Volbeat’s Michael Poulsen on New Album, Fatherhood, Knotfest Roadshow, and Extra

One of many main rock ‘n’ roll success tales of the previous decade has been Volbeat, who’ve topped the rock and metallic charts across the globe, toured extensively with Metallica and have become the primary Danish band to headline and promote out their large hometown venue, Telia Parken, which seats greater than 48,000.

Now, frontman Michael Poulsen and firm are again with their seventh studio album, Rewind, Replay, Rebound, they usually’re additionally at present on the “Knotfest Roadshow”, touring North America with Slipknot, Gojira and Behemoth.

Poulsen checked in with Heavy Consequence through the Knotfest tour kickoff to speak concerning the new album, the significance of sustaining Volbeat’s distinctive sound through the years, and the way turning into a father has influenced Volbeat’s lyrics. Learn the total interview beneath.

On the that means behind the title of Volbeat’s new album, Rewind, Replay, Rebound

With regards to the music, there are particular songs that we form of return to — a number of the older stuff — so it’s form of rewinding and replaying and rebounding the previous songs in a brand new means for 2019 that makes them stronger. Within the lyrics, I additionally return to my previous childhood and plenty of of these good reminiscences. Particularly now that I’m a father as of two years in the past, I can relive and replay my very own childhood, so there’s additionally one thing about that within the lyrics and title.

On how turning into a father has modified his method to writing songs for Volbeat

Initially, I do know it seems like a cliché, however I believe turning into a dad is the very best factor that has occurred in my life. It’s a beautiful reward, and I believe most mother and father would agree. I don’t assume it has mirrored within the music, however I really feel prefer it positively modified within the lyrics. You instantly take a look at issues a little bit bit in a different way, and also you take a look at life in a different way, too. So, that leads you to select up topics that you just won’t decide up should you didn’t have youngsters.

On how the musical chemistry between Volbeat’s present band members

I believe it’s essential that you’ve good chemistry within the music onstage and in addition while you’re offstage. Generally it takes time to search out the fitting individuals to work with, as a result of as individuals, we modify and go alternative ways and instructions. It’s not straightforward to remain collectively in the identical lineup for a few years. It’s like a relationship. When it doesn’t work, it’s a must to transfer on. I can say 100 % that I really feel this lineup is the strongest lineup within the Volbeat historical past thus far, each with regards to working collectively on the music and being collectively offstage. I really feel that leaves a vital mark within the music, the place I can hear that we’re having enjoyable.

On Volbeat’s distinctive mix of rockabilly, metallic, and onerous rock, and the way they’ve maintained their identification through the years

For sure bands, it will possibly take a lifetime to search out their sound or type, however for us, we discovered our type from the very starting but additionally managed to, on every album, provide you with one thing we haven’t carried out earlier than. We’ve at all times stored the signature sound for Volbeat. I believe that’s a part of the explanation we’re doing effectively, as a result of it doesn’t matter what course we go, with regards to type, we nonetheless have that signature sound. Crucial factor is that we discovered our sound from the very starting, and I don’t see us altering it, however we are going to at all times be very curious with regards to being impressed by new stuff we haven’t carried out earlier than.

On the inspiration behind the band’s present single “Final Day Beneath the Solar”

Initially, I want to thank all of the radio stations who’re enjoying it, and we’re very glad about that. It’s a music that exhibits some new flavors in Volbeat, musically. With regards to the lyrics, I bought impressed by studying a e-book by Johnny Money about his life. He grew to become actually bored with his life and walked into the woods the place he discovered a cave, and he was so intoxicated with medication and alcohol that he didn’t wish to dwell anymore. However, he wakes up on this cave and appears like he’s been given a second probability in life.

There’s one thing stunning about popping out on the opposite facet as a brand new man. I might use that, as a result of I believe every one in all us goes by way of some powerful occasions in life. We fall into this black gap and must get out on the opposite facet. That’s what “Final Day Beneath the Solar” is about. It’s about forgiving your self and forgiving the individuals round you and discovering the choices to get higher in your personal mindset. The response to the music is superb. It appears lots of people can relate to it.

On Volbeat touring as a part of “Knotfest Roadshow” with Slipknot, Gojira and Behemoth

I believe life is about problem. You possibly can, every day, go into sure routines the place you’re doing the identical stuff again and again and get right into a consolation zone, however for me, we just like the problem of going a tour like this. We’re conscious that the opposite bands are a little bit bit extra excessive than Volbeat. These bands are actually heavy and brutal! Volbeat is extra rock ‘n’ roll music. So, that’s a problem.

Going onstage and attempting to persuade the viewers that we might be a part of a bundle like that could be a nice problem. We all know that we’ve our personal Volbeat followers on the market who’re going to assist us, however what else is nice is that we are going to hopefully persuade Slipknot followers that we’re right here for good, and hopefully they are going to grow to be Volbeat followers, too.

On what it’s like performing for American audiences

We like touring all around the world. Once we’re onstage, we could possibly be wherever on the earth, as a result of it’s a dwell present and we at all times get pleasure from performing dwell. Being in America as a Scandinavian and European band, it’s nice, as a result of the followers and radio stations and folks over right here have been very variety to Volbeat. They’ve actually embraced us, they usually’re been actually good individuals, so it’s at all times been nice to come back to America.

On Volbeat’s historical past touring extensively with Metallica

Having the provide from Metallica to tour with them was an enormous praise. First, you’re actually excessive on getting the chance and getting picked out by Metallica. After that, it’s about sharing that stage with Metallica and being impressed by them and seeing how the massive guys are doing their complete factor. There have been a whole lot of alternatives to observe how the machine of Metallica works, which has been actually inspiring. You form of get to know the blokes and discover out they’re simply as regular as you. They is perhaps your idols, however they’re simply human beings going by way of stuff of their lives, in order that’s been very emotional and galvanizing. We’re very happy with being on tour with Metallica.

On what he admires about Metallica and the way they’ve dealt with their profession

They do precisely what they assume is correct for the band. They don’t compromise. For them, it’s at all times that it must be enjoyable for them to exit on the highway, as a result of they’ve children — now grown up children — and a personal life. So, in the event that they’re going to do that, it’s going to be on their very own phrases, and it must be enjoyable. You need to tip your hat off to a band that’s nonetheless actually related to the scene and an enormous inspiration for lots of bands, together with Volbeat. They’re carrying the metallic flag excessive. Watching them be so robust and discover new methods to do issues that haven’t been carried out earlier than may be very inspiring.

On why he’s excited for followers to listen to Rewind, Replay, Rebound

After all, each band needs their followers to love their albums. However, I believe a very powerful factor is that while you do an album, you as a band are glad. We’ve to go on the highway and play this document and these songs, so it must be enjoyable. It has to make sense to exit and play the brand new document. You possibly can solely hope that the sensation you may have while you’re leaving the studio is the sensation you’ll be able to share with the listeners and the followers on the market. For us, probably the most pleasing factor about releasing new music is to exit with it on the highway, as a result of it’s at all times enjoyable to play new materials so that you aren’t doing the identical issues again and again.

Because of Michael Poulsen for taking the time to talk with us. Decide up Volbeat’s new album, Rewind, Replay, Rebound, at this location, and see their full listing of “Knotfest Roadshow” dates right here.