Volbeat

Volbeat formed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2001, led by vocalist and guitarist Michael Poulsen. Poulsen, who previously fronted the death metal band Dominus, sought to explore a new musical direction after becoming dissatisfied with the death metal scene. The band’s name, “Volbeat,” was derived from Dominus’s third album, “Vol.Beat.” In its early years, the band’s lineup included Michael Poulsen (vocals, guitar), Jon Larsen (drums), Franz Gottschalk (guitar), and Anders Kjølholm (bass). Their debut album, “The Strength/The Sound/The Songs,” was released in 2005 and found immediate success in Denmark, reaching number 18 on the charts and earning accolades such as Best Album at the Danish Metal Musik Awards in 2005. The album garnered positive critical reception, including a 10/10 review from RockHard magazine, and the band quickly became recognized for their energetic live performances.

Building on their initial success, Volbeat released their second album, “Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil,” in 2007, which debuted at number one on the Danish Top 40 charts. This period saw them supporting major acts like Metallica and Megadeth, and performing at large festivals such as the Roskilde Festival. Thomas Bredahl joined as guitarist in 2006, replacing Franz Gottschalk. Their third album, “Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood,” released in 2008, topped the Finnish Album Chart and further expanded their international presence with tours supporting Nightwish and Metallica’s World Magnetic Tour in North America. The band continued to evolve its sound, culminating in the 2010 release of “Beyond Hell/Above Heaven,” which achieved widespread international success, earning triple platinum status in Denmark and Austria, double platinum in Sweden, platinum in Canada, 5x Gold in Germany, and gold in Finland and the United States.

Volbeat experienced lineup changes in the following years, with Thomas Bredahl departing in 2011 and Rob Caggiano, formerly of Anthrax, joining as second guitarist in 2013, contributing to their album “Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies.” In 2015, Anders Kjølholm left the band, and Kaspar Boye Larsen became the new bassist in 2016, coinciding with the release of their album “Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie.” The band continued extensive touring, including opening for Metallica’s WorldWired Tour in 2017 and Slipknot’s Knotfest Roadshow in 2019. Their seventh studio album, “Rewind, Replay, Rebound,” was released in 2019, followed by “Servant of the Mind” in 2021, which included singles like “Wait a Minute My Girl” that topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. In 2023, Rob Caggiano departed, and Flemming C. Lund joined for touring duties, later becoming an official member in 2026. The band’s ninth studio album, “God of Angels Trust,” was released in 2025.