Volbeat

The Rave presents… The Gigantour with special guest Volbeat.

VOLBEAT, VOLBEAT, Volbeat! This was the chant before, during, and after Volbeat set.

If you’ve never seen or heard of Volbeat then you’re missing out on one hell of a band from Denmark, with a lead singer who is a cross between Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, James Hetfield, and Bon Scott. A sound that is Metal, Rockabilly, Punk, and Ska all mixed into one - you have Volbeat. They have been around for 10 years and are huge overseas but the States just recently have been getting a taste. Seeing them last year, I was blown away by their live show and made it a point to see them each time they are around, as has now much of America.

Getting a chance to play on the Gigantour with greats like Motorhead and Megadeth has exposed them to many new fans that leave the show talking about how Volbeat stole the show.

Volbeat is:
Michael Poulsen on vocals & guitar
Anders Kjolholm on bass
Jon Larsen on drums
Hank Shermann from Mercyful Fate is filling in as touring guitarist

Opening the set with A Warrior’s Call, which just hit #1 on the Active Rock Radio charts and the first time a band from Denmark achieved this and is off their last album, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven, set the tone for what would be a killer set. As the fans of volbeat started to get worked up you could see the faces of people, who unaware of Volbeat, have a look of WTF as if they just discovered something amazing. Playing Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood, The Human Instrument, the place became one as they jumped up and down and shouted Volbeat at each break.

One of the highlights came when they played Sad Man’s Tongue. Poulsen sounded like Johnny Cash and the whole crowd sang along. When done, Poulsen beamed a huge smile and said, “Damn, you guys know the whole fucking song!” Poulsen told the crowd how thankful he was for their support and playing in Milwaukee, he asked the crowd if they wanted to get crazy, which they did not need much prodding when Hallelujah Goat started and the fans started coming over the top into the arms of security.

Fallen was dedicated to Poulsen’s father who passed away and to anyone who lost a loved one. If you never heard this song I suggest you do.

They ended the night by tearing the roof off the Rave with Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza and one of their best songs, Still Counting, which opens with the ska/punk style before tearing your head off with classic metal riffs. Just as the crowd thought this was the end, the guys tore into the Slayer classic, Raining Blood, which got the mosh pits exploding as they played a few minutes before thanking the crowd for a great night of metal.

All Photos provided by Peter Lizano