ORANGE GOBLIN, ANGEL WITCH, ALABASTER SUNS
UNDERWORLD CAMDEN - 20/12/08
It’s late December 2008, and it’s time for yet another Orange Goblin Christmas show. Last such show I caught was at the London Astoria 2 in 2006, with support from Grand Magus, and the set recorded for the special edition release of their last CD, ‘Healing Through Fire’. So, with a smile on my face, a belly full of scrumpy, and a bunch of friends, I found myself once again at Camden’s infamous Underworld.
Opening early to a rather sparse crowd were London’s Alabaster Suns. Unsigned, and as far as I can tell, recently formed, they were a three piece that blasted out an ambient wall of sound, skillful drums mixing into a pounding bass line and the frantically strummed chords of the guitarist/vocalist. The lyrics were lost in the sonic barrage, but the enthusiasm and power of the short set meant that whilst the band had taken to the stage to a wave of London’s infamous indifference, they left to solid applause.
www.myspace.com/alabastersuns
Anyone with a solid knowledge of the history of British Metal, particularly the infamous NWOBHM, will know the name of Angel Witch. Playing since 1976, initially under the name of Lucifer, a host of line up changes has left the band with only one original member, vocalist and lead guitarist Kevin Heybourne. Backed by 3 hired guns, including Metal Blade UK’s Will Palmer playing a blistering set on bass, the rabidly enthusiastic crowd was treated to a set of skillfully delivered pure nostalgia. Fans, both longstanding and also far too young to have been born when the band first pioneered their proto-speed metal, were whipped up into a frenzy by classic tracks like ‘Baphomet’, singing along and banging as if it were 1980 again. Backed by a solid rhythm section, Heybourne delivered blazing solos that have been honed by decades of playing. By the time the band finished the set with their signature tune, ‘Angel Witch’ he could have switched off his mike and left all vocals to the audience who, yours truly included, where chanting choruses and verses at the top of their lungs, whilst the other bands of the night were side stage, nodding along appreciatively. Getting such an influential band as Angel Witch on the bill was a stroke of genius on the part of Orange Goblin, drawing in several generations of metal fans, from those who remembered the New Wave first time around, to those who wanted to taste some of the original excitement of the movement.
www.myspace.com/angelwitchsfcoven
Coming out on stage to the theme of Suspiria, Dario Argento’s 1977 classic, Orange Goblin set about doing what they do with unrivalled style; the delivery of anthemic, unpretentious, good time metal. With an audience looking for a good time, Ben Ward, so incisively described recently as “lager in human form”, with his cohorts in metal Joe Hoare, Martyn Millard, and Chris Turner, delivered exactly what was wanted. Stalking the stage in a flurry of hair, tattoos and beer cans, Master of 
Ceremonies Ben belted out a host of classics from the decade plus repertoire of the band. ‘Some You Win, Some You Lose’ had the audience chanting along to the pounding chorus, as did their stamp along anthems ‘They Come Back’, ‘Getting High on the Bad Times’, and ‘Round Up the Horses.’ Every song was delivered with not only professionalism and consummate musicianship, but an enthusiasm that made every audience member feel like the band were friends and they had received a personal invite to the party, a feeling enhanced by the intimacy of the venue. The sheer exuberance of the band was more then enough to win over anyone in the venue who had not seen them before, but from the reaction and sing-alongs, I doubt there was anyone there who was not already a fan.
For many years now, Orange Goblin has treated the metal crowd of London to top quality Christmas shows, and this was no exception. With 2009 promising a new album, as soon as next year’s tour is announced, I’ll be getting my tickets; if you want fun, you should do the same.
www.orange-goblin.com
www.myspace.com/theorangegoblin
Spenny Bullen
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