Live Review: Volbeat - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
12th November 2025
Words & Photos: Tim Finch
Danish rockers Volbeat returned to the UK this week on the ‘Greatest of All Tours’. A run taking in six of the countries biggest arenas and proving once more just how powerful an act they are.
Witch Fever tore straight through their opening slot, the fans still flowing into the arena as they hit the stage. Opening with their self-titled ‘Witch Fever’ the Manchester four-piece set an immediate tone of snarling riffs and razor-edged attitude. ‘DRANK THE SAP’ and ‘THE GARDEN’ followed in quick succession.
A wolf whistle from the crowd was rightly shot down as the band headed on. Whilst a speech on Palestine was warmly received, despite the dickhead at the back performing an action we really don’t need to draw attention to.
By the time they smashed through ‘BURN TO HIT’, ‘DEAD TO ME!’ and the sinister crawl of ‘Reincarnate’ Witch Fever had fully stamped their identity across the venue. Closing with ‘FEVEREATEN’ and ‘I SEE IT’ they left behind a ringing intensity that didn’t fade. It was a bold, bruising performance, one that set the tone nicely for what was to follow.
Bush hit the stage like they had something to prove, and by the end of ‘Everything Zen’, Birmingham was right there with them. Gavin Rossdale stalked the walkway like a frontman possessed, tearing through ‘60 Ways To Forget People’ and ‘Blood River’ with a swagger that took us back to their 90’s heyday.
The momentum didn’t dip for a second. ‘Identity’ and ‘The Land of Milk and Honey’ hit with a modern bite, reminding the crowd that Bush aren’t content to lean on their ’90s legacy. ‘More Than Machines’ with its stomping groove pushed the crowd into full motion. Rossdale’s voice, still gritty but melodic, cut cleanly through the wall of guitars.
As they powered into all time classic ‘Swallowed' and the closing ‘Flowers on a Grave’, Bush cemented themselves as far more than a nostalgia act, they were a genuine force in the night’s lineup. It was polished, it was intense, and above all, it was alive.
Volbeat arrived in Birmingham on the penultimate night of their huge European tour. As the curtain dropped, the huge stage was revealed and they kicked into ‘The Devils Bleeding Crown’ which hit with instant force. The ever popular ‘Lola Montez’ followed and the energy only grew as the chorus rolled across the venue.
Crowd interactions were plentiful, starting with Michael Poulsen leading a sing-along to country classic ‘Ring Of Fire’. ‘Sad Mans Tongue’ carried that momentum with a stride that had the audience singing without hesitation.
The mood then shifted as Volbeat stepped into ‘Demonic Depression’ and ‘Fallen’ which brought weight to proceedings. ‘Shotgun Blues’ cracked through the venue and the arrival of the absolutely wild ‘In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satans Spawn in a Dying World of Doom’ sent the place into fever pitch, a highlight for sure.
‘By a Monsters Hand’ and ‘Heaven nor Hell’ kept the night moving with ease. Then came one of the standout moments as local hero Barney Greenway strode out to join the band for ‘Evelyn’. His roar pushed the song into rougher territory, that many were not expecting. ‘Time Will Heal’ and ‘Seal the Deal’ arrived late in the set, whilst ‘The Gardens Tale’ and ‘For Evigt’ added a sense of scale that lifted the closing run even further.
‘Still Counting’ was an expected victory lap and Volbeat delivered it with a sense of fun and energy despite nearing the two hour mark. Their tribute to Black Sabbath through ‘Children of the Grave’ landed well on Birmingham soil and the final burst of ‘A Warriors Call’ and ‘Pool of Booze Booze Booza’ sealed the night with volume and excitement. Volbeat walked off to a roar that made clear they had given the city a show worth remembering.
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
