Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie - Volbeat

If you've been reading my previous posts, you'll know that I'm not writing this review. Like the Bridge Burning - Bon Jovi review, Sarah Taylor (my girlfriend) will be writing this one as she's had more experience listening to Volbeat and I feel that this album is more suited to her music tastes than mine.
I like some Volbeat tracks ("The Hangman's Body Count" and...others) and there were a couple I enjoyed on this album but to me, they're not really a certain genre. They're too light to be Metal and too heavy to be Hard Rock; if anything, their music is Soft Metal but I doubt they'd embrace that classification with open arms.
Anyway, enough from me. Here's Sarah!

Hello readers!
I'm back again and still no better at reviews, but I'm going to give it a bash anyway.

So, Volbeat's latest album Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie didn't exactly leave me wanting to dance the night away. Upon listening to the album for the first time I found myself listening to a familiar sound, reminiscent of their last album. Whereas I absolutely loved every track on Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies this album left me feeling rather underwhelmed. None of the songs really caught my attention as tracks that would become a firm favourite, instead I found myself zoning out. I would best describe this album as "background music".

The first seven songs on the album flow really well in a sea of Volbeat's signature sound (albeit a rather unexciting one). It was only when the eight track on the album, "Mary Jane Kelly", started that I came out of my daze and my ears pricked up a little. The song itself sounds like it would have fit well on the previous album, in a good way. It's punchier than previous tracks on Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie, and seems to have more of a Rock N Roll vibe. I became more hopeful that the album was going to get better as it went on.

The next song on the album ("Goodbye Forever") followed the same theme as "Mary Jane Kelly". A decent, punchy Volbeat track. Yes I like the song, but in the same breath, it's easily forgettable. I definitely don't find myself humming it in the shower that's for sure.

Track 10, "Seal The Deal" starts off fast and loud and rather heavy compared to the previous nine songs. I liked it a lot, but feel that this far into the album, it's a rather strange addition. It felt more like an album opener than one you'd put near the end of a tame album. I thought that this track was going to be the heaviest on the album, oh how wrong was I. Fast forward to the 14th song on the (deluxe edition) album and you're in for a surprise. "Slaytan" starts with a riff I can only describe as thrash. Thrash! And you're in for yet another surprise. "Slaytan" is a measly 59 seconds long. Christ, I think a nervous virgin would last longer than that. Just when you think things are changing for the better, it ends. Abruptly. I have no idea what the reasoning is behind this track, and feel it would've been better for them to keep it, work on it and bring the track out on another album quadrupled in length.

There's a nice little cover slipped into the middle of the album too, "Battleship Chains" by Georgia Satellites. Now I'm not going to slate this at all. In fact it helped ease the disappointment of the album! The song sounds great covered by Volbeat and I'd actually go as far as to say that I prefer the cover to the original.

Overall, this album (for me anyway) was a massive letdown. After the release of their previous album, Volbeat got me excited. They had a sound I'd never come across before, they were original and fresh. This album though was like a wet weekend. I felt like the majority of songs on the album were ones that didn't quite make it to Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies and were just shoved on here for good measure. If I were to describe the album in a body movement, it would be a shrug. One giant shrug. I will revisit the album again, maybe I will learn to love it, who knows. Until I do though, I'm afraid it's going to get put away, probably to be forgotten about for a long time. Oh and it gets a 5/10.

Taster Session #4

It's been a while since I've done one of these. Then again, it's been a while since we've had several singles for upcoming Rock albums that I'm potentially interested in coming out. Time to take a look (or rather listen) at some of the new material we've been graced with recently.

"Burn The Witch" - Radiohead         (listen here)
From the album A Moon Shaped Pool (08/05/16)

Oh my God, new Radiohead song guys! Holy shit, it's about time we had new Radiohead to listen to! Fuck me, I can't believe Radiohead have done it again by being Radiohead. I mean, it's taken them nearly 16 years to put this together so the hype is deserved, right? Did you hear the singing? CLASSIC Radiohead, right there. And the strings, OH JESUS I NEARLY FORGOT THE STRINGS!! There are strings in this song but wait for it...wait...THEY'RE PIZZI-MOTHERFUCKING-CAT-MOTHERFUCKING-O!!!! Well obviously this is the best song we're ever going to hear this year until Kanye West hits the studio again so we might as well just revel in the glory that is and always will be Radiohead.
In all seriousness though, it's an OK song considering nothing happens throughout it.


"Bored To Death" - blink-182         (listen here)
From the album California (01/07/16)

Jesus, these guys must have finally run out of "All The Small Things" money. Continuing the trend of 90's Pop Punk bands who've decided to grow up and release Alternative music instead, blink-182 have released...this. It's not edgy, it's not passionate, it's just generic Teen Girl Rock. It's a TV Ad Song, which is pretty impressive as it took Punk icons the Ramones a good 40 years before their music was used to promote fridge warehouses on TV. Hey, guess I was wrong about Punk being an absolute joke of a genre. But enough about that, let's get back on track.
If the rest of the album sounds like this Kings Of Leon ripoff, the band might just become relevant again for the wrong reasons. Meanwhile, I'm sat here waiting for The Offspring to come out with another album.


"I Know There's Something Going On" - Jorn         (listen here)
From the album Heavy Rock Radio (03/06/16)

Well I don't think any of us expected this to be a thing. Not the concept of a covers album by Metal vocalist/solo artist Jorn Lande but the album opener and lead single being a cover of Pop song "I Know There's Something Going On" by ABBA's Frida. I mean, as far as the Pop to Metal transition goes, it's a pretty damn faithful cover and Jorn fucking nails it from start to finish. In fact, if you didn't know about the original version, you could easily assume this was a standard Metal track from someone like Ozzy Osbourne (you know, assuming someone with better singing abilities took the mic instead of him).
This is one of the albums I'm really looking forward to hearing when it drops but not because of this song. It's a good cover but I would've preferred a more well known Pop Rock track covered instead of this one, sort of like the Disturbed cover of Genesis' "Land Of Confusion". I'm still hoping someone performs a Metal cover of "Jesus He Knows Me" - Genesis with double bass drumming and added guitar solos but until then, I guess this album will have to do.


"The Devil's Bleeding Crown" - Volbeat         (listen here)
From the album Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie (03/06/16)

I should probably find more Volbeat songs to listen to as most of the ones I've heard are pretty good. The vocalist sounds a little silly to me but not enough to put me completely off the band, like Axl Rose. However, for all their powerful Hard Rock tracks, there seem to be an equal number of mediocre ones that sound like they were written for radio play, which doesn't work well if you're a band that's on the border between Hard Rock and Metal.
Luckily, this song is what I would call one of the "better" Volbeat tracks in my opinion although there is one glaring fault. I've said before that despite not caring about Nickelback, I really like their song "Burn It To The Ground". This track is REALLY similar to that one...like, REEAAALLLLLY similar. Even the call and response structure between vocals and the main riff in the verse sounds like it's been lifted. Combine that Nickelback song with Volbeat's "A Warrior's Call" and you get "The Devil's Bleeding Crown". Still, there are worse songs they could've ripped off so I'm still looking forward to the new album if this is anything to go by.


"Dark Necessities" - Red Hot Chili Peppers         (listen here)
From the album The Getaway (17/06/16)

...yeah, I don't know.
One thing's clear, this isn't Rock. Not like the band have produced before. It's heavily swaying towards the Funk region and some listeners will probably love that. As for me, I really don't know yet. I feel like I could grow to like this song in the future as there are some enjoyable aspects (such as the outro solo and vocal melody in the chorus) but for now, I'm pretty underwhelmed.
I think RHCP are one of the few bands where I actually prefer their softer songs over their heavier ones. I'd much rather listen to "Snow [[Hey Oh]]", "Under The Bridge" or "Soul To Squeeze" than "Dani California", "Suck My Kiss" or "By The Way". Despite that, this song just didn't do it for me. I may give the rest of the album a listen when it comes out but I doubt it, since I didn't bother with their last one.

Once again, if there are any singles or tracks from upcoming albums that you recommend, let me know here or on Twitter. Mind you, most people probably stopped reading after that shit I said about Radiohead at the start and the rest probably stopped paying attention after I reminded you that there's a Nickelback song I like. Nothing but popular opinions here!