Piercing eardrums this morning – something to pound the walls to – something to play loud so no one hears you screaming at the top of your lungs. Not my regular cup of tea, but in light of the circumstances; a perfect fit.
Welcome to Friday – and Volbeat, live at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden on June 5, 2008.
Volbeat formed in Copenhagen in 2001. They play a fusion of rock and roll and heavy metal. Their current line-up consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Michael Poulsen, drummer Jon Larsen, and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen. The band is signed to Dutch label Mascot Records and has released nine studio albums and one DVD. Their second album Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil received platinum status, and their 2010 release Beyond Hell/Above Heaven was subject to widespread international critical acclaim, receiving triple platinum in Denmark and Austria, double platinum in Sweden, platinum in Canada, 5× Gold in Germany, and gold in both Finland and the United States. Volbeat’s most recent studio album, God of Angels Trust, was released in 2025.
On 13 April 2022, the band released a music video for the song “Temple of Ekur”. On 5 June 2023, Volbeat announced over social media that they had parted ways with lead guitarist Rob Caggiano. For the band’s Summer 2023 tour, the lead guitarist position was filled by Flemming C. Lund of The Arcane Order.
In August 2023, the band announced that they would not be touring in 2024, but Michael Poulsen would be touring with his new death metal band, Asinhell. Volbeat also announced that they would be spending time at home and working on a new album. On 6 March 2025, the band released the single, “By a Monster’s Hand”. On the same day, the band announced their ninth studio album, God of Angels Trust, set for release on 6 June 2025. On 4 April 2025, the band released the album’s second single, “In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan’s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom”. The third single, “Time Will Heal”, was released on 16 May 2025.
Volbeat is noted for having a “novel take on heavy metal, infused with straightforward rock and pop melodies, as well as a peculiar penchant for vintage ‘50s rock & roll”. Chris True of AllMusic stated, “the band’s sound weds hard rock, classic metal, glam, punk, and rockabilly.” Their influences encompass 1950s rockabilly, country and pop, as well as heavy metal and hard rock of the 1970s and ’80s. These influences include Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Obituary, Mercyful Fate, Darkthrone, Mayhem, King Diamond, Dio, Iced Earth, Death, Armored Saint, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Accept, Cannibal Corpse, Manowar, AC/DC, and Social Distortion. Billboard called Volbeat “hard-rock’s preeminent psychobilly freight train”. They were also described as “heavy rockabilly” and “groove metal meets rockabilly”.[83] Lehigh Valley Live described them as a hard rock and heavy metal band.
I promise, Past Daily will be an ocean of calm in the coming days.
Until then . . .
