Review by Paddy Gallagher for MPM
Volbeat, currently a three piece since the departure of ex-Anthrax six slinger Rob Caggiano in 2023, return with their first studio album since 2021’s “Servant of the Mind”.
Deciding to throw their songwriting template out of the window, primary songwriter and architect of the band, Michael Poulson, drummer John Larsen and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen side-stepped their traditional songwriting techniques and have come up with their most immediate, impulsively catchy album in recent times.
The traditional Volbeat sound consisting of chunky, heavy riffage, pounding drums and distinctive vocal melodies is still present, but the afore mentioned change in the writing process has produced a dynamic, cleansed Volbeat.
This could in part be down to the band’s 1-year hiatus while Michael recovered from throat surgery and pursued his Death Metal side project, Asinhell, but the invigorated vibe runs throughout; well-toned down is the rockabilly of yore, we get to song 5 before there’s any hint of Elvis or Johnny Cash, with the imaginatively titled “In The Barn of the Goat Giving Birth To Satan’s Spawn In a Dying World of Doom”.
Lyrically, Michael delves into personal, confessional topics, his voice at times sounding at emotional breaking point. There’s no denying the skill in the guitar department either, if you can listen to this without getting the oul air guitar out then please do check that your arms are attached to your torso. Undeniably the right choice was made in assigning lead guitar work to Michael’s sidekick in Asinhell, Flemming C. Lund. The whole process from commencing songwriting right up to the conclusion of recording took 5 weeks.
A sign of good music is when your journey through the album flies in. Songs that feel like 2-minute quickies surprise when checking their timestamp showing they had clocked 5 minutes.
From “Devils are Awake” with its Doom Metal opening few riffs, Michael’s soaring vocals and as the song progresses shit heavy riffage à la “Sad But True” and screaming guitar solo into first single “By A Monster’s Hand” with its chugging riff to album closer “Enlightening The Disorder (By A Monster’s Hand Pt2)” this is a fresh newly invigorated Volbeat for the 2nd half of the decade.
And as alluded to earlier, just like that; it was over. The whole album flies in. On 6th June head to your local record shop and buy an album that should figure high in Album of the Year charts.
GOD OF ANGELS TRUST TRACK LISTING:
Devils Are Awake
By A Monster’s Hand
Acid Rain
Demonic Depression
In The Barn Of The Goat Giving Birth To Satan’s Spawn In A Dying World Of Doom
Time Will Heal
Better Be Fueled Than Tamed
At The End Of The Sirens
Lonely Fields
Enlighten The Disorder (By A Monster’s Hand Part 2)
FOLLOW VOLBEAT: https://www.volbeat.dk/
Pre-order on all formats here 🐐 https://Volbeat.lnk.to/GOAT
