August 10, 2025 – PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel NJ
Review & Photography by Estelle Massry
Danish rock band Volbeat just kicked off their Greatest of All Tours in support of their ninth album, God Of Angels Trust. Volbeat has scored 10 number 1 songs on the billboard mainstream rock airplay chart, which is the most ever for a band based outside of North America. Their presence in the US was apparent tonight in New Jersey, fans were eager to hear them play as they showed up clad in band merch showing their love and devotion to their favorite band.
The first special guest on this tour into the WRATFEST lineup was The Ghost Inside, a metalcore band from El Segundo, California. The band consists of Jonathan Vigil (vocals), Zach Johnson (lead guitar), Chris Davis (rhythm guitar), Jim Riley (bass), and Andrew Tkaczyk (drums). The band has faced many hardships including being involved in a serious bus crash in Texas in 2015 that left several members with life changing injuries. Drummer Andrew Tkaczyk lost one of his legs and many thought the band would never play again. They shocked their fans and returned to the stage in 2019 with a sold out comeback show in LA. They are respected not only for their music but their resilience, it was clear to see the love that their fans have for them tonight at this show.
The Grammy-winning rockers Halestorm kept the energy going. Lzzy Hale walked out on stage holding her badass guitar in her skin tight black bodysuit and burgundy velvet top, her long legs exposed with knee high back patent leather boots, matching her black cape with gold and silver snake patterns with red lining. Her vocals are always strong and she delivered every song with her powerful and commanding vocal range. She wasted no time jumping into the set with “Fallen Star”, “I Miss The Misery,” and “Love Bites (So Do I).” Band members Joe Hottinger (guitar), Arejay Hale (drummer and Laze’s brother) & Josh Smith (bass) are on point and really know how to draw energy from each other. I have seen Halestorm many times and am always impressed by their delivery and love how good they are to their fans.
As night fell, the stage erupted in dynamic lighting and a towering “VOLBEAT” backdrop that anchored the show’s powerful visual identity. Smoky haze, strobes, and color washes heightened the drama—casting the band in stark silhouettes one moment, then spotlighting them in vivid detail the next.
Opening with “The Devil’s Bleeding Crown” and “Lola Montez,” Volbeat immediately sent energy rippling through the crowd. Frontman Michael Poulsen’s charismatic command of the stage was immediately evident. His vocals were raw, expressive, and carried effortlessly across the lawn. The setlist, a deft balance of fan favorites and newer material, included “Sad Man’s Tongue” (complete with a dramatic “Ring of Fire” intro), the thunderous “Demonic Depression,” and the ominous triple-barreled “In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan’s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom.”
Fans were in full participation, singing along, fists pumping, and erupting into applause between songs. Despite being outdoors, the venue felt intimate thanks to the collective energy of those there. I have to be honest that I didn’t know much about Volbeat, maybe only heard a song or 2 prior to the show and didn’t know what to expect. Their sound is not easy to define and hard to put into a category. I was pleasantly surprised and found myself really enjoying the “undefined”. I left wanting to hear more and dig more into their music. Make sure to check them out on this tour!
For more info please visit http://www.volbeat.dk