Live music has been absent in all our lives for far too long throughout 2020 so the chance to relive the German leg of Volbeat’s 2019 tour is an enticing package to anyone starved of gigs. The album was recorded over the course of several nights in many cities including Cologne, Stuttgart and Hamburg and features 27 tracks. Many of the tracks are taken from the guys’ latest studio album, ‘Rewind, Replay, Rebound’, along with a ‘greatest hits’ package culled from the band’s extensive back catalogue.

From the off it is clear that the sound engineers who have worked their magic both in the live setting and in the mixing studio have done a fantastic job. The sound is superb with a great balance and just enough audience participation to make you feel like you are in the arena.

A brief intro leads into fan favourite ‘Lola Montez’ which kicks things off in great style with the crowd singing along. ‘Pelvis On Fire’ then raises the pace before ‘Doc Holliday’ makes an appearance with Michael Poulson cranking out the heavy riffs and providing his trademark vocals that are such a big part of the Volbeat sound.

There are set highlights aplenty throughout the album and one for me is an excellent version of ‘The Gardens Tale’ which takes me back to my first Volbeat live experience almost 10 years ago. Other songs of note are a very heavy ‘Slaytan’ with Poulson and Rob Caggiano doing their best Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King impressions, ‘Fallen’ which is dedicated to Poulson’s father and a bruising version of ‘For Evigt’.

‘Leviathan’ and ‘Let It Burn’ both go down a storm with the capacity crowds whilst the old favourites ‘Pools Of Booze, Booze, Booza’, BOA (JDM) and ‘Still Counting’ bring the album to a rousing climax.

This is an excellent live set from Volbeat and a good reminder of what we all have to look forward to once we can all get together once again. Until then crank this up grab a beer of your choice and bounce around your living room!

****

Review by Dave Wilson