Volbeat

Their fifth, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (2013) entered the Media Control Charts in Germany at number one and received immediate gold status. The album sold more than 100,000 in its first week. Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie, their sixth album from 2016, debuted at number one in Denmark. Volbeat's seventh album, Rewind, Replay, Rebound, was released on August 2, 2019, and debuted at number seven on the UK Albums Chart. Their eighth album, Servant of the Mind, was released on December 3, 2021.

Singer Michael Poulsen's first band was Death metal act, Dominus. In 2000, Poulsen became fed up with the death metal music scene, causing Dominus to break up. In 2001, Michael Poulsen went on to form a new band with some friends and other former Dominus members. This was the beginning of Volbeat. The band name "Volbeat" was derived from Dominus's third album name, "Vol.Beat" (from 1997) (read as: Volume Beat). After selling 1,000 copies of their Beat the Meat demo tape, Volbeat was signed to a record deal by Rebel Monster Records, a sub-label of Mascot Records.

Volbeat released their first album, The Strength/The Sound/The Songs in 2005. The line-up for the album consisted of Michael Poulsen (vocals), Jon Larsen (drums), Franz Gottschalk (guitar) and Anders Kjølholm (bass). The album was a huge success in Denmark achieving a spot at No. 18 in the charts.

Critics were generally positive towards The Strength/The Sound/The Songs. The German Hard rock  magazine RockHard gave it 10/10 in a review. The Strength/The Sound/The Songs also received a handful of awards, including Best Album in the Danish Metal Musik Awards in 2005. Volbeat was praised for its live performances. Their concert at Roskilde Festival 2006 received a 6/6 stars review in the Danish newspaper BT.

The band, featuring the same line-up as their first album, released their second album, Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil, in week 8 of 2007, where it debuted as No. 1 in the Danish Top 40 for CD-sales.

They opened the Roskilde Festival in 2007 and also supported Metallica together with Mnemic at their concert in Denmark July 13 of that year. They were to support Megadeth in Finland and in their home town, Copenhagen, and to make a few festival appearances mid-2008. They hired Thomas Bredahl following  the recording of Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil as a replacement for Franz Gottschalk on guitar.

In 2008, Volbeat released their third album, Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood featuring guitarist Thomas Bredahl. It topped the Finnish Album Chart straight after its publication. In 2009, Volbeat supported the Symphonic metal band Nightwish on their U.S tour in May. On 31 May 2009 they were on the main stage of the Pinkpop Festival. They also supported Metallica on the North American leg of Metallica's World Magnetic Tour from October to December 2009. In 2009 the band played at the biggest open-air festival in Europe (400,000–500,000 rock fans every year), Przystanek Woodstock in Poland.

Michael Poulsen stated about Beyond Hell/Above Heaven, "The album title refers to the overall theme of the album, and it continues the storyline from where Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood left off...".

On January 25, 2010, it was confirmed that Volbeat would be performing at Download Festival in June 2010. It was also confirmed that Volbeat were to join Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer and others in the "Big Four" show at Sonisphere Switzerland. It was also announced that the new album, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven was to be released on September 10, 2010. The band also announced their Beyond Hell/Above Heaven Live 2010 tour. In 2011, Volbeat announced their Grand Summer Tour across North America.

The tour began in Toronto, Ontario on July 24 at Heavy T.O., and concluded with a two-night stand on September 3 & 4 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. Volbeat co-headlined this tour with rock powerhouse Cold on all US dates, but not in Canada. On November 28, 2011, Volbeat announced the departure of Thomas Bredahl via their website. Volbeat committed to playing all 2011-2012 as scheduled either as a trio, or with a replacement guitarist. On 26 January 2012, Volbeat joined Megadeth,  Motörhead, and Lacuna Coil on Gigantour.

The tour started in Camden, New Jersey, and culminated on February 28, 2012 in Denver, Colorado, at the Fillmore Auditorium. On the tour, Hank Shermann (Mercyful Fate) filled in as the guitarist for Volbeat. On their North American Summer tour, which began in June 2012, Iced Earth and Hellyeah were the supporting acts. The tour included dates in Baltimore, Toronto, Detroit, Billings, Boston, Tempe, San Francisco, and Weyburn and Lazerfest in Boone, Iowa, and in June, Orion Music Festival, headlined by Metallica, at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Volbeat were confirmed to be playing at the Download festival on June 2013. Volbeat announced in December that their new album would be released during 2013. A spring tour with Danko Jones and  Spoken was announced in December. In January 2013, Volbeat revealed the name of the new album, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies, and that was released in the spring of 2013.

On February 4, 2013, it was announced that Rob Caggiano, formerly of Anthrax, had officially joined the band as second guitarist. He had been producing and recording guest solos on the band's upcoming album, Outlaw Gentlemen and Shady Ladies, which the band also announced will be released on April 8, 2013 (GSA on April 5 and US on April 9), before being asked to join as a full-time member. Singer and guitarist Michael Poulsen said of the chemistry between Rob Caggiano and the rest of the band,

"The collaboration with Rob in the studio was so inspiring and in good spirit that we the decided to keep him. Basically we went into the studio as a three piece and came out as a whole band!"

Michael Poulsen confirmed during the band's 2015 tour with Anthrax and Crobot, that a new album was in the works, hinting that it would be released in 2016, and demoed a new song throughout "The Devil's Bleeding Crown" tour.

In April 2015, singer Michael Poulsen revealed that he had so far written seven songs for the next album. In November 2015, the band announced that Anders Kjølholm would leave Volbeat. They emphasised, that he left in good terms with the band. Michael Poulsen and Jon Larsen said that "Anders has been a loyal friend and bandmate since 2001. ... We're very thankful for this and wish Anders all the best in the future." Anders Kjølholm likewise wished all the best for the rest of the band.

On April 3, 2016, Volbeat posted a teaser for their upcoming album on YouTube, hinting it would be released soon. On April 7, 2016, they revealed Seal the Deal and Let's Boogie to be released on June 3, 2016. The album's first single was "The Devil's Bleeding Crown". The official music video for this song was released on May 13, 2016. The second single, released 29 April 2016, was "For Evigt" (Forever), and an English version, "The Bliss". Kaspar Boye Larsen was announced as the band's new bassist on May 13, 2016. The band toured the United Kingdom in 2016 with Alter Bridge, Gojira, and Like a Storm.

The band was an opening act on Metallica's WorldWired Tour 2017 stadium tour in the US, alongside Avenged Sevenfold. In 2018, Volbeat announced plans for a seventh album. On March 4, 2019 Volbeat were announced, along with Gojira and Behemoth, as supporting acts for Slipknot's Knotfest Roadshow North American tour On 10 May 2019, Volbeat released a 40-second song, "Parasite", and on May 15, they released the second single, "Leviathan", from their seventh studio album, Rewind, Replay, Rebound

while announcing the 14-song tracklist and a release date of August 2, 2019. They released the third single off the album, "Last Day Under the Sun" on June 13, 2019. On July 18, 2019, the band released the fourth single, "Cheapside Sloggers", featuring Gary Holt of Slayer. On July 26, 2019, the band released the fifth single, "Pelvis on Fire". On November 4, 2019, the band released "Die to Live", featuring Neil Fallon  of Clutch as the sixth single. On June 2, 2021, the band released two singles, "Wait a Minute My Girl" and "Dagen Før", the latter featuring Alphabeat's Stine Bramsen. "Wait a Minute My Girl" earned the band their ninth No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart dated for August 21, 2021. The band is now tied for the 10th-most No. 1s in the chart's 40-year history.

The band contributed a cover of the Metallica song "Don't Tread on Me" to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist, released in September 2021. On September 23, 2021, the band released a new song "Shotgun Blues". Along with the release, the band confirmed the release of their eighth studio album Servant of the Mind for December 3, 2021.

In September 2021, the band announced a 2022 co-headline with Ghost. On October 28, 2021, the band released the fourth single from their new album, "Becoming". On November 11, 2021, the band released a music video for the song "Shotgun Blues".

On January 28, 2022, it was announced that the band's drummer, Jon Larsen, tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the band had to cancel one show. The band also announced that they would continue with their tour with Ghost, and the former drummer of Slayer, Jon Dette would fill in as a touring drummer until Jon Larsen's return.

On April 13, 2022, the band released a music video for the song "Temple Of Ekur". On June 5, the band announced on Instagram that Rob Caggiano has left the band.

For the band's Summer 2023 tour, the lead guitarist position was filled by Flemming C. Lund of The Arcane Order. In August 2023, the band announced that they would not be touring in 2024, but Michael Poulsen would be touring with his new death metal band, Asinhell. Volbeat also announced that they would be spending time at home and working on a new album.

The Strength / The Sound / The Songs won the award for the best debut album at the Danish Metal Music Awards 2005.

Volbeat won the award Steppeulven for hope of the year 2006.

Volbeat won the award for the best live band at the Danish Metal Music Awards 2006 voted by fans.

Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil won the award for best album at the Danish Metal Music Awards 2007.

Volbeat won the Danish radio award for P3 listener hit at the P3 Guld-show voted by listeners of P3.

Volbeat were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for "Room 24".

The band's musical style has been described as Heavy metal, Hard rock, Psychobilly, Rockabilly, Groove metal, and Rock and roll. Chris True of AllMusic stated, "The band's sound weds Hard rock, Classic metal, Glam metal, Punk rock, and Rockabilly."

Some of the band's influences include Elvis Presley,  Johnny Cash, Metallica, Black Sabbath,

Obituary,  Mercyful Fate, Darkthrone, Mayhem, King Diamond, Dio, Iced Earth, Death,

Armored Saint, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Accept, Cannibal Corpse, Manowar,

AC/DC, and Social Distortion.

The Strength / The Sound / The Songs (2005)

Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil (2007)

Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood (2008)

Beyond Hell / Above Heaven (2010)

Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (2013)

Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie (2016)

Rewind, Replay, Rebound (2019)

Servant of the Mind (2021)

Complete Discography

Michael Poulsen – lead vocals,  rhythm guitar  (2001–present)

Jon Larsen – drums, percussion (2001–present)

Kaspar Boye Larsen – bass guitar, backing vocals  (2006, 2016–present)