Danish outfit Volbeat just released their fifth studio record titled “Outlaw Gentleman and Shady Ladies.” With the addition of Rob Caggiano, formerly of Anthrax and a highly reputable record producer, I was very interested in seeing where his influence would take this record.
The album starts with a one minute and 25 second (1:25) instrumental piece that isn’t documented in the liner notes. It features an acoustic guitar and harmonica mostly. The trials and tribulations of a woman setting her sights on thievery in order to get medicine for her dying mother is what the first track is about titled “Lady Pearl.”
I love the groove and riffs that Caggiano and vocalist /guitarist Michael Poulson deliver on “Dead on Rising.” Probably my favorite track on the disc. The lyrics to “Cape of Our Hero” is very inspirational. Poulson speaks of keeping the faith and that anything could be possible. A very well crafted song.
The track I was excited to hear was “Room 24.” Why, you ask? Well, anything with the falsetto and the vocal capabilities of the one and only King Diamond will give you that excitement. The track doesn’t disappoint. It is very heavy riff oriented and Diamond’s hums and screams trade off with Poulson’s to make this a very unique track.
The songs “The Hangman’s Body Count” and “Black Bart” fit in nicely with the theme of the album. Old style Western with a powerful splash of metal. Caggiano plays a slide guitar on the aforementioned as well. I can see “Lola Montez” being released as a future single because it has the all important great melody and a catchy hook. Sarah Blackwood co-sings on “Lonesome Rider.”
This CD has a lot of elements: heavy metal, western, and rockabilly to name a few. There are not many bands that can take all of these genres and install them to form a smooth flowing outfit. However, if you categorize these songs, you can categorize this album and say that the whole thing rocks from beginning to end.
