VOLBEAT — Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie (review)

VOLBEAT — Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie album cover

Album · 2016 · Heavy Metal

4/5 · 2016-09-03
UMUR

"Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie" is the 6th full-length studio album by Danish heavy rock/metal act Volbeat. The album was released through Universal in June 2016 just a little over three years after the release of "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (2013)". There´s been one lineup change since the predecessor as bassist Anders Kjølholm left Volbeat in November 2015. All bass on the album is therefore played by lead guitarist Rob Caggiano. It was announced in May 2016 that Kaspar Boye Larsen, who had already toured with Volbeat, would be the permanent replacement for Kjølholm.

"Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie" is available in two different main versions (various deluxe and limited versions are not accounted for). The standard version, which features "For Evigt" as track 3 and the US version, which features "The Bliss" as track 3. The basic track is the same, but the chorus on the Danish version is sung in the band´s native tongue by Johan Olsen (from Danish rock act Magtens Korridorer), while the chorus on "The Bliss" is sung in English by lead vocalist/guitarist Michael Poulsen. "For Evigt" marks the second time Johan Olsen has collaborated with Volbeat, as he also contributed vocals to "The Garden's Tale" from the band´s second full-length studio album "Rock The Rebel / Metal The Devil (2007)". Canadian artist Danko Jones also guests on "Black Rose".

Stylistically there are few surprises if you´re already familiar with Volbeat´s 50s rock´n´roll/country influenced heavy rock/metal style. It probably comes down to not changing a winning formula, but instead making little tweaks to the sound to maximize the impact on the listener. It´s hard rocking and groove laden riffs and rhythms and Michael Poulsen´s distinct sounding vocals on top. While "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (2013)" had an overall Western and Cowboys theme, "Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie" features several tracks about voodoo, but it´s not as such a concept album.

"Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie" is a relatively varied release within the boundaries of Volbeat´s musical universe and it´s also overall a high quality release. There are only a few tracks on the album which don´t stand out much ("Let it Burn" and "Goodbye Forever" for example don´t strike me as anything too special, although the former actually features a really nice harmony guitar section). Highlights include "The Devil's Bleeding Crown", "Marie Laveau", "For Evigt"/"The Bliss", "Seal the Deal", and "The Loa´s Crossroad", but I´d also like to mention the two cover tracks "Rebound" (Teenage Bottlerocket cover) and "Battleship Chains" (Georgia Satellites cover) among the strongest and most memorable material on the album.

The album is well produced, featuring a powerful and clear sound. It´s relatively polished, and I wouldn´t go down a more polished production road in the future, but this production is to my ears effectful and raw enough. Volbeat hit the hard balance between hard rock and heavy metal pretty well and with "Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie" they should appeal to quite a few mainstream music listeners, who would not normally enjoy heavy rock/metal. Simply because the music is so catchy and easily accessible and the heavy riffs and rhythms are just part of the deal. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.