Volbeat......this is easily one of the most interesting rock/metal cd's to hit my inbox in a LONG time. The good part is that it's interesting in a very very good way. Volbeat doesn't immediately sound like anyone else in rock or metal right now. There are elements of various bands from various genres that do come out as you listen, but to put a definite finger on it isn't likely.

Vocally, for the majority of the album, Michael Poulsen sounds alot like classic 'River Runs Red' era Life Of Agony vocalist Keith Caputo. There are times where he sounds somewhat different only because the music changes considerably, and he ends up sounding somehow different. More inline with a raw punk rock vocalist than anything. But typically, he could most closely be compared to Keith Caputo, even though he does sing in his native dutch language at times.

Muscially, Volbeat is once again hard to label. Granted we all tend to hate "labels", but they are necessary in the grand scheme of things, to differentiate between different bands and styles. Volbeat know how to mix things up extremely well, going from full on old school Metallica styled thrash riffing, to more rockabilly oriented rock riffing with Elvis meets Johnny Cash styled vocals to match. And of course, there are times where they also come out with a brashness that is more punk rock than anything.

And unlike other bands who try and incorporate odd or atypical styles into hard rock or metal and end up making a mess of things, Volbeat manage to make it all work quite effectively. From writing a song with riffs that sound like they should have been written by Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield, to writing a song that sounds like it belongs on a Social Distortion album, Volbeat makes it all work without missing a beat. The same can't be said for many other bands, if any at all.

Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil is Volbeat's first official entry into the U.S. Market, and chances are they're going to turn some heads with this rather unorthodox album. It's definitely not going to suit every metal or hard rock fan out there.

Unlike the (seemingly) more accepting European fans, melding Michael's awkward vocal style with Metallica-esque riffs, on top of an album that goes from thrash to rockabilly punk in a matter of minutes isn't going to make it easy to win people over. On the other hand, it may just be that "something" that rock and metal fans have been waiting for. Something with balls, yet equally catchy enough to force it's way onto radio and MTV.

Volbeat definitely has what it takes to stand on their own amongst the heavier bands, while similarly being accessible enough to potentially crack the mainstream market here in the U.S. Whether that will happen or not remains to be seen.

No matter what happens, Volbeat can rest assured that they've crafted an instant classic. "Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil" is nothing short of amazing. Truly an album that should make it's way into every proud metalheads collection.