If Volbeat’s ninth album, God Of Angels Belief, is something to go by, then Michael Poulsen is obsessive about goats. Not solely does the album title spell out ‘GOAT’, however one of many animals options on the album and seems in a title of one among its songs. Volbeat’s singer, guitarist and chief songwriter Poulsen, laughs off the suggestion. “No, I don’t have any goats at dwelling,” he insists. “However possibly I ought to.”
References to bearded bovidae apart, the album continues the Metallica-approved Danes’ bolshy fusion of steel, punk and old style rock’n’roll.
Volbeat’s final album, Servant Of The Thoughts, was launched in 2021. That’s the longest hole between the band’s information. How come?
We just about took a sabbatical 12 months. I needed to have a throat operation, which went actually good, and I needed to take time to recuperate from that. Then I went on the highway with my different band, Asinhell, taking part in some old-school dying steel. So when it got here to getting again to work with Volbeat, it was simply so impressed. It felt like we had been coming full circle and beginning once more.
There’s a tune on the album known as In The Barn Of The Goat Giving Delivery To Devil’s Spawn In A Dying World Of Doom. Had been you going for essentially the most heavy steel title in historical past?
Ha, no! That’s simply how my mind works. When it got here to engaged on this album, I used to be so impressed. I mentioned to Kaspar [Boye Larsen, bassist] and Jon [Larsen, drummer]: “Wouldn’t it’s attention-grabbing if we didn’t overthink issues and throw the principles away and really feel like we’re beginning over once more.’ So with that tune, there’s no huge refrain. It’s [fist-pumping voice]: ‘Within the barn! Of the goat! Giving delivery to Devil’s spawn!’ Folks had been like: “Are you critical?” I used to be capturing from the hip.
So what’s the fascination with goats?
There’s little hidden messages in there. If you happen to take heed to the opening tune, Devils Are Awake, that’s just about what the title and the duvet are all about. We put a whole lot of belief in laws and guidelines and spiritual instructions, simply to see them manipulated and damaged by the individuals who create them. All evil has been created by human beings, they usually appear to return carrying a masks. It’s me placing query marks over a whole lot of how the world works right now.
So ‘G.O.A.T.’ isn’t you saying you’re the Best Of All Time?
Ha, no, it’s positively not that.
Your late father was an enormous guiding mild for you, and the tune Time Will Heal appears to be impressed by him. How tough is it to sing about him lately?
It’s positively turning into an increasing number of straightforward. It was an enormous wrestle to start with. Once I wrote Fallen [the 2009 Volbeat song inspired by the death of Poulsen’s father], it was robust for me to go up on stage and never break down and begin crying. Now I take advantage of it as one thing constructive.
With time, you get expertise in coping with loss . It’s not nice nevertheless it’s a part of life and you need to settle for it. And the very last thing my father would need to see if he’s sitting up there within the sky or wherever is his boy strolling round being depressing due to it.
Acid Rain appears to be about an out-of-body expertise. What impressed that?
Volbeat isn’t a spiritual band – we’re not Christian, we’re not satanic, we’re not something. However I’m a non secular man and I imagine within the non secular world. I imagine that there’s extra to life than what we see strolling round us.
Acid Rain is me imagining attempting to attach with the spirit of my father, my very own spirit leaving the physique to fly to wherever it must fly, to attach along with his spirit. And in addition ask him a whole lot of questions: “Did you see the tunnel and the sunshine? Did you may have all these flashbacks out of your life?” It’s about connecting with my dad and placing out some questions.
You’re a father your self. How did that change you? Did it mellow you out?
Completely. Life turns into such a unique factor when you may have children. I’m not saying that’s the one method you’ll be able to take pleasure in life, nevertheless it’s made my life such a good looking factor. Everyone must put their ego away, and that’s what it does to me. My job is to be a superb dad and help all the things they need now and sooner or later.
Have you ever sat them down and performed them Metallica and Mercyful Destiny but?
Ha, no. What my children take heed to, I’ve to take heed to. If we’re within the automobile they usually need children’ music, that’s what we placed on. I’m advantageous with that. Typically if we’re out my spouse will placed on the radio and I’ll say: “Can we simply take heed to the children’ music, cos it’s higher than what’s on the radio.”
You’re a fan of boxing, and also you even skilled with Danish former world champion Mikkel Kessler. Do you continue to do it?
I don’t. There was a time again within the day the place I requested myself: “Ought to I begin boxing, or taking part in music?” However I knew there wouldn’t be time for each. I needed to dedicate myself to at least one craft. And I assumed I’d in all probability stand extra likelihood of getting away with being drunk taking part in music than I’d boxing. As an adolescent you had been a dying steel fan.
Would that child like Volbeat, or would he assume you’re too industrial?
I don’t know. However because it’s the identical particular person, I believe he’d in all probability say it was fairly attention-grabbing.
What would a Michael Poulsen solo album sound like? Nation music? Rockabilly? A children’ document?
Ha! Lots of people have requested me about that, however I don’t actually plan to do one. I’ve the Asinhell document [2023’s Impii Hora], as a result of dying steel was one thing I began out taking part in and it was one thing I missed. However a solo album? I don’t know. Possibly I’ll make an album with all of the goats I’m about to purchase.
God Of Angels Belief is out now through Vertigo/Common.
