VOLBEAT - Good Melodies and Heavy Riffs

Dec 06, 2025   »   interview   »   U2511

text: Kiss Daniella   
»   photo: archives

Over the past two decades, Volbeat have grown from a Danish breakout act into one of the biggest names in modern rock, packing arenas, headlining major festivals, and racking up chart-topping tracks. Ahead of their two sold-out Vienna shows, we caught up with longtime bassist Kaspar B. Larsen for a quick, exclusive conversation about the band’s latest album, the evolving dynamics within Volbeat, and his standout memories from their last show in Budapest. The band has recently released a new album called God Of Angels Trust, which many describe as Volbeat’s most varied record yet. What do you think made it so diverse in sound? “I think there’s a clear reason for that. Michael’s the main songwriter, and he’d just finished working on an album with his death metal project, so he was already deep in a creative headspace, inspired by the music he grew up with in the early ’90s. When he started writing songs for the new Volbeat record, he was still in that mindset. I can’t say for sure, but that’s how it seemed to me. The first few songs — maybe even the first half of the album — came from that place. That’s why some of them feel a bit less traditional. Usually, our songs have a clear structure — verse, chorus, bridge — but this time it was more like, “Here’s a great riff… and here’s another one.” It felt more spontaneous, more like the way you write music when you’re just starting out and not following any rules.” Was there any song where you felt like the band really pushed itself? “Not really, because most of it feels like something we’ve explored before in one way or another. The inspirations are the same. But for me as a bass player, I took a different approach this time. I worked on some demos in our rehearsal space so I could spend time in my home studio really fine-tuning my own bass lines. I was far more prepared and spent a lot more time on them. Usually when I go into the studio, I just improvise, but this time I knew exactly what I wanted to play. I also tried to do things differently — not just follow the guitar’s root notes — so on a personal level, I definitely pushed myself. That said, it’s not always easy. When you play parts with more notes, they’re trickier live. I move around a lot on stage, and to pull that off while jumping around, I really have to focus. We’ve been playing the new songs for about a month now, and I’m only just figuring out where I can move and where I need to stay still. There’s so much going on in some of those songs — you just can’t jump around and play every note at the same time.” Volbeat has always stood out for its unique blend of heavy riffs and strong melodies. Is that a conscious decision, or does it happen naturally? “I think it’s just part of Michael’s DNA as a songwriter. He loves a good melody as much as he loves a heavy riff, and those two things naturally come together in his writing. It would honestly be hard for him to write a Volbeat song without combining both. You can always recognize his touch — those melodies are unmistakably his.” “When we first played Better Be Fueled than Tamed live, though, I really had no idea what to do.”You’re currently out on the road supporting the new album. Has anything funny or unexpected happened so far? “Not really — not yet! (laughs) But I do tend to lose my glasses a lot. I move around so much on stage that they just fall off. Luckily, they haven’t broken yet. I’ve got something now to help keep them in place. When we first played Better Be Fueled than Tamed live, though, I really had no idea what to do. There are so many notes flying up and down the fretboard — it was pretty intense for me. It’s better now, but honestly, I’m not even sure if we’re playing that one tonight.” Speaking of the new songs, was there one that worked surprisingly well on stage, or one that didn’t didn’t land quite as you expected? “You never really know. Sometimes when you record a song, you think it’s going to be amazing live, and then it just doesn’t hit the same way. When you start playing new material, not everyone in the crowd knows the songs yet, so it takes a bit of time for them to settle in. Lately, though, we can feel that people are starting to recognize and sing along to the new stuff. The first single By a Monster’s Hand really connects with the audience, so that one’s been going down great.” After so many albums, keeping older songs fresh must be a challenge. How do you keep them exciting to play night after night? “That’s a good question, it’s tough sometimes. Some of the songs we’ve played at every show I’ve ever done with Volbeat, and I’ve been in the band almost ten years. You start focusing more on the audience, how they react, how much they enjoy it, so that’s what keeps it alive. I don’t mind playing them, but I know some band members have songs they’d gladly swap out after performing them for 15 years straight. There are tracks like Lola Montez and Still Counting — we’ve been playing them forever. For me, I like to improvise a bit here and there, change up the bass lines slightly to keep things interesting. My parts on the older songs are constantly evolving.” The band recently parted ways with Rob, and now you’re touring with guitarist, Flemming C. Lund. Is he a full-time member or just joining you on the road? “Right now, he’s touring with us this year and next year as well. Honestly, I’m not sure what’s going to happen after that. Jumping into a touring band like this is a huge commitment, since leaving your job and being away from your family isn’t an easy decision. So to be honest, I don’t really know what the future holds.” How has Flemming’s presence affected the band’s dynamic? “He wasn’t involved in the songwriting process — Michael writes everything. By the time he brings a song to me and Jon, it’s already about 99% finished, so that part hasn’t changed. But you can definitely hear Flemming’s own style in the lead parts. He comes from a death metal and technical background, so his playing brings a slightly different edge to the sound. Maybe that will influence the next record — we’ll see.” You’re coming up on ten years in Volbeat. Has your perspective on being in the band changed over time? “Of course. As you get older, everything changes. It’s not the same now as when I first joined. We’re still playing similar venues, and touring feels familiar, but when someone like Rob leaves, it changes the band’s dynamic. I do miss him, to be honest. But otherwise, everything feels much more natural now. I’m not “the new guy” anymore — ten years, that’s wild when you think about it.” (laughs) Volbeat’s success story is remarkable. As a Danish band that conquered Europe and America, what do you think is the secret behind it? “Yeah, it’s pretty crazy. There are a few Danish acts like D-A-D or King Diamond who’ve made it internationally, but not many. I think a big part of our success comes down to Michael’s drive and enthusiasm. He’s incredibly motivated and goes all in. The music he created early on struck a chord with people, but I also think luck plays a role, since there are plenty of great Danish bands that just didn’t break through. Maybe it also helps that we’re in the hard rock and metal scene, because it’s a bit easier to stand out globally there than in pop. I believe that for pop artists coming from Denmark, it’s much tougher.” “I grew up playing death metal and hardcore — all those subgenres where you know you’ll probably never make a living.”Did you ever imagine playing in such big arenas? “No, never. I grew up playing death metal and hardcore — all those subgenres where you know you’ll probably never make a living. I’ve played tiny clubs, basement shows, you name it. It all happened because I knew Michael from our hometown in Denmark. Back in 2006, they needed a stand-in bass player, and it went really well. He told me, “If there’s ever a spot for you, I’ll call you.” Nine years later, he actually did, so he kept his promise.” Lastly, when can fans expect Volbeat to return to Hungary? “I’d love to come back. When we played Budapest three years ago, it was an incredible show. I remember it really well; it was originally booked for a smaller venue, but it sold out and had to be moved to a much bigger one. I had a long walk around the city with Rob, who was still in the band at the time, and we had such a great day. We don’t play that often in the eastern part of Europe, so a lot of fans travel from there to see us. At the show in Vienna yesterday, there were actually a lot of Hungarians in the crowd — they were so passionate and energetic, maybe the best audience we’ve had so far.”

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