Photos and Review by Raven Divito
@rockinshots

Volbeat’s “Greatest Of All Tours” Ignites a Stormy Wheatland Night at Toyota Amphitheatre on July 24, 2025

Lightning cracked, rain misted, and Volbeat answered with voltage of their own. Under a sky that never stopped rumbling, the Danish heavyweights tore through Wheatland with a set that proved—again—why they remain one of rock’s most reliably ferocious live bands.

Only 14 dates into the run, frontman Michael Poulsen candidly apologized for the strain on his voice, and, yes, a few high notes slipped from his grasp. But the honesty only sharpened the edge of the performance: he powered forward, leaning on grit, growl, and crowd energy to muscle through a show that still hit like a prizefighter.

They opened with “Children of the Grave,” paying tribute to Black Sabbath (Ozzy Osbourne), and merged into “A Warrior’s Call/Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza,” immediately setting a full-throttle pace that barely relented. “Sad Man’s Tongue” started with the intro of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”

The set deftly blended decade-defining staples with bold, unpredictable choices—including live debuts from the freshly released ninth album, God of Angels Trust. A snarling “Shotgun Blues” mirrored the weather’s ferocity, thunder punctuating Poulsen’s bark. Come encore time, the tank wasn’t empty: “Still Counting” detonated the finale, a sea of fists and hoarse voices howling the last chorus into the rain.

Poulsen, drummer Jon Larsen, and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen locked into that unmistakable Volbeat groove—precision without polish, swagger without waste. The production pulsed with them, strobes and screens ricocheting off the storm clouds like part of the rhythm section.

“A tightly tuned set that showed why they’re one of the most dependable live bands in rock today.”

With God of Angels Trust (released in June) already praised for its raw, instinctive blend of thrash, rockabilly swagger, and country-flecked muscle, the band leaned hard into its live potential. The new songs landed heavy—haunting hooks, crushing breakdowns, and a spontaneity that felt road-tested on night one.

Despite the light rain and the show’s lengthy runtime, the crowd stuck it out. The lingering question now is whether Volbeat will need to postpone any dates to give Poulsen’s vocals a break. Time will tell.

In Wheatland, Volbeat didn’t just weather the storm—they weaponized it. Heart, grit, and groove ruled the night, underscoring a truth their fans already know: this is a band that keeps evolving, and keeps elevating.

For the latest tour updates and news, visit Volbeat’s website at www.volbeat.dk/us