As I keep stressing Michael is an extraordinarily charismatic frontman and he knows exactly which buttons to press in order to expertly build the expectation and the delirium.
The rawness and danger of yesteryear has gone, but you will not find a more enjoyable piece of singalongable rock n’ roll theatre than Volbeat belting out 'The Devil’s Bleeding Crown’. It also marks the beginning of a frankly bloated five song encore. Aside from an unscripted and unfunny quip about the fact that Manchester should be called Womanchester, this is a well-rehearsed and highly choreographed rock show delivered by consummate professionals. It is hard now to imagine that there was actually a time when Rob Caggiano wasn’t in the band, as he has become such an essential part of their set up. Michael, Jon and Rob weave in and out of each, swapping places and licks with ease. Volbeat have become a slick metal(ish) monster that put Metallica to shame in terms of production values and showmanship. It is great that stuff like ‘ Fallen' and ' S till Counting ' is still in the set, it is just obvious where most of the crowd’s relationship with the band begins.īut, I really should stop whinging, as musically and performance wise they tighter than a nat’s arse. The number of those bellowing the lyrics back at Michael Poulsen reduces by half when we get to stuff off “Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies” and plummets off a virtual cliff when we arrive at songs from the four previous releases. Stuff from the new album (which in my opinion is sadly quite patchy) and “Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie” is greeted with great gusto and three thousand voices screaming along in unison. Even with the beauty of Spotify, this mean that the reception to tracks is uneven to say the least. As I said above, they are no longer a hidden gem and have (finally) been embraced by the mainstream. This is Metal, but in a sharp suit and with a gunner fighter swagger. The dual intro of Motorhead and Nick Cave perfectly sets out Volbeat’s stall as they are the missing link between the two. They have the connection and they now have the songs, it really can’t be long until they are headlining venues like this for themselves. It is obvious that the crowd are unfamiliar with them, but by the end of their fifty minute stint they have won over a sizable chunk of those who had been intent on chatting to their mates through the entire set. John Baizley has also relaxed into his role as frontman and manages to skilfully merge a commanding presence with a laid back and informal approach. The sludge and distortion that gave the “Red” and “Blue” records their distinctive sound has been replaced with harmonies and polished production.
VOLBEAT STILL COUNTING MERCH FULL
Songs like 'Throw Me An Anchor' and 'Front Toward Enemy' are full of bounce and vitality.
The new stuff is shorter, sharper and much more direct. Previously Baroness material had a tendency to meander and get lost in its own cul-de-sacs of twisting chugging heavy prog. Mid-set, we get an uninterrupted consecutive run of five tracks from the new record and they are all nothing short of bloody brilliant. Their latest album “Gold & Grey” is stunning and full to the brim with the most groovy and accessible stuff they have ever produced. They certainly have the songs to seal the deal. In Baroness’ case they are shifting from being scuzzy underground heroes to a mainstream proposition and, like Mastodon before them, they are trying to achieve this without losing any of their street credibility. Like the headliner, they are also a band in mid-metamorphosis.
When I arrive Baronessare doing a grand job soundtracking the sizable bar queues. Volbeat have been discovered by the classic rock one-gig-a-year brigade and, frankly, I need to get over myself that a band I once had more or less to myself is now communal property. The hordes of unwashed anti-social metalheads, clad in t-shirts adorned with unreadable logos, have been replaced with Planet Rock listening dads, sporting ASDA bought AC/DC merch or (horror upon horror) checked shirts. I’m a massive self-confessed Metal snob and it is obvious from the moment that I walk in, that there has been a seismic shift in the audience. The Apollo is literally bursting out the seams and the entire tour has been sold out for months, so why oh why, do I have reservations? Tonight, however, things may have finally changed. As they graduated to stadium and festivals headliner status on the continent, in this country it felt that they had become caught in a groundhog day loop of club gigs and mid-afternoon second stage slots at Download. For literally years I have bemoaned that fact that the UK never seemed to succumb to the utter joy that is Volbeat. Be careful what you wish for, it may well come true.