28.09.2025 Volbeat

Rudolf Weber Arena

Oberhausen (Germany)

(Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II)

After Bush left the stage, preparations for the evening’s headliner began in earnest. To avoid further “distractions,” a massive banner was raised in front of the stage. The tour is part of the release of their latest album “God Of Angels Trust”, and is cheekily dubbed the “GOAT – Greatest Of All Tours.” As such, the goat motif is omnipresent.
As the first notes of T”he Devil’s Bleeding Crown” rang out, the curtain finally dropped, revealing the four members of Volbeat. The energy instantly surged beyond what Bush had stirred up, and singer Michael Poulsen, guitarist Flemming C. Lund, bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen, and drummer Jon Larsen couldn’t stop smiling throughout the entire concert. I’m not sure if it was a deliberate nod to the local scene, but the guitarists wore shirts from German metal legends Kreator and Sodom, and Poulsen showered the crowd with compliments.
Musically, the set spanned the band’s extensive discography, and surprisingly, the fourth song was the first from the new album. That track bore the truly epic title “In The Barn Of The Goat Giving Birth To Satan’s Spawn In A Dying World Of Doom”. I have no idea who comes up with something like that, must be Danish humor. Poulsen certainly sold it that way to the crowd.
A catwalk extended into the audience and was used extensively. The band spent much of the show out there, engaging directly with the celebrating fans. Midway through the set, Poulsen noted the absence of crowdsurfers and announced that the first person to reach the stage would receive a T-shirt from Kaspar Boye Larsen. That was all the encouragement some brave souls needed to launch themselves into the air. Classics like “Seal The Deal” from the 2016 album of the same name and “Still Counting” from 2008’s “Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood” had the crowd singing at full volume. At one point, Poulsen jokingly remarked, “You guys really love the old stuff!”
Two standout moments came toward the end. First, Poulsen asked everyone to turn on their phone flashlights during “For Evigt”, transforming the arena into a sea of lights. Then, before “Still Counting”, he observed that there were quite a few older folks in the crowd, which drew little disagreement. But he also pointed out the many young fans present, calling them the next generation of heavy metal. Around 30 kids were invited on stage to join Volbeat during the song. One boy in particular won’t forget the moment, he was wearing a Max Verstappen shirt. Poulsen, a huge fan of the Formula 1 driver, immediately took a liking to him and broke into the Max Verstappen song. Sadly, even this concert had to end. The finale was a blend of “Warriors Call” from 2010’s “Beyond Hell / Above Heaven” and “Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza” from their debut album “The Strength / The Sound / The Songs” from 2005, before the band left the stage to thunderous applause.
For me, it was a first. Back in the early 2000s, I used to come to this arena to watch the Revierlöwen Oberhausen ice hockey games, but I had never attended a concert here. I have to say, the acoustics and overall setup are excellent. I’d also been wanting to see Volbeat live again for a long time, it had been over a decade since the last time. It was absolutely worth it. You could not only see how much fun the band was having, but you could feel it too. The well-chosen mix of songs from all eras, not just the latest album, plus Poulsen’s announcements and the band’s constant interaction with the crowd made the whole experience unforgettable. Next year, Volbeat will be playing more festivals. So if you see they’re coming near you, grab a ticket. It’s truly worth it!

Setlist:

• The Devil’s Bleeding Crown
• Lola Montez
• Sad Man’s Tongue
• Demonic Depression
• Fallen
• Shotgun Blues
• In The Barn Of The Goat Giving Birth To Satan’s Spawn In A Dying World Of Doom
• By A Monster’s Hand
• Heaven Nor Hell
• The Devil Rages On
• Die To Live
• Time Will Heal
• Black Rose
• Seal The Deal
• Acid Rain
• For Evigt
• Still Counting
• A Warrior’s Call / Pool Of Booze, Booze, Booza

Weblinks:

	Volbeat Homepage of the Danish band Volbeat.
	Rudolf Weber Arena Oberhausen Homepage of the Rudolf Weber Arena at Oberhausen (Germany).

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