Welcome to the meandering musical insights of Aaron Joy (me!), formerly known as the Roman Midnight Music Blog. Here you'll find nearly 750 reviews of CDs & DVDs of rock & metal in all its variations, mainstream & indie, good & bad, U.S. & foreign. A new review every Monday.

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February 20, 2010

Volbeat ~ Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood (album review) ... Classic rock in a new suit!


Style: heavy metal, psychobilly, punk
Label: Mascot Music
Year: 2008
Home: Denmark

Members: Michael Poulsen ~ vocals/guitar
Jon Larsen ~ drums
Anders Kjølholm ~ bass
Thomas Bredahl ~ guitar 

 

 
This is one of those bands that’s almost a joke but it’s a joke that works & done with great skill. Remember, Spinal Tap is good because as a band they actually are good. Dread Zeppelin asked what if Elvis sang reggae. Volbeat asks what if Elvis jammed with Brian Setzer & Johnny Cash & they all played metal. The answer is far better than the reggae outing. This Danish trio fuses rockabilly with metal. All three of their albums have hit the top of the European charts, including the #1 new release spot. GG&CB, their latest, just happens to be our fav. Probably the only metal album that opens with a dobro solo, don’t misunderstand this band as they had an early incarnation as a metal band, so they know the ropes &, unlike Sunn 0))), are not trying to redefine the genre just add some fun to it. This would probably be more interesting to those are less inclined to the grind/thrash/doom end of the metal spectrum, but those elements are not forgotten in this potpourri of styles, which also includes a second singer, guitar solos, slow & fast songs and even a conceptual story joining the lyrics. This is a band worth checking out.

(originally written for the Roman Midnight Music newsletter Issue 3, Feb 2010, unchanged for blog)

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