REVIEW: Volbeat - God Of Angels Trust

Volbeat have always known how to write catchy rock that's just on the cusp of metal, but they've just come out with one of their heaviest releases yet, capturing the live feel the band have become known for and extending their sound at the same time. The band have always crafted catchy songs, unusually on the softer end of hard rock, but they've turned up the influence of metal on this latest release.

Many of the songs feel like they're finally free to turn the amps up to 11, with moments feeling reminiscent of Metallica and others feeling as arena-ready as the earlier releases from Ghost, while still keeping that doom metal inspiration. Volbeat also certainly know how to entertain, as their albums aren’t full of one style of rock - they take moments to have more balladic tracks like 'Acid Rain', which harken back to the bands more anthemic style. The overall pacing of the album helps to keep it feeling as fresh as their earlier releases.

No, this album does not contain the bands heaviest work - that would be when they released a track with Barney of Napalm Death - but it is the bands most consistently heavy album. It wont put off any long time fans, as the band have often flirted with more extreme music, but it may open them up to more hardened metal heads who aren’t already converted. Within the context of the bands albums, God Of Angels Trust adds some material that will help create an even more dynamic live set.

The tracks feel alive with riffs that drive the songs along, most notably perhaps on 'By A Monster's Hand'. The power the band still have, given they're onto their ninth album, is very impressive, and so is mixing up the formula of their signature sound. The band haven’t ever created the most experimental music, but they do know how to push their own sound forward.

One of the downsides for those long time fans may be the lack of the traditional Volbeat sing along anthem, as the tracks seem to be focusing more on musicality than the lyrics. This does not, however, diminish from the overall quality of the album, as there is nothing to put long time fans off, but they might be surprised where the band have decided to go.

The lyrics are great and contain many of the traditional elements - including many references to Satan, especially on the track 'In The Barn Of The Goat Giving Birth To Satan's Spawn In A Dying World Of Doom', which is also a very strong contender for one of the bands best song titles across their discography.

The one thing that may put off non fans is the bands vocals, which can come across as a little cheesy at points, although by now the band does know how to write for them. They never seem out of place and always settle well into the mix. If anything, the band sound more cohesive than ever - every instrument is placed perfectly in the mix in order for it to feel as close to live as possible. The vocals specifically do feel live, rather than overprocessed studio recordings, adding an element of humanity to the album.

The album is a well written, cohesive work; it doesn’t change who Volbeat are as a band, but instead it shines a new light on their inspirations. The album knows when to rock, when to roll, and when to take its moment of calm. Another fun release from a consistently fun band.

Score: 8/10 

God Of Angels Trust was released on June 6th 2025.

Words: Will Freeman

Photos: Volbeat