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Volbeat are a Danish rock band 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.[1] Volbeat's most recent studio album, God of Angels Trust, was released in 2025.
Michael Poulsen, lead singer, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter of Volbeat
Singer Michael Poulsen's first band was death metal act, Dominus.[2][3] In 2000, Poulsen became fed up with the death metal music scene, causing Dominus to break up.[3][2] In 2001, Poulsen went on to form a new band with some friends and other former Dominus members.[3] This was the beginning of Volbeat.[3]
The band name "Volbeat" was derived from Dominus's third album name, Vol.Beat (read as: Volume Beat).[2] After selling 1,000 copies of their Beat the Meat demo tape, Volbeat was signed to a record deal by Rebel Monster Records, a sub-label of Mascot Records.[3]
Volbeat released their first album, The Strength/The Sound/The Songs in 2005.[4] The line-up for the album consisted of Michael Poulsen (vocals), Jon Larsen (drums), Franz Gottschalk (guitar) and Anders Kjølholm (bass).[3] The album was a huge success in Denmark achieving a spot at No. 18 in the charts.[5] Critics were generally positive towards The Strength / The Sound / The Songs. The German hard rock magazine RockHard gave it 10/10 in a review.[6]The Strength / The Sound / The Songs also received a handful of awards, including Best Album in the Danish Metal Musik Awards in 2005.[citation needed] Volbeat was praised for its live performances. Their concert at Roskilde Festival 2006 received a 6/6 stars review in the Danish newspaper BT.[citation needed]
They opened the Roskilde Festival in 2007 and also supported Metallica together with Mnemic at their concert in Denmark 13 July of that year.[3] They supported Megadeth in Finland and in their home town, Copenhagen, and made a few festival appearances mid-2008.[3] They hired Thomas Bredahl following the recording of Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil as a replacement for Gottschalk on guitar.[3]
In 2008, Volbeat released their third album, Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood featuring guitarist Thomas Bredahl. It topped the Finnish Album Chart straight after its publication.[7] In 2009, Volbeat supported the symphonic metal band Nightwish on their U.S. tour in May.[8] On 31 May 2009 they were on the main stage of the Pinkpop Festival. They also supported Metallica on the North American leg of Metallica's World Magnetic Tour from October to December 2009.[9]
In 2009 the band played at the biggest open-air festival in Europe (400,000–500,000 rock fans every year), Przystanek Woodstock[10] in Poland.
The new album, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven was released on 10 September 2010. Poulsen said the title "refers to the overall theme of the album, and it continues the storyline from where Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood left off...".[13] The album was supported by a tour in November.[14]
Volbeat's 2011 Grand Summer Tour across North America began in Toronto, Ontario on 24 July at Heavy T.O., and concluded with a two-night stand on 3 & 4 September at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. Volbeat co-headlined this tour with rock powerhouse Cold on all US dates, but not in Canada. On 28 November 2011, Bredahl departed the band.[15] Volbeat committed to playing all 2011–2012 as scheduled either as a trio, or with a replacement guitarist. On 26 January 2012, Volbeat joined Megadeth, Motörhead, and Lacuna Coil on Gigantour. The tour started in Camden, New Jersey, and culminated on 28 February 2012 in Denver, Colorado, at The Fillmore Auditorium. On the tour, Hank Shermann (Mercyful Fate) filled in as the guitarist for Volbeat. On their North American Summer tour, which began in June 2012, Iced Earth and Hellyeah were the supporting acts. The tour included dates in Baltimore, Toronto, Detroit, Billings, Boston, Tempe, San Francisco, and Weyburn and Lazerfest in Boone, Iowa, and in June, Orion Music Festival, headlined by Metallica, at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[16]
Volbeat performing in 2013
In February 2013, Rob Caggiano, formerly of Anthrax, joined the band as second guitarist.[17][18][19] He had been producing and recording guest solos on the band's upcoming album, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies, before being asked to join as a full-time member. Singer and guitarist Michael Poulsen called the collaboration between Caggiano and the rest of the band "so inspiring and in good spirit that we the decided to keep him. Basically we went into the studio as a three piece and came out as a whole band!"[20] The album, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies, was released in April 2013.[3]
In April 2016, "The Devil's Bleeding Crown" was released as the first single from the upcoming album, Seal the Deal and Let's Boogie.[27][28] A second single, "For Evigt" (Forever), and an English version, "The Bliss", were released 29 April.[29] The album was released on 3 June 2016.[27]
On 10 May 2019, Volbeat released a 40-second song, "Parasite".[38][39] In anticipation of their, seventh studio album, Rewind, Replay, Rebound, the band released the singles "Leviathan" (15 May)[40][41], "Last Day Under the Sun" (13 June 2019)[42][43], "Cheapside Sloggers" (18 July), featuring Gary Holt of Slayer[44][45] and "Pelvis on Fire" (26 July).[46][47] The album was released on 2 August.[40] On 4 November, the band released the single "Die to Live", featuring Neil Fallon of Clutch.[48][49]
On 2 June 2021, the band released two singles, "Wait a Minute My Girl" and "Dagen Før", the latter featuring Alphabeat's Stine Bramsen.[50] "Wait a Minute My Girl" earned the band their ninth No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart dated for 21 August 2021. The band is now tied for the 10th-most No. 1s in the chart's 40-year history.[51] The band contributed a cover of the Metallica song "Don't Tread on Me" to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist, released in September 2021.[52][53] Ahead of their upcoming eight studio album, the band released the singles "Shotgun Blues" on 23 September 2021,[54][55] and "Becoming" on 28 October 2021.[56][57] The album, Servant of the Mind, was released on 3 December 2021.[54]
In early 2022 Volbeat co-headlined a tour with Ghost.[58][59] When the band's drummer, Jon Larsen, was tested positive for COVID-19 in January 2022, the band had to cancel one show but continued the tour, with Slayer's former drummer, Jon Dette, filling in as a touring drummer until Larsen's return.[60][61] On 13 April 2022, the band released a music video for the song "Temple of Ekur".[62][63]
On 5 June 2023, Volbeat 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.[64]
In 2024, the band members spent time at home and also worked on a new album, scheduled for release in 2025. Michael Poulsen also went on tour with his new death metal band, Asinhell.[65]
2025 saw the release of the singles "By a Monster’s Hand" (6 March),[66] "In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan's Spawn in a Dying World of Doom" (4 April),[67] "Time Will Heal" (16 May)[68] ahead of their ninth studio album, God of Angels Trust, released on 6 June 2025.[66]
