Who are... Volbeat!

Sorry for the long wait for blog-updates! Here we go with another danish band in the 'Who are...' category!

Who
Volbeat were formed in 2001 by singer Michael Poulsen, formerly of death/thrash metal band Dominus. That band released 4 albums, including one in 1997 called 'Volbeat', from which the new band got it's name.
In addition to Poulsen, the band features Anders Kjølholm (Bass), Jon Larsen (drums) and Thomas Bredahl (guitars). Unlike Dominus, Volbeat's music is radio-oriented and influenced by Poulsen's love of 'The Sun records legacy'. His admiration of people like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley shines through, and lends a slight rock 'n' roll flavour to the hard rock of their albums. The band has achieved significant mainstream approval in Denmark, which is uncommon for native hard rock and metal bands. Thus, their second album was the first metal album to reach #1 on the Danish sales list.

Releases of note

Soulsweeper (debut single, 2003)
I only wanna be with you (second single, 2004)
The Strength, the sound, the songs (debut album, 2005)
The Garden's tale (succesful single from second album, went to #1, 2007)
Rock the rebel, metal the devil (second album, went to #1, 2007)
Maybellene i hofteholder (single from third album, 2008)
Live: Sold out (DVD, 2008)
Guitar gangsters & Cadillac blood (third album, 2008)

In depth
Rock the rebel... has so far been Volbeat's most popular album. Lead off by single 'The garden's tale', with it's English/Danish lyrics, the album sold a lot on the back of some heavy rotation on Danish radio stations. The influence of Johnny Cash and Presley was even more prominent here than on their first album, not least in songs like 'Sad Man's Tongue' and 'Mr. & Mrs. Ness'. Following the release of this album, Volbeat were handpicked to open for Metallica and later for Megadeth.

Best and worst
The jury is still out on what the best album is, but it's either Rock the rebel... or Guitar Gangsters. It's early days yet for the latter album, but lead off single 'Maybellene i hofteholder' (Maybellene in garter-belt) and the duet with The Storm-singer Pernille Rosendahl, 'Mary Ann's place' are among the band's best tracks. Worst is hard to say with so few releases that are kind of similar in style, but since I'm not much of a music-DVD person, we'll go with Live: Sold out.
Anyone with an interest in contemporary hard rock with a rock 'n' roll influence would do well to check out this fresh band.