Review Summary: Gods of Angels Trust isn’t just a comeback — it’s a statement: we’ve still got it.
Losing a guitarist like Rob Caggiano could’ve been a deathblow for most bands. The Anthrax alum spent a decade refining Volbeat’s mix of metal muscle and rockabilly swagger — so you’d expect his departure to leave a gaping hole.
Instead, the Volbeat barrels forward like nothing happened. Now a leaner, meaner three-piece, Volbeat sound sharper and more deliberate than they have in years.
From the jump, it feels like a greatest-hits collection of new material. “Acid Rain” taps into the radio polish of Beyond Hell/Above Heaven, while “By a Monster’s Hand” rumbles with Servant of the Mind’s Metallica-grade riffing. Then there’s the gloriously ridiculous “In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan’s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom” — a chaotic barn-burner that could’ve crashed straight out of The Strength/The Sound/The Songs. It’s absurd, it’s over the top — and it absolutely rips.
All the Volbeat hallmarks are here: the bouncy rockabilly rhythms, the galloping metal crunch, those massive sing-along hooks, and Michael Poulsen’s unmistakable croon — now carrying the full guitar load himself. He rises to the challenge, delivering one of his most commanding performances in years.
Gone are the bloated instrumental passages that bogged down Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies and Servant of the Mind. This time, every riff counts, every solo lands, and every chorus feels earned. The result? A record that’s tighter and far more focused.
That said, the band’s effort to dodge their “dad rock” reputation has a side effect — there’s a noticeable lack of upbeat, radio-friendly cuts. Apart from “Time Will Heal,” which could’ve easily lived on *Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil*, the lighter touch is missing. Slower tunes like “Acid Rain” and “Lonely Fields" keep things dynamic, but none quite scratch the itch for that "classic Volbeat earworm" you’ll be humming all week.
Still, Gods of Angels Trust hits harder than it has any right to. It’s a focused, confident, and surprisingly cohesive record from a band that could’ve easily stumbled after losing a key player. Instead, Volbeat double down — louder, leaner, and hell-bent on proving they never needed safety rails in the first place.
In short, God of Angels Trust is firm reminder that Volbeat’s heart still beats loud — even with one less hand on the strings.
