A first listen to Danish "metal rockers" Volbeat's Beyond Hell/Above Heaven, reveals how completely they've consolidated all the elements they've experimented with since 2007's Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil: punk, roots rock & roll, rockabilly, heavy metal, death metal, country, and '70s hard rock. Power chords, hooky melodies, chanted choruses, lyric themes obsessed with the no-man's land that exists between -- and beyond -- good and evil, and the sense of hard partying recklessness simultaneously reflect influences as ...
Read More
A first listen to Danish "metal rockers" Volbeat's Beyond Hell/Above Heaven, reveals how completely they've consolidated all the elements they've experimented with since 2007's Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil: punk, roots rock & roll, rockabilly, heavy metal, death metal, country, and '70s hard rock. Power chords, hooky melodies, chanted choruses, lyric themes obsessed with the no-man's land that exists between -- and beyond -- good and evil, and the sense of hard partying recklessness simultaneously reflect influences as wide as Social Distortion, the Misfits, AC/DC, and Metallica, Judas Priest, and Exodus. Once more recorded and engineered by Jacob Hansen, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven extends the narrative that began on Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood with two more chapters in the saga via the tracks "7 Shots," and opener "The Mirror and the Ripper." The former is a perfect aural illustration of Volbeat's ability to integrate seemingly disparate elements by including banjos (courtesy of Rod Sinclair), bluesman Anders Pederson's slide guitar work, and the heavy metal axe chugging of Kreator's Mille Petrozza and Mercyful Fate-King Diamond six-string pyrotechnician Michael Denner. "Heaven and Hell" is pure AC/DC power riffage sent dimensionally askew by Henrik Hall's killer bluesy harmonica work that transforms the tune melodically into something that balances the Phil Spector-esque side of Glenn Danzig's melodic sensibilities (on the earliest Misfits singles) and late-'70s metal. This cut is followed immediately by the harder, darker, death metal of "Who They Are" that nonetheless carries within it an irresistible, nearly anthemic chorus. Likewise "A Warrior's Call," with its furious doom-and-gloom intro that gives way to a big, bad, strutting rock & roll stomper. "Fallen" recalls the Foo Fighters' "Everlong" in approach, yet is heavier still. The thrash end happens on "Evelyn," with guest vocals by Napalm Death's Mark "Barney" Greenway on the verses before Michael Poulsen adds his trademark lyricism in the chorus. (And this is to say little of the skittering punk-country of "Being 1," an irrepressible love song with teeth.) Any way you slice it, Volbeat, a skillful repository of so many lineage sounds, R 2707098are their own thing: a band apart who are sophisticated, accessible, and utterly entertaining as songwriters and performers. Nowhere is this more true than on Beyond Hell/Above Heaven. [An Enhanced Version added a second disc with ten extra tracks.] ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi
Read Less
Add this copy of Beyond Hell / Above Heaven [Cd/Dvd Combo] [Deluxe to cart. $6.74, fair condition, Sold by Seattle Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Seattle, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by Spinefarm Records.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. All our items include the original disc(s) in the original case. Your purchase funds free job training and education in the greater Seattle area. Thank you for supporting Goodwill's nonprofit mission!
Add this copy of Beyond Hell / Above Heaven [Cd/Dvd Combo] [Deluxe to cart. $6.74, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Ruby rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by Republic.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Beyond Hell / Above Heaven [Cd/Dvd Combo] [Deluxe to cart. $12.46, good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by Spinefarm Records.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Good condition. audioCD. Disc slightly scratched. 2 disc set. Case Very Good. Quality guaranteed! In original artwork/packaging unless otherwise noted.
![Beyond Hell/Above Heaven [Enhanced Version] - Volbeat](https://www0.alibris-static.com/beyond-hell-above-heaven-enhanced-version/cover/p20766ujihd_l.jpg)
![Beyond Hell / Above Heaven [Cd/Dvd Combo] [Deluxe Edition]](https://www4.alibris-static.com/cover/p20766ujihd_t.jpg)
![Beyond Hell/Above Heaven [Enhanced Version]](https://www3.alibris-static.com/beyond-hell-above-heaven-enhanced-version/cover/p20766ujihd.jpg)
![Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies [Best Buy Exclusive]](https://www4.alibris-static.com/outlaw-gentlemen-shady-ladies-best-buy-exclusive/cover/u05600xqjrz.jpg)
