balancing line between some of ORANGE GOBLIN‘s dirtier and heavier years, to their cleaner ones. Mixing the two together and finding that perfect balance is an outstanding effort from Gomez. It shows in the musical capabilities of each member of the band as well just how he pushed them.
Over the years ORANGE GOBLIN have harnessed a sound that can only be truly described as cool. They have grown as a band with their musicianship, their efforts to keep things fun and current without losing touch with who they are and why they started the band in the first place. Their sound has developed and been fine-tuned to the mix and inspiration of all their influences and made it their own, but 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.
Rating: 9/10
The Wolf Bites Back is out now via Candlelight Records.
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