VOLBEAT was formed in October 2001 by Michael Poulsen,
who had previously split up the Danish metal band Dominus. Dominus was
said to be Denmarks pride of metal. During their 10 years of existence
Michael Poulsen and DOMINUS released 4 albums and had their videos
shown on both MTV, VIVA. (for further infomation:
www.diehardmusic.com). VOLBEAT's musical style is said to be a
combination of Metallic Rock'n'roll with a touch of the sixties melodic
tunes. As a Swedish Reporter from Slavestate Mag wrote: METALLICA
should have hired VOLBEAT as songwriters for their "Load" and "Re-Load"
albums. Others have said: This is ELVIS-metal.
In 2002 VOLBEAT release their self-titled debut demo. The response was moderate, and it wasn't until the release of their "Beat the meat" demo from 2003 that things really started happening.
Songs from the "Beat the meat" demo has been aired on Swedish Radio top 30, and has been one of the ten most played songs with the track "Soulweeper" , and also the French Radio have had the track "Danny & Lucy" on their top 30. Both songs are featured on the debutalbum "The Strength/The Sound/The Songs" .
In 2004 VOLBEAT reaches the semifinals in Denmarks biggest music talent competition Live Contest.
On the 16th of December 2004 VOLBEAT went to Holland to support New Yorkers HELMET at the MELKWEG in Amsterdam (www.melkweg.nl). 2 days later on the 18th of December VOLBEAT played the big Jingle Bell Rock Show in Copenhagen, Denmark. Later that evening the band was approached by the danish national tv-station TV2, requesting to use their music during their coverage of the World Championships In Handball in Tunisia. Unfortunately the station later ran from their promises.
VOLBEAT were a nominee for the best live act in 2004 at www.danishmetal.dk
VOLBEAT are featured on the soundtrack to Denmarks first ever snowboard movie "FROST" with the track "Pool of booze".
VOLBEAT appeared in the legendary German Heavy Metal Magazine Metal Hammer as the best band/ best promo cd: "Beat the meat" (2003), produced by Jacob Hansen, and later in German mag Heavy Oder Was as "Best upcoming band".
1000 copies of the "Beat the meat" demo cd has been sold until summer 2005.
After many months of negotations between the band and many large record companies VOLBEAT secured a deal on the newly formed label Rebel Monster Records. A sub-label to Mascot Records.
Now their debut release "The strength the sound the songs" is out and the response all over the world is nothing short of amazing.
VOLBEAT's cd sale has set some kind of Danish record, since no other Danish Heavy Rock band than VOLBEAT has been able to get that high position at the Danish TOP 100 (position nr 18) for cd sales in over 10 years, and they are leaving bands behind like Madonna, Pink Floyd, Eminem, Guns n Roses,wolfmother, Black Eye Peace, Keane,Franz Ferdinand, Coldplay, Kashmir, just to name a few. VOLBEAT were honoured with a 10/10 review by the legendary German metal magazine Rock Hard, and also made it to no. 6 on their soundcheck list. It's the first time ever any danish band is given a 10/10 review in Rock Hard, and we are of course very proud of this to say the least.
VOLBEAT won the award for the best debut album on Danish Metal Musik Award 2005 held in Copenhagen Denmark the 26th of november. The Band was not there in person to receive the award, since they were in HOLLAND to support such bands as Candlemass and Destruction on the Arnhem Metal Meeting Festival ,and the day after they played on the legandary DYNAMO CLUB.
After leaving the Dynamo Club in Eindhoven, VOLBEAT went home to Copenhagen Denmark to support LIFE OF AGONY from U.S.A.
VOLBEAT was among the 10 best releases in the year 2005 in Denmark's 3 biggest news pappers B.T and Politiken and Jylands Posten . The band appears on the list together with such Bands as Rolling Stones, Rammstein, Motorhead, Audioslave, The Darkness, The White Stripes, Gorillaz, Raveonettes.
VOLBEAT was nominated in 3 category's in Denmarks most acknowledged and respected Musik Award show called Steppeulven , which took place in VEGA, the 28th of January 2006 in Copenhagen Denmark. Other nominated bands Were Kashmir, Mew, Raveonettes, Tv-2, L.O.C, Magtens Korridorer, Bikstok Røgsystem and many more. VOLBEAT won the price for the most promising band of the year.
In April 2006 VOLBEAT was playing to the Anthrax aftershow in the Netherlands. A big moment since Anthrax has been an influence from day one.
The 22th of April 2006.Frontman Michael Poulsen had the honour to perform with some of Elvis Presley's old studio musicians in Amager bio/ Copenhagen Denmark . Michael Poulsen: This was the greatest moment in my life, I still can't beleive it.
2006 is also the Year where VOLBEAT is playing over 12 Festivals jobs including: Roskilde Festival, Spot Festival, Skanderborg Festival, Rock Hard Festival, Full Force Festival, Summer Breeze Festival.
And after that VOLBEAT is heading for a 2 month Danish tour. And after that one month European Tour with Hatesphere and Raunchy, followed by diffrent gigs around the world. And between all that a Second album is going to be recorded in October 2006 by producer Jacob Hansen .
VOLBEAT is sponsored by VANS and EASTPAK.
Volbeat line-up:
Michael Poulsen - Guitar & Vocals
Jon Larsen - Drums
Anders Kjølholm - Bass
Thomas Bredahl – Guitar
Discogaphy:
- Rock The Rebl / Metal The Devil /Released February 2007 through Rebel Monster Records (Mascot Records), Recorded and mixed by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios during October 2006./
- The Strength/The Sound/The Songs /Released September 2005 through Rebel Monster Records (Mascot Records), Recorded and mixed by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios during August 2003 and 17-28 July 2004. /
- Soulweeper (Demo-single) /Released 2003, Recorded and mixed by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios during August 2003. Except (*) produced and mixed by Morten Nilson and Kaare at Take One Studios during March and April 2002./
- Beat the meat (Demo) / Released 2003, Recorded and mixed by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios during August 2003./
- VOLBEAT (Demo) / Released 2002, Recorded and mixed by Morten Nilson and Kaare at Take One Studios during March and April 2002./
From: http://www.volbeat.dk
