Volbeat "Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie" (2016)

Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie

release date: Jun. 3, 2016

format: digital (2 cd) (Deluxe Edition)

[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,78]

producer: Jacob Hansen; Michael Poulsen & Rob Caggiano

label: Vertigo / Universal Music - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 2. "Marie Laveau" - 3. "For evigt" (feat. Johan Olsen) (live) - 4. "The Gates of Babylon" - 5. "Let It Burn" - - Bonus disc: 2. "The Bliss"

6th studio album by Volbeat released more than three years following Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (Apr. 2013). The album is the band's so far only to be released as a trio with founding members, band leader and primary songwriter and composer Michael Poulsen and drummer Jon Larsen together with Rob Caggiano, who is not only credited as lead guitarist but also as bassist after longtime member bassist Anders Kjølholm left the band in 2015. One month prior to the album release, it was announced that Kaspar Boye Larsen would be the band's new bassist. The standard release contains 13 tracks, whereas the 2-disc Deluxe Edition adds four tracks to the album of which track #2 is an English version of "For evigt" with Mia Maja as (hardly noticeable) additional vocalist.

Musically, the band continues in the same circles, or you might suggest: on the exact same spot, as it sounds like yet another extension to what they did on their previous two releases. But that's just my opnion. Poulsen's vocal hardly ever leaves a fixed register and the guitars repeat 1970s melodic hard rock notes while song choruses repeat familiar choruses from other songs - only with some new words as only difference. The band's previous big hit "The Garden's Tale" featuring Johan Olsen from Magtens Korridorer has actually been surpassed by the band's new huge hit song "For evigt" again featuring Olsen on additional vocal. That song has by now nearly gained status as an alternative national anthem. A few fine songs just don't make the whole big difference for a band who seems to be satisfied in reproducing itself - indefinitely. After a few highlights - where you still notice the band's reproductive sound and melody structures, the album simply fades, approaching mediocre.

Track #3 aside, this is not recommended.

[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Gaffa.dk 4 / 6 stars ]

Volbeat "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies" (2013)

Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies
release date: Apr. 9, 2013
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / ] [2,74]
producer: Robert Caggiano & Volbeat; Jacob Hansen
label: Vertigo - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 2. "Pearl Hart" - 3. "The Nameless One" - 5. "Cape of Our Hero"

5th studio album by Volbeat follows 2½ years after Beyond Hell / Above Heaven (Sep. 2010) is the band's first not to be with Jacob Hansen as only producer. In fact he is "only" credited as co-producer and the album being produced by Robert Caggiano (guitarist of Anthrax) together with Volbeat. The line-up has changed with Caggiano also replacing Thomas Bredahl as lead guitarist. The album is the band's final with bassist Anders Kjølholm, who left the band in 2015.
Slowly, and almost unnoticed these guys have become the biggest international Danish act. They haven't changed much but they have distilled what they do the best. Soundwise, this may be on another level, but I don't really think, it's their best. Some would probably say that this is their most popular heavy metal or their most alternative metal-shaped album so far. The style copies their successful 2010-album with a few tracks with hints of alt. country, which doesn't make it much better. Too many tracks are simply not my taste and there's too much headbanging heavy metal, but overall, it may be a small improvement.
Not for me - not recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

Volbeat "Beyond Hell / Above Heaven" (2010)

Beyond Hell / Above Heaven
release date: Sep. 10, 2010
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: Jacob Hansen
label: EMI - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "The Mirror and the Ripper" - 2. "Heaven Nor Hell" - 4. "Fallen" - 5. "A Better Believer" - 13. "Thanks"

4th studio album by Volbeat follows one year after Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood, is like all the band's previous albums produced by Jacob Hansen.

The line-up remains intact and the writing/composer-procedure continues with the same pattern with poulsen as only songwriter and composer of 9 out of 13 songs and as co-composer with other band members on 4 songs.
Again, the music is within narrow boundaries of primarily hard rock and as on the 2008 release, they succeed with a personal expression. They also explore the use of featuring artists as on their national monster-hit "A Garden's Tale" with Johan Olsen to much further extend. Henrik Hall of Love Shop features on track #2, Mille Petrozza of Kreator and Michael Denner of Mercyful Fate / King Diamond both feature on track #6, Jakob Øelund of Taggy Tones is featuring artist on track #8, and Mark 'Barney' Greenway of Napalm Death appears on track #11. The album is the band's final with guitarist Thomas Bredahl, who left the band in Nov. 2011.
I do recognize the band's contribution to the genre and their hard-headed determination. Still, the style is not really something I listen much to, and I still think many of their tracks sound too much alike. Compared to the predecessor that in some ways signaled a new way, they once again seem stuck with a matrix they think is the right combination to open the hidden safe box, which will let them have all the money and fame instead of making some new great music. Again, it's not entirely bad, it's just not something I would recommend because it's like the C and D-sides to an earlier album and I frankly think they are stuck in a bubble with no doors.
Not recommended.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Volbeat "Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood" (2008)

Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
release date: Sep. 1, 2008
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,06]
producer: Jacob Hansen
label: Mascot Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 3. "Back to Prom" - 4. "Mary Ann's Place" - 6. "Maybellene i hofteholder"

3rd studio album by Volbeat following 1½ years after Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil (Feb. 2007) is also the band's third with Jacob Hansen as producer. The album is the first to feature new guitarist Thomas Bredahl, who replaced Franz Gottschalk after the 2007-album.
Stylewise, it seems the band attempts to continue on a musical path laid-out by their most popular song from the predecessor "A Garden's Tale". It's no longer only blazing and simple heavy metal and rockabilly but a turn to more sophisticated compositions. And speaking of which, previously lead vocalist Michael Poulsen was credited all the band's songs but here he is only credited as sole songwriter and composer of five of the album's 14 songs. Seven are co-composed with mostly new guitarist Thomas and / or bassist Anders Kjølholm and drummer Jon Larsen. Two songs are old classic covers (tracks #11 by Hank Williams, and #14 by Jimmy Work).
The album is not bad, although, it's still rockabilly and heavy metal but here they have simply produced better material and turned down the pure metal grinding machine and added a few nice sing-a-long choruses here and there. It's pretty much like a rewind to the better follow-up to the debut album.
In my mind, this is the band's best album, but it's still not really recommended.

Volbeat "Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil" (2007)

Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil
release date: Feb. 23, 2007
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,85]
producer: Jacob Hansen
label: Mascot Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 3. "The Garden's Tale (feat. Johan Olsen)" - 7. "Radio Girl"

2nd studio album by Volbeat following 1½ years after their debut album (Sep. 2005) is once again made with producer Hansen. The band remains the same quartet for these eleven new recordings but lead guitarist Franz 'Hellboss' Gottschalk was after the album release replaced by Thomas Bredahl. The music and style here is pretty much like on the debut without any noteworthy changes, except from a negative one with less remarkable songs that once again are only credited singer and vocalist Michael Poulsen.
There's still too much rockabilly and heavy metal for my taste. The only standout is track #3, which simply is a combination of forces. It's made with featuring vocalist Johan Olsen of Danish rock-band Magtens Korridorer, and via his contribution with a strong, characteristic vocal fusioned with a great composition this song sky-rocketed the band's popularity, and it has almost become an alternative national anthem. One song doen't make a great album, and imho you would do yourself a favour by simply just getting the single.
Not recommended.

Volbeat "The Strength / The Sound / The Songs" (2005)

The Strength / The Sound / The Songs [debut]
release date: Sep. 26, 2005
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,88]
producer: Jacob Hansen
label: Rebel Monster - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Caroline Leaving" - 4. "Rebel Monster" - 5. "Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza" - 8. "Soulweeper" - 13. "I Only Wanna Be With You"

Studio album debut by the Danish band Volbeat released on Dutch label Rebel Monster Records. The band is a quartet consisting lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Michael Poulsen, lead guitarist Franz 'Hellboss' Gottschalk, bassist Anders Kjølholm and drummer Jon Larsen. The album contains 15 tracks and with 3-4 decent tracks it doesn't make a really good album. The album was well-received, nationally, but it's not really my style, as it's simply too much heavy metal, and the combination with rockabilly doesn't make it any better. Since this, the band has experienced considerable and increasing popularity in most of Scandinavia. From my perspective, the band summons up standardised hooks and simple chorus-lines without adding anything new to a genre and style that just doesn't appeal to me. To me, they could be playing the same 4-5 melody-lines with small variations leaving me wondering if the album didn't have 15 tracks and not 5. Also, Poulsen's vocal is tiresome after a few tracks and it becomes a bit of a struggle to listen through the whole album. Still, I rate it above mediocre, and sometimes wonder why. But this is their starting point and tracks #1, #4, #5 and the Dusty Springfield cover, track #13 all have some qualities that could be elaborated on, and could make stepping stones for better future albums.
Not recommended.