Band : Volbeat

Album Title : Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood

Label : Mascot Records

Distributor : PIAS

Release Date : 15/09/2008

Release : CD

Since the band's debut album in 2005 the Danish band Volbeat has been a rising star and their popularity seems to be only growing. The combination of hard rocking metal with influences from the fifties rock and roll make them sound like Metallica meets Life of Agony. This third album sounds very much like their previous work. Besides the fact that they build on a musical structure that really rocks, there’s nothing new and nothing original about Volbeat. The smell of success has can turn out to every fan's worst nightmare effect. The band continues in its own sound and makes it more accessible for a larger audience. Nevertheless Volbeat still sounds heavy. Although there are some strange songs on this new album that are more ballad like than metal like such as “Back To Prom” or “Light A Way”. Who knows it can be something for Radio Donna that soon will be gone. These songs are more accessible than the stuff on the previous albums. And also the roughness is sometimes gone and you get a more funny punk sound. But there is enough good material on “Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood” like “Halleluja Goat” and “Still Counting” with great vocal melodies and excellent lyrics and “Find That Soul” with beautiful strong guitar riffs. This third Volbeat album will definitely apply to the fans of the earlier works but there are some question marks left for what the future will brings for this promising band.

70/100

Guido Claes.