Orange Goblin – ‘Healing Through Fire’ (Dissonance Productions)

By Monk

Like so many bands, Orange Goblin found their plans for the past 18 months put on hold. Last year was supposed to be one of celebration for the band, as it would have marked their 25^th anniversary – something which they, quite naturally, were looking forward to celebrating in their own inimitable and impressionable style. Instead… nothing… well, more or less, as what was already a traumatic year was made even more so by the departure of founding bassist Martyn Millard, who was supposed to bid his farewell to both the band and their fans at a pair of specially curated shows.

It is perhaps by way of a stopgap for this enforced inactivity that we are now presented with this curiously timed reissue of the band’s sixth album, originally released in 2007. I say “curiously timed” because normally re-issues of albums signify some special anniversary in relation to its original release, but this is not the case in this instance.

This version of ‘Healing Through Fire’ comes as a double CD package, the first featuring the album itself, a Radio One session and three demos, including a cover of The Damned’s ‘New Rose’, which reflected the band’s increasing use of punk and thrash, and even blues, influences into their previously Sabbathian doom-laden sound. The second disc is the audio version of a live set recorded at the Mean Fiddler in 2006, which was originally included as a DVD in some versions of the original release.

It has to be said that this particular re-issue makes the album sound very dated, especially in terms of the production, which sounds muddy and, despite the opus’ relative youth, has not aged well (in fact, I would go so far as to say the production on the Radio One session is much clearer and more effective than that on the album itself). Yes, all of the energy and latent power shines through, and the songs stand up in their individual and collective rights, as do the musical performances, but a wee bit of tweaking and touching up here and there could have brought so much added value to this edition, especially when so many Goblin fans, myself included, will have the original nestling deep in their collections.

I have to say that ‘Healing…’ never has been one of my favourite Goblin albums. However, it was one which marked an important transitional period in the band’s development and is thus worthy of recognition as such. A worthy investment? I’m not sure. If you’re a completist, maybe so. If you’re not, maybe not.

‘Healing Through Fire’ is released today (20 August). You can get your copy HERE.

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