Album Review: Volbeat - God Of Angels Trust
Reviewed by Tim Finch
A dark dirty riff, heavy chugging bass and pounding drums greet the listener as the opening seconds of ‘Devil’s Are Awake’ play through the speakers, this soon broken by the unique vocal style of Michael Poulsen but as opening tracks on albums go Volbeat are certainly deciding to mix things up.
Denmark’s finest rock and metal export, Volbeat are back with their ninth studio album ‘God Of Angels Trust’, their first album as a three piece following the departure of Rob Caggiano, and it opens sounding heavier than ever yet still distinctly Volbeat!
‘By A Monster’s Hand’ continues in the same vein, a heavy (by Volbeat's standard) track with a rolling, thrashy riff forming the foundation and including some exquisite solos from Poulsen. As we move on, ‘Acid Rain’ steers things back to a more traditional sound, the intro winding us down from the heaviness and leading us into an almost near ballad styled song.
Poulsen is, if course, the bands song writing mastermind and the distinct, unique Volbeat stamp is all over this album, always aided by his vocal style which no one across any genre can come close to replicating. Starting the writing process for this, the follow up to 2021’s ‘Servant of the Mind’, in the summer of 2024 the band have moved fast for a June 2025 release date. Yet the speed in which they write and record is not detrimental to the album with this feeling like a true coming of age for the band, taking the next step as they head into a full arena tour in the coming months.
The album is full of twists and turns, the heavier start returns in tracks like ‘Demonic Depression’ whilst the wonderfully titled ‘In The Barn Of The Goat Giving Birth To Satan's Spawn In A Dying World Of Doom’ takes down a country music inspired route with even Poulsen’s vocals taking on a twang throughout.
As the album closes with ‘Enlightening The Disorder (By A Monster's Hand Part 2)’ we are left to ponder what we have just witnessed. An album of growth, of expansion, a band taking that next step into the arena rock market place. Remaining rock radio friendly whilst keeping some heavy, head banging moments that will no doubt keep all fans happy. The next step in the rapidly rising career of Volbeat will no doubt come with all the success they deserve. Roll on November when they bring this masterpiece to the UK’s live stage.
