How does a band make every rock cliché new again? Throw them all together. The 56-way collision results in a new sort of metal fusion that somehow sounds fresh, and this is the method by which Volbeat is lifting and purloining its way to the top. Hitting #1 on the charts of their native Denmark, Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil is a tall, cool blended drink of mid-90’s melodic riffage, contemporary rhythms, and soulfully wailed vocals. They’re a less mournful Life of Agony; a more optimistic Machine Head fronted by a non-pompous Danzig in his prime. They’re capable of going from anthemic odes of love to blast-beats and power chords rivaling COC.
Volbeat aren’t even afraid to tackle country; their slide and twang in “Sad Man’s Tongue†pays homage to the classic Cash-era tales of loss while still indulging in rock strongholds like a searing solo. They call themselves “metal that even your mother would like,†and that’s not far from the truth- the smooth rhythms and hummable melodies create a sound that’s heavy without being grating. Even if your parents aren’t going out to buy Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil as soon as they hear it, they at least won’t accuse Volbeat of being “nothing but noisy devil-worshippers.†(If they do, get new parents, because clearly they’re hopelessly uninformed. Volbeat provide an accurate metric by which to determine their sanity.)
Pleasing though their sonic paradigm may be, though, Volbeat would benefit to branch out a bit in terms of complexity. They’ve come up with a formula that works and are perfecting it- problem is, that formula includes relatively simple songs, which doesn’t allow for much tonal variety. They’re clearly capable of much more. Using their chunky groove as a jumping-off point for exploring more dynamic songwriting would behoove them. Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil may not be perfect, but it’s a worthy example of a promising band on the way to availing their full potential. Definitely a welcome oasis of melody for anyone who’s had it with the abrasive, played out state of metal today.
Website: Volbeat
