Photo Credit: Brittany Bowman
The riff lords with more consistency than the November rain here on the Scottish island I am spinning this latest offering from – rock n’ roll Gods Volbeat don’t miss. For over 20 years now, they’ve been one of heavy music’s most consistent and creatively bulletproof outfits – effortlessly fusing thunderous riffs, arena-sized choruses, and that unmistakable rockabilly heart that’s made them stand out in a scene flooded with carbon copies of one another or the latest trend.
Volbeat have continued doing what they do best – writing songs that rip, sing, swing, and soar, with their ninth studio album God Of Angels Trust, which they delivered with a confidence that only comes from a band who know exactly who they are.
The making of Gods of Angels Trust is a story of rebirth and renewal. Frontman Michael Poulsen started working on songs for this ninth studio album in the summer of 2024, during a year-long break from touring, which gave him time to recover from throat surgery and tour with his death metal side project, Asinhell. Driven by a mix of excitement to record new Volbeat material and a determination to avoid following convention, Poulsen collaborated closely with drummer Jon Larsen and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen over just three intense weeks. Impressively, they crafted a new song at every rehearsal, and within this brief creative burst, half of Gods of Angels Trust was already arranged.
“In some ways, it feels like we’ve come full circle,” Poulsen reflects. “…now it feels like we’re on our first album again and there’s something really refreshing about that.”
Poulsen’s voice is as commanding as ever – equal parts Elvis Presley, James Hetfield and something entirely his own – and the riffs are monstrous as we have come to expect from one of the genre’s finest.
Among the tracks to sonically grab us by the throat on our first foot stomping play through is Better Be Fuelled Than Tamed. A banger which is pedal-to-the-floor bravado and barroom brawl energy. Built around galloping guitars and a hook that feels tailor-made for fists in the air and beers in hand. If this track doesn’t make you want to stomp a mud hole in the ground then nothing will.
Album opener Devils Awake has an intro that is pure dread and drama, before it explodes into a riff that sounds like Johnny Cash got strapped to a rocket and launched into the middle of a Cradle of Filth show in a dive bar full of bikers. It’s heavier than lead, twisted, yet deliciously catchy.
Time To Heal changes the pace as a beautifully bruised moment of reflection and melodic mastery. It’s the kind of song few bands can pull off. Equal parts dark, heartfelt, yet still absolutely massive. There’s real emotion pulsing through every note, and the chorus hits like a freight train of feels. A slow-burner, sure – but it’ll be your favourite after two listens.
Acid Rain is another of our favourites and this one is radio friendly without being soft and is dramatic in all the right ways. We’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention surely the runaway winner for song name of the year, with In The Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan’s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom.
Volbeat remain an absolute powerhouse. This album is proof that melody and muscle can coexist – and that riffs still matter when they’re written with heart. Volbeat don’t just wear their influences on their sleeves – they twist them into something entirely their own.
If you’ve followed their journey from The Strength through Outlaw Gentlemen and Servants to today, you’ll recognise the DNA, but also the evolution. Riff-lovers and melody-seekers alike will find plenty to devour here – this is Volbeat armed to the teeth on both and once again proving why they remain one of the world’s premier heavyweight forces. One of the best rock albums of the year for us and it ain’t even close.
8/10
Standout Tracks: Acid Rain, Time To Heal, Devils Awake
For Fans Of: Metallica, Mastodon, Ghost, Mustasch
Written by: Eric Mackinnon
