VOLBEAT share new song ‘Becoming’

“Becoming” is the fourth song to be released from Servant Of The Mind. Last month the band released the rager “Shotgun Blues,” which was preceded by the “double barrel” of Summer songs released this past June: “Wait A Minute My Girl” and “Dagen Før (feat. Stine Bramsen),” the former of which became the band’s ninth number-one single on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. For Servant of the Mind, the band, which consists of Michael Poulsen (guitars/vocals), Jon Larsen (drums), Rob Caggiano (guitars) and Kaspar Boye Larsen (bass) took their signature heavy metal, psychobilly and punk ‘n’ roll sound up a notch while showcasing Poulsen’s keen ability for songwriting and storytelling. The new album will be available in standard CD, deluxe 2LP vinyl (in various limited-edition variants, full info below) and a deluxe digital edition.

Pre-order the album here.

“I wrote the whole album in three months,” recalls Poulsen, “I was in a good place and mood while at home, and had a captive audience of myself… There are a lot of Volbeat signatures in it. If you go back to the first record and compare it to where we are now, you can hear how the band has developed its style, while keeping the signature sound.”

Other songs on the album weave intricate and fascinating tales. “The Sacred Stones,” tells the story of “an earthly being who has committed himself to the dark side. He is on a mission, speaking to darker forces and fallen angels.” Meanwhile, “The Devil Rages On” looks at the idea of the devil taking human form. Album opener “Temple of Ekur” returns to the ancient themes explored in past songs such as “The Gates of Babylon,” while the epic album closer “Lasse’s Birgita” explores the story of the first witch-burnings to occur in Sweden in 1471.

Volbeat are two decades deep into a career that has found them sharing stages with genre legends like Black Sabbath, Metallica, Motorhead, Slipknot, Megadeth, Anthrax and more. They have racked up nearly three billion cumulative streams over the course of their career, notched a Best Metal Performance Grammy nomination for “Room 24 (feat. King Diamond)” from 2014’s acclaimed (and gold-selling) Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies, and have grabbed multiple Danish Music Awards. Not ones to rest on their laurels, their forthcoming album Servant Of The Mind, which was written and recorded during the shutdown and quarantine necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is introspective but pulls no punches and is no less raucous or driving than their previous efforts.

Volbeat previously announced their 2022 US co-headlining arena tour with Ghost and special guests Twin Temple. Tickets for the tour, co-produced by Live Nation and Frank Productions, are available here. Limited VIP packages are also available at volbeat.dk. The band will return to the UK in 2022, with a slot at the Download Festival in June already confirmed.

Since forming in 2001, Volbeat has gone from the clubs of Copenhagen to headlining stages around the world, including the famed Telia Parken Stadium in Denmark (becoming the only domestic artist to ever sell out the venue). Over the course of seven record-breaking albums, the band has picked up number one songs (including nine #1s on the US Mainstream Rock chart and counting, the most of any band based outside of North America), multi-platinum certifications, awards, and accolades all over the planet.

Their latest album, Rewind, Replay, Rebound, was released in 2019, giving the band their highest national album chart position in the UK yet at #7, and has spawned the hit singles “Last Day Under The Sun,” “Die To Live (feat. Neil Fallon)” and “Leviathan.” A live album featuring songs recorded during the subsequent world tour, Rewind, Replay, Rebound: Live in Deutschland, was released digitally in November 2020. Most recently, they contributed a cover of “Don’t Tread On Me” to The Metallica Blacklist, with all proceeds from the track benefiting the All Within My Hands Foundation and the Børne Cancer Fonden of Denmark.

SERVANT OF THE MIND
Standard Edition Tracklisting:
1. Temple of Ekur
2. Wait A Minute My Girl
3. The Sacred Stones
4. Shotgun Blues
5. The Devil Rages On
6. Say No More
7. Heaven’s Descent
8. Dagen Før (feat. Stine Bramsen)
9. The Passenger
10. Step Into Light
11. Becoming
12. Mindlock
13. Lasse’s Birgitta

Deluxe 2 CD/2 LP and Digital Deluxe Bonus Tracks:
14. Return To None (Wolfbrigade cover)
15. Domino (The Cramps/Roy Orbison cover)
16. Shotgun Blues (feat. Dave Matrise from Jungle Rot)
17. Dagen Før (Michael Vox Version)

Vinyl variants (Europe):
Standard 180g black vinyl 2 LP
Crystal Clear 2 LP, volbeat.dk webstore exclusive, limited to 2000
Glow In The Dark 2 LP, EMP exclusive, limited to 2000
Orange and Blue 2 LP, UMG exclusive, limited to 3000
Danish Red and White 2 LP – only available in Denmark, limited to 2000

Vinyl variants (North America):
Standard 180g black vinyl 2LP
Translucent Rust 2 LP – volbeat.dk webstore exclusive, limited to 550
Transparent Yellow 2 LP – Revolver Magazine exclusive, limited to 400
Mystery Colour LP2 – indie retail exclusive, limited to 100