Republic/Universal
Release: 6 June 2025
Line Up:
Michael Poulsen
Jon Larsen
Kaspar Boye Larsen
Tracklist:
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)
I’ll be honest—when people kept insisting that Volbeat – the Danish band was some revolutionary force in heavy music, I rolled my eyes pretty hard. Bold declarations like that usually end up being marketing nonsense, and I’ve learned to be wary. But sometimes cynicism blinds you to genuine talent, and that’s exactly what happened here. These musicians are absolutely phenomenal: they blend chunky groove-based metal with classic heavy sounds reminiscent of certain legendary bands’ mid-career experimentation, toss in thrash elements, and then—here’s the wild part—they incorporate country and rockabilly influences. Their frontman’s voice sounds like what you’d get if a whiskey-soaked crooner, a thrash legend, and a freight train alarm all merged into one person. The outcome? Music that’s both genuine and incredibly infectious. So infectious, in fact, that American rock stations—which typically flee from anything remotely aggressive—actually embrace their material regularly. That’s genuinely remarkable.
This latest release offers something compelling for every type of heavy music enthusiast, regardless of your particular preferences. The record marks a return to their more aggressive roots after recent efforts that wandered deeper into Americana and folk territories. Now they’re back embracing metal’s burning intensity, and it’s immediately apparent.
“By A Monster’s Hand” and “Demonic Depression” deliver crushing thrash energy that drags classic eighties spirit into the modern era, complete with strategic blast beat injections. These cuts are relentless and thoroughly captivating for anyone craving brutal, lightning-fast riffage.
“Acid Rain” shines as melodic hard rock perfection—easily something those commercially triumphant hair-metal outfits could have crafted during heavy music’s golden decade. “Time Will Heal” proves equally infectious, possessing that stadium-ready quality reminiscent of major arena conquests from the mid-eighties.
“Lonely Fields” ventures into completely unexpected waters—imagine if those classic American crooner recordings from the mid-twentieth century received a contemporary metal makeover. It’s gorgeous and inspiring in ways that catch you completely off-guard.
“Enlighten The Disorder” launches you directly into nineties-era heavy music with crushing instrumentation and deliberately nostalgic vocal delivery. It’s playful, spirited, and absolutely devastating.
And honestly, how can you resist investigating “In The Barn Of The Goat Giving Birth To Satan’s Spawn In A Dying World Of Doom”? The name sounds completely over-the-top, but the actual song totally justifies that absurdly theatrical moniker.
This represents the band’s ninth studio effort across two decades, and admittedly, they don’t possess quite the same novelty and surprise factor they once did—that initial wow factor has naturally diminished. But they’re still operating at an exceptionally high standard, delivering both crushing anthems and those bizarre genre combinations that somehow actually succeed. The technical execution remains outstanding—these artists understand how to craft exceptional music and they deliver it consistently.
The primary weakness here is that devoted followers might find it somewhat too predictable. If you’ve been tracking this group for years, you’ll recognize them working within their established comfort zone rather than exploring completely uncharted creative territories. Even their most daring moments feel somewhat calculated because they’ve executed similar approaches previously. However, if you’re just encountering this band, this album serves as an ideal introduction. It contains straightforward crowd-pleasers, mind-expanding experiments, creative curveballs, and sincere tributes to traditional American folk music all wrapped into one cohesive package.
Written by: Shadow Editor
Ratings: 8/10
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