"Outlaw gentlemen & shady ladies" LP by Volbeat

by Peter Kupfer (27.03.2013) Volbeat have established their own genre with their music, and with their fifth album “Outlaw gentlemen & shady ladies“ they follow the rules and road they set up in 2000 straight like an arrow. This time, though, the Poulsen gang has added some extra weight - the tracks are laden with even more diversity, deepness, and clout. ’Room 24’, for example, is an epic and dark song featuring the mighty King Diamond at the mike - although he usually tries to avoid collaborations. But there’s a light side, too: ’Pearl hart’ is a smasher, airy, joyful, and a contender for a “best summer song 2013“ competition… ’Black bart’ is its counterweight: one of the heaviest songs ever written by Volbeat, but still being a perfect part of the track package. “Outlaw gentlemen & shady ladies“ impresses with its homogeneity and compactness - how do they manage to deliver such gems each time? Always evolving, never repeating themselves... Hats (or Stetsons) off to the Danes -this one hits the bull’s eye, again.