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Rating: Looking at Michael Poulsen's photos, I glimpsed, among his arm tattoos, the famous face of Elvis Presley and the conspicuous "Social Distortion" inscription. It doesn't surprise me that his singing style resembles those who are undoubtedly his idols. Especially Elvis, whom he imitates very well. What surprised me is that he sings in a heavy metal band: Volbeat.
These four Danes have produced, so far, three good albums, similar in quality and music offered. In Italy, they are almost unknown, yet they have had great success in their homeland, and word is spreading to the rest of Europe. The best hits of Volbeat are found in the two most recent albums, namely "Rock The Rebel, Metal The Devil" and "Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood," released in 2007 and 2008, respectively. However, the debut album, from 2005, "The Strength / The Sound / The Songs," denotes a more consistent quality of the tracks, despite there being 15. Moreover, I prefer it to the other two for its slightly more aggressive imprint.
This is about hard-hitting metal, played at tempos not too fast, but enough to make you want to dance (or slam into the wardrobe). The musicians play, without pretensions, simple riffs or short solos that are anything but virtuosic, giving the supreme protagonist role to Mr. Poulsen's voice. The singer crafts engaging melodies that often remind me of the Wild West (though I've never been there). His voice is so distinctive that it makes Volbeat recognizable among thousands of bands. It is a clean, deep voice, no-falsetto, mesmerizing for its Elvis-like style (listen to the sample). In many parts of the album, a 3/4 tempo is used, which is very rock n' roll (did I say something silly?). The main flaw of this album is its lack of longevity: the riffs are similar from one song to another, tiring quickly. And the voice, both a blessing and a curse, is at times redundant, monotonous, especially when he extends the vowels at the end of the verse.
Nonetheless, the final result is an album that surprises, both for the fresh air it brings to a genre often a clone of itself, and for the carefree and benign spirit, which contrasts with the typical aggressiveness of metal. To understand what I mean, listen to track 13: "I Only Wanna Be With You." It's the song that best embodies the "carefree" concept.
Fun!
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Caroline Leaving (03:14)
Which of you am I to lay down first
To shake the coffin or spread the dust
To say hell-o and greet the underworld
Or fly the moment over hill to burn
Feel the lightning, or be the lightning
Enter stellar levigate a name
Among the others we all look the same
(Chorus)
Your time is flying now high in the air
So sad to see you got nothing to say
The ravens are crying you home
'Cause the heaven is not you
You'll feel the fire
And i will be joining you too
Two black ravens sitting on a fence
Cakle laughing at mankind itself
Loving how it feel to be that free
And leaving us behind in misery
Feel the lightning, or be the lightning
Enter stellar levigate a name
Among the others we shall look the same
(Chorus)
02 Another Day, Another Way (03:03)
Jumping on the next train
And for a moment
I just don't know where I am
Sick and tired of seeing good people
Bending over for the system that I hate
Never meant to break your heart
But for a moment I just know I have
Give me time to cope my mind
And finding faults for the reason
To why I leave
Most leave when I'm going strong
Lead me away and I shall call love on you
Leave me the way that I still burn over you
I've been aware
Sitting here in county hail
I should have been with you
But that's just how I am
Ain't no one to go my bail
But at least I know just when
And how I leave
Must leave when I'm going strong
Lead me away and I shall call love on you
Leave me the way that I still burn over you
Well i've been waiting for years
And I still call love on you
Leave me the way that I still burn over you
Well I've been aware
06 Always, Wu (02:33)
Sickness hide inside
eating flesh by time
The saddest news I have in mind
But I know you man
A heart like no one else
Keeps the fire glow friend
(Chorus)
If I lose you, with the smile you do
If I lose you, in the morning
In the final sleep
If I lose you
Only one to know
And I promise you
Nothing change unless you say
But I know you man
A heart like no one else
Keeps the fire glow my friend
(Chorus)
Carry on cause there's no place to hide
Find the oath and feel
Our love for you is for all endless time
Alone you never be
(Chorus)
08 Soulweeper (03:39)
So sad, so afraid, so frantic
Well I found you girl, and see how it turned
I'm so sorry that I put your heart on fire
But I love you too
And I know I should've told you
Way back then
That I wasn't ready yet
So sad, so afraid, so frantic
I'm the soulweeper
So sad, so afraid, so frantic
Well I thought I was
Bursted for this one
I'm a fool in pain
And I feel so ashamed
Well I always said
Nothing was meant to be
And I still do baby
And I don't like to be
So sad, so afraid, so frantic
I'm the soulweeper
So sad, so afraid, so frantic
Well a new day is born and I like it
Long lost pictures come to life one more time
Well I know that you sit alone, and that hurts
But we'll always be friends, that's for sure
So sad, so afraid, so frantic
I'm the soulweeper
So sad, so afraid, so frantic
09 Fire Song (04:20)
I can dance to the morning light
With my feet on fire
Drive the devil motherfucker
With my babe holding on for miles
Well hey, do you really think
The truth is up there
Oh baby, let me tell you something
I don't really care
Our masterplan has been waiting
And have been ready far too long
Unleash the multiple devilsongs
That grows inside your tongue
I've been wasting some time
Just to be part of shit
Now's the time, unleash the chain
'cause hell awaits my name
To play in hell, I seek no other game
You too are here, well hell-o we meet again
Remember when we took it all
And danced all night away
Well hell-o we meet again
Well baby let's take a break
And walk up to the hills
The church of god are waiting us
But they do not know
That we bring firesongs
To burn their tongues
Og baby baby see the house of god blow up
Our masterplan has been waiting
And have been ready for far too long
Unleash the multiple devilsongs
That grows inside your tongue
I've been wasting some time
Just to be part of shit
Now's the time, unleash the chain
'cause hell awaits my name
To play in hell, I seek no other game
You too are here, well hell-o we meet again
Remember when we took it all
And danced all night away
Well hell-o we meet again
13 I Only Wanna Be With You (02:44)
I don't know what it is
That makes me love you so
I only know I never wanna let you go
'Cos you started something
Oh, can't you see
That ever since we met
You've had a hold on me
It happens to be true
I only want to be with you
It doesn't matter where you go or what you do
I wanna spend each moment of the day with you
Oh, look what has happened with just one kiss
I never knew that I could be in love like this
It's crazy but it's true
I only want to be with you
I don't know what it is
That makes me love you so
I only know I never wanna let you go
'Cos you started something
Oh, can't you see
That ever since we met
You've had a hold on me
It happens to be true
I only want to be with you
You stopped and smiled at me
Asked if I'd care to dance
I fell into your open arms
And I didn't stand a chance
Now, listen, honey
I just wanna be beside you everywhere
As long as we're together, honey
I don't care
'Cos you started something
Oh, can't you see
That ever since we met
You've had a hold on me
It happens to be true
I only want to be with you
No matter what you do
I only want to be with you
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