For fans who’ve stuck with Volbeat this long, there’s enough here to justify another spin. Just don’t expect it to live up to that G.O.A.T. acronym…

Words by Felix Bartlett | 04 Jun, 2025

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Volbeat have never been a band to play it safe. For over twenty years, they’ve welded thrash metal, rockabilly, and arena-rock hooks into a sound that’s unmistakably theirs, even if it hasn’t always won them critical acclaim. Their ninth album, God Of Angels Trust (subtly, or not so subtly, hinting at its G.O.A.T. aspirations), finds them at a crossroads: part confident stride forward, part rushed retread of past glories. The result is an album that crackles with energy in places but sputters when it should soar.

From the opening chug of ‘Devils Are Awake’, it’s clear Volbeat haven’t abandoned their metal roots. The track’s stomping riff and gang-chanted chorus feel like a love letter to the classic metal albums the band grew up on, and Poulsen’s vocals sell it perfectly. ‘Better Be Fueled Than Tamed’ keeps the momentum going, its restless structure and flashy leads proving that Volbeat can still surprise when they want to. Then there’s ‘In The Barn Of The Goat Giving Birth To Satan’s Spawn In A Dying World Of Doom’, a mouthful of a title that has to be one of the best I’ve seen in recent years. Musically, it’s a riot, a swaggering, doom-tinged banger that somehow makes its absurd premise work.

But for every moment that ignites, there’s another that fizzles. The album’s breakneck five-week recording process shows in its unevenness. Tracks like ‘By A Monster’s Hand’ and ‘Demonic Depression’ deliver solid riffs but lack the staying power of Volbeat’s best work, feeling more like sketches than fully realised songs. Even ‘Acid Rain’, one of the album’s stronger cuts, suffers from a sense of missed potential; its soaring chorus begs for tighter songwriting around it.

The band’s performance, at least, remains tight. Drummer Jon Larsen and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen lock into a groove that keeps even the weaker tracks from collapsing, and fill-in guitarist Flemming C. Lund (stepping in after Rob Caggiano’s 2023 departure) holds his own, especially on the thrashier passages. Producer Jacob Hansen, a longtime collaborator, ensures the album sounds massive, guitars roar, drums punch, and Poulsen’s voice cuts through with its usual charisma.

God Of Angels Trust won’t dethrone Servant of the Mind as Volbeat’s late-career peak, but it’s not without its charms. At its best, it’s a reminder of why this band has endured: few acts can blend metal, rock, and punk swagger with such infectious confidence. At its worst, it feels like a rushed job, a collection of ideas that needed more time to cook. Still, for fans who’ve stuck with Volbeat this long, there’s enough here to justify another spin. Just don’t expect it to live up to that G.O.A.T. acronym.

Verdict: 💀💀💀

For fans of: Metallica, Ghost, Alter Bridge

God Of Angels Trust is out June 6 via Republic/Universal.