Live Review: Orange Goblin - KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
12th November 2025
Words: Cat Finch
Photos: Tim Finch
There was a sense of occasion hanging over Wolverhampton as Orange Goblin rolled into town on their farewell tour. No nostalgia act vibes, no victory laps, this was a band determined to burn hot right to the end. With Urne and Grand Magus priming the crowd, KK’s Steel Mill felt like a pressure cooker long before the headliners hit the stage.
Urne opened with intent, cutting through the early crowd chatter with a tight, heavy set that leaned into atmosphere and intensity. ‘Be Not Dismayed’ and ‘The Spirit, Alive’ landed with weight, their layered sound filling the room rather than bouncing off it.
There’s a confidence to Urne that comes from knowing just how excellent their music is. And there is an air of criminality that the band aren’t absolutely huge yet, because their output, their style, the live performances all show a band who should be headlining venues bigger than this.
‘The Burden’ hit hard without excess, while ‘Harken The Waves’ closed their set on a darker, more expansive note. They didn’t overstay their welcome, and they didn’t need to, this was a job done properly. And if you don’t know Urne yet, make it a priority, their new album lands in January and it’s going to be huge!
Grand Magus followed with a shift in tone, bringing classic heavy metal muscle to the evening. Their sound was direct and commanding, rooted in riffs that favour strength over flash. What Grand Magus lack in theatrical excess they make up for with presence. The trio owned the stage through sheer conviction, locking the room into their groove and keeping momentum high. It was the perfect bridge between Urne’s modern heft and what was still to come.
As the room went dark, the anticipation for Orange Goblin’s final show in the West Midlands rose. The digital screen flashed into life, a Star Wars style opening scroll set the scene before the familiar riff of AC/DC’s ‘It’s A Long Way top The Top’ rang out, the crowd singing along as the band waited in the wings.
Taking to the stage with a huge cheer, Orange Goblin opened their account with ‘Solarisphere’, immediately reminding everyone why this tour matters. The band sounded colossal, thick riffs, swinging grooves, and a delivery that felt rather sentimental.
Ben reminisces of previous Wolverhampton shows, remembering their show with Unida at the Little Civic amongst them, as the band launch into ‘Saruman’s Wish’ and then ‘(Not) Rocket Science’ kept the pace sharp.
Introducing an evening that would span the bands entire career, ‘Your World Will Hate This’ drew one of the night’s biggest reactions, its sneer cutting straight through the room.
The mid-set run of ‘Ascend the Negative’, ‘Cozmo Bozo’ and ‘Stand for Something’ showed just how deep the band’s catalogue runs.
When ‘The Devil’s Whip’ and ‘Round Up the Horses’ hit, the hall tipped into full chaos. ‘Acid Trial’ and ‘Aquatic Fanatic’ kept the momentum brutal, before a perfectly placed ‘Into the Void’ paid tribute to both a legend recently lost but also the bands reason for being.
Closing with ‘Time Travelling Blues’, ‘Scorpionica’, ‘Quincy the Pigboy’ and ‘Red Tide Rising’, Orange Goblin left nothing behind, a four song run that could rarely be topped. An emotional end to their final show in the town, the chants of “Orange Fuckin’ Goblin Baby” rang out as the band took one last bow. Rest easy boys, you’ve earnt your retirement, but you will be missed by us all.
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
