Volbeat
with Cold and Anchored
By: Andy Hanson
Before the madness, Volbeat strode on-stage donning simplistic yet quintessentially METAL jet-black clothing, a knowing nod to the live performance outfits of their heroes and clear musical inspiration, Metallica. Often labeled the Danish version of that powerhouse, Volbeat are vaulting quickly in the mainstream metal community largely on the heels of an unrivaled ability to collide the required components of the genre (riffs and attitude) with overpowering melodic sensibilities exploding with hooks prescribing an atmosphere long lost on most of their contemporaries. Volbeat’s unique blend of thrash, classic metal, rockabilly, and old school country polished with that thundering thickness similar to Metallica’s “Black Album” sound rocks harder than most who claim to rock hard, but the true nature of their mantra is best summarized as worshipping at the altar of all things fun. Volbeat have been saddled with outlandish and entirely made-up genre monikers such as Elvis Metal and Country Thrash because it’s almost impossible to accurately label their brand of overpoweringly engaging metal . After a near legendary performance at 1st Ave, any randomly picked concert goer would probably throw up devil horns while loudly proclaiming it doesn’t matter what Volbeat are, because this was undoubtedly one of the best shows they’ve ever seen.
On the way over I was somewhat apprehensive as Volbeat’s albums are executed with a laser precision of melody and catchiness amid the blasting riffs and rapid fire vocals, components that often do not translate well in a live setting without the benefit of studio trickery. Any worries were jettisoned when the opening titanic duo of “The Human Instrument” and fan favorite “Guitar Gangsters and Cadillac Blood” inspired a frenzied mosh pit almost immediately thwarted by event staff. From the opening riff it was clear Volbeat owned the crowd, and the next hour and a half was an unrelenting assault of good-time metal bathed in raw power and precision. It’s difficult to fathom the entire band was ill that night, which vocalist Michael Paulsen informed the crowd right before asking if “anybody liked Johnny Cash” and segued into the fist-pumping cornerstone of their catalog, the masterful country/metal hybrid “Sad Man’s Tongue.” By the time Volbeat launched into a cover medley tribute to Slayer and Motorhead, the crowd was enthralled, and some were lucky enough to join the band onstage for the fan tribute “Thanks.” By the final encore “Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza” everyone was thoroughly yet happily exhausted, and Volbeat strutted off leaving everyone begging for more. Volbeat have cut their teeth as a live act opening for Metallica, and their chops are astounding. The sound was executed at the same level as their albums, only more intense and surreal, and Volbeat generated an atmosphere where everyone would have stayed for three hours. For an up and coming metal band, there isn’t a bigger compliment.
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/volbeat
