Doomed Confessionary: Paulsy (Silver Orbs)
Photo credit: Oneway Boulevard Studio
Silver Orbs are a heavy psych, fuzz and stoner rock band based in Brisbane, Australia. Known for their dense, riff-heavy soundscapes, the group emerged on the local music scene and released their self-titled debut EP in late 2025.
Silver Orbs boasts a robust, multi-vocalist setup that allows for expansive harmonies mixed with their heavy instrumentation. The lineup consists of Drew Lochrie (vocals), Paulsy (guitar, vocals), Skritch (guitar, vocals), Greg Arnott (keys, synth, vocals), Steve Tronc (bass) and Robbie Fraser (drums).
The band’s sonic profile leans heavily into 1970s hard rock and psychedelic stoner metal. They are recognized for their unapologetic use of fuzz, hypnotic grooves, and crushing, doom-laden riffs. Their self-titled debut was quickly embraced by underground rock fans for its raw, intergalactic sound.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Silver Orbs are some kind of heavy-riffing psych rock band. We’ve got the massive fuzz bits, the dreamy delay bits, the Blade Runner synth bits – but even we’re not sure how to label it. Others have called us “Kyuss with keys” and “Temu Mastodon” hahaha! That’s probably about right. We try not to do the same thing each time, each song, though. Hooks and heavies, heavies and hooks. There’s a lot of ingredients in the pot, but we’ll let you work out what cuisine it is.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Apart from working out what the hell we are, the challenge is finding the time to get together and do the thing. We’re all old farts with “real jobs” and families and mortgages, so time in the jam room is infrequent at best. But I reckon that just makes us appreciate it more – a few good hours to fire up the amps and you’re on top of the world.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Definitely releasing the first EP and the amazing response to it. To get into the November ’25 Doom Charts and be played and enjoyed by fuzz riff merchants around the world was such a spin out. I mean, those reviewers really know their shit, so to be even vaguely in that conversation was huge for us.
What was your biggest regret?
It’s not a regret as such, but I wish we’d got this going years ago. The guys in this band are easily some of the best I’ve played with, and there’s some kind of magic in what we’re doing. The universe works in strange ways, and for some reason the Great Magnet has pulled us all together now, but damn it would have been great to be in this band when I was younger!
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Well, we’ve only played a few shows so far and they’ve all been awesome for different reasons. Out first, supporting Witchskull from Canberra, was an incredible debut – just a really solid gig with a bunch of seriously good riff mongers. Our second was a trip – supporting Yawning Man from the USA – one of my all-time favourite bands. Crazy. And the most recent, supporting local heroes Rollerball, that was probably the best of the three. Home crowd, lots of mates there, a great set on a great stage – pure happiness.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
If we’re talking the local scene – it’s not really a surprise, but just the depth and breadth of talent out there. I’d been on a bit of a break from playing live until Orbs started up, so it’s lovely to see so many brilliant local bands doing the heavy riff thing – all different, all awesome.
If we’re talking the scene more globally, then just the connection and support from people around the world. If you’d told me at the start that our first interview would be with a mob out of Slovenia I’d have never believed you, but here we are! We’ve had folk from Scotland, France, Ukraine, Belgium, the States – all over! – getting in touch and liking it, reviewing it, spinning it. Wild, man!
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Everyone in this band has such diverse listening tastes that the Silver Orbs jukebox is not limited solely to heavy music (like most of us I would guess). So, my fellow guitarist, Skritch, has been spinning Bowie’s final masterpiece, »Blackstar«. Bassist, Steve, has been blasting Slow Mass’s »On Watch«. And our drummer, Robbie, is obsessing over the new Sublime album. As for me, I’m loving the new SLIFT album, »Fantasia«, and the latest offering by Oz stoner riff lords, Robot God – »Onto The Afterlife«. I’m very excited to see them live next month! Also recently picked up the reissue of The Cosmic Dead’s debut – that album pretty much got me hooked on this psych rock journey so it’s been getting a workout!
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
There have been a few over the years. Don’t be afraid to make the music you want to make; if you love it, others will too. Don’t get obsessed with how the song “must go” just because you wrote it; listen to the ideas of others and see where the song wants to go. And fuzz before wah sounds better than wah before fuzz. 😀
What are your guilty pleasures?
I love Chris Isaak. There, I said it. I also have a massive soft spot for K-Pop Demon Hunters and Billie Eilish. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you Billie Eilish sucks. But I hate Paul Kelly’s hit song »How To Make Gravy«. European audiences might not understand the gravity of that statement, but Australian readers will. An objectively terrible song and not even a good gravy recipe. That’s not really a guilty pleasure is it? I do take pleasure in making sure people know!
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Brisbane / Gold Coast?
The Brisbane / Gold Coast scene is cranking, but it needs help to survive. Lots of venues are on a knife-edge and they really need people to get out and support. Go to the gigs, pre-purchase tickets, spend money on the bar, and bring your friends! And bands need love too. It’s true what they say about massive bands being once tiny bands playing local basement gigs. Buy the merch, share them on your socials, spread the word. We have sensational venues here, and a tonne of shit-hot bands – get out and get amongst it!
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We’re having a brief break to record and then back to gigs in a few months. Those will mostly be in Queensland, Australia – Brisbane, with some on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. But if anyone wants us to play further afield just hit us up! Have love; will travel! Follow us for gig info.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
We’ve started work on the second release and follow up to last year’s debut. This will be another 4 songs that will join forces with the first 3 to become LP #1, out before the year is. After that it’s writing more, recording more and playing more shows – hopefully touring interstate and overseas.
How can people best support your band?
Just get the word out there! Follow us on Insta and FB, share with your friends, engage with the content – it’s a bizarre and kinda ridiculous world we find ourselves in with all this social media promotion, but until we burn down the internet it’s what we’re working with, so let’s make it work. If you’re on the east coast of Australia, come to a gig, buy a shirt, say hi!
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Thanks for listening! We hope you dig what we do as much as we dig doing it!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well