The band had to pay its dues, “playing in ‘toilets,’” Larsen says with a chuckle. The record was named Best Album of 2005 by the Danish Metal Musik Awards.Įven though everyone in the group was a seasoned musician, Volbeat couldn’t coast on the reputation of its members. The group landed a record deal on the strength of their demo tape, and their major-label debut, 2005’s The Strength/The Sound/The Songs sold well, going Double-platinum in Denmark and Gold in Germany. “We don’t say, ‘Oh, we’ve got to do a ‘50s-type of rock ‘n’ roll song.’ It just happens, you know?” he says.Īnd Volbeat’s inimitable style quickly won the attention of fans in their native Denmark. But Larsen emphasizes that the group’s mindset wasn’t some kind of studied, clinical exercise in music-making. “Michael grew up all the great artists of the ‘50s: Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis.” Larsen’s own formative years centered around the music of the following decade he mentions four British bands – the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Kinks – as early inspirations.įrom Volbeat’s earliest days, the four-piece band focused on original material that conveyed the energy of modern-day hard rock and metal, but remained true to the spirit of early rock ‘n’ roll. Larsen says that Volbeat’s musical approach is a natural one for its members. While carrying on with the power and energy of the music its members had made previously, Volbeat would also draw inspiration from more classic and timeless sources like blues, rockabilly and soul. He enlisted the talents of other like-minded musicians including drummer Jon Larsen. Volbeat kicks off its 2022 North American tour with a January 25 concert at the Reno Events Center, co-headlining with fellow European hard rockers Ghost.įormed in 2001 by Michael Poulsen, Volbeat was conceived as a way for the guitarist-singer to pursue a style more creatively rewarding than the death metal he had been playing with his previous group. Few groups have been as successful at maintaining their musical integrity while continuing to grow their fan base decades into their careers. This feature appeared previously in Rock On magazine.įor 20 years and running, Copenhagen, Denmark-based band Volbeat has had it both ways: the popular group has honed its brand of hard-rock (with elements of early, vintage rock ‘n’ roll) while appealing to an audience that extends well beyond rock fans.

New volbeat album 2018