Orange Goblin / KK’s Steelmill / Wolverhampton

A trip across from East to West Midlands, and to one of my absolute favourite venues – KK’s Steelmill in Wolverhampton, to witness the end of an era. It’s hard to believe that Orange Goblin have been around 30 years, and now, they’re calling time on an illustrious career in style, with a farewell tour, featuring Grand Magus and Urne.

Up first are Urne who are Joe Nally (vocals & bass), Angus Neyra (guitar) and James Cook (drums), but also joined frequently live by guitarist Kurtis Bagley. They play a heavy sound, somewhere between stoner/doom metal and metalcore. They dropped their debut EP “The Mountain of Gold” in 2018 and their first album “Serpent & Spirit” in 2021. Then in 2023 they released their critically acclaimed follow up, “A Feats of Sorrow” a dark, introspective journey through devastating loss. Their new album “Setting Fire to the Sky” is due for release in January 2026.

Urne deliver a short, technically excellent four song set, starting out with Be Not Dismayed from the forthcoming new album “Setting Fire to the Sky” to a pretty packed KK’s, testament to their own growing popularity. Around each corner is an interesting musical passage, be it a change in vocal style, a solo or a punishingly heavy rhythm.

The Spirit, Alive follows, delivering a dark grungy slice of stoner metal before we’re hit with The Burden the only song not from the new album (this one from 2023’s “A Feast of Sorrow”) following, focusing on emotions, not just raw power. A slow burner it builds and builds and delivers something quite extraudinary.

The set closer, Harken The Waves, is perhaps the highlight. Recorded with Troy Sanders of Mastadon, it’s a towering prog-metal masterpiece. Following the lead from The Burden, it’s an expansive track, both technically and emotionally, building it’s power patiently towards a finale that doesn’t explode out at you, but somehow washes over you, and lingers on the senses.

Joe’s vocals are as grandiose and wrought with emotional pain as ever, and all signs point to the new album being a hit with live crowds in 2026 !

Setlist

Be Not Dismayed

The Spirit Alive

The Burden

Harken the Waves

Next up, from Stockholm in Sweden we have Grand Magus who are Janne "JB" Christoffersson (guitar & vocals), Mats "Fox" Skinner (bass) and Ludwig "Ludde" Witt (drums). The released their self-titled debut in 2001 and have released ten studio albums, the most recent being 2024’s “Sunraven”.

It’s not been that long since I last saw Grand Magus live, last time was earlier in 2025 when they were at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham supporting Opeth on their monumental “The Last Will and Testament” tour.

Grand Magus are no frills, balls to the wall heavy metal which gets any crowd going. They delivered a set of hit after hit starting off with I, The Jury the opening track from 2010’s “Hammer of the North”. It’s fast and furious and has the Wolverhampton crowd bouncing to its engaging riffs and chorus sections you just have to shout back at the stage.

Steel Vs Steel from 2014’s “Triumph and Power” is a real highlight of the set with JB tells us this one is meant to the played at the Steelmill and he encourages the Wolverhampton crowd to show the West Midlands is the true heart of heavy metal and to sing louder than any other show so far, and of course the crowd duly oblige as they chant ‘Steel vs Steel’ !

Sunraven, the title track from the 2024 album is stunning, delivering a moment of beautiful melodic metal, with guitar riffs intertwined through the mix rather than being force and dominating the sound.

As the set closes we enjoy Aran and Hammer of the North (title track from the 2010 album) which sees the crowd take over full voice in the middle of the song much to the bands delight.

Grand Magus never disappoints. They deliver heavy metal straight from the heart and with a smile on their faces. A worth headliner in their own right, and a band I’ll always look forward to seeing.

Setlist

I, The Jury

Skybound

Steel vs Steel

Ravens Guide

Sunraven

Aran

Hammer of the North

As the stage is prepared for the headliners, it hits me that this is really a poignant moment. After 30 years, Orange Goblin are calling it quits  The stoner metal icons formed in London back in 1995 and the current line up consists of Ben Ward (vocals), Joe Hoare (guitar), Chris Turner (drums) and Harry Armstrong (bass).

The released their debut album “Frequencies from Planet Ten” in 1997 and their tenth and final album “Science, Not Fiction” in 2024.

The atmosphere at KK’s in intense now, everyone knowing they are witnessing history, the final tour performances of Orange Goblin.

The Wolverhampton crowd enjoy a set littered with hit after hit. Saruman’s Wish from their 1997 debut “Frequencies From Planet 10” is a great reminder of where it all started with it’s slowed down, more precise approach, and the crowd are lapping it up !

With Cosmo Bozo, from 2000’s “The Big Black” the intensity drops as the riffs add a more psych-rock vibe playful and infectious feeling to the set. Some of my highlights include Your World Will Hate This taken from 2002’s “Cour De Grace”, which is packed with high intensity energy and punk-like confrontational style. Always a live favourite, the crowd are shouting back and living every note.

As the main set draws to a close, the unmistakable tones of Into the Void ring out around the venue, and where better for their Black Sabbath cover, than here ? It’s long been a part of the OG live set, but seems somehow more powerful and meaningful tonight.

Scorpiconia from 2000’s “The Big Black” sees them at their heaviest. It’s direct, uncompromising with powerful heavy riff after heavy riff, before the chaos that is Quincy the Pigboy (also from “The Big Black”) hits us. It has a dark twisted humour to it, and delivered with a heavy almost aggressive style that adds to it’s chaotic nature – pure Orange Goblin at its best !

The night finally comes to a close with Red Tide from 2012’s “Eulogy For The Damned”. It must be emotional for the guys, but the track is delivered perfectly, the riffs heavy, the drums pound and resonate round the cavernous chamber that is KK’s.

As the final notes ring out Orange Goblin pause to take it all in. The crowd are cheering and shouting, and they don’t want this night, or this band to end……. It’s an emotional moment for everyone present, sad at what is ending but thankful that it happened.

Simply stunning

Setlist

Solarisphere

Saruman’s Wish

(Not) Rocket Science

Your World Will Hate This

Ascend the Negative

Cosmo Bozo

Stand for Something

The Devil’s Whip

Round up the Horses

Acid Trail