Beyond Hell/Above Heaven

Last updated

Beyond Hell/Above Heaven
Vol cover.jpg
Studio album by
Volbeat
Released10 September 2010
RecordedLate 2009 – June 2010
Genre
Length56:57
Label
Producer Jacob Hansen
Volbeat chronology
Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
(2008)		Beyond Hell/Above Heaven
(2010)		 Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies
(2013)
Singles from Beyond Hell/Above Heaven
  1. "Fallen"
    Released: 9 August 2010
  2. "Heaven nor Hell"
    Released: 4 November 2010
  3. "A Warrior's Call"
    Released: 30 August 2011

Beyond Hell/Above Heaven is the fourth studio album by Danish rock band Volbeat. The album was released on 10 September 2010 on EMI in Denmark, on Vertigo in the rest of Europe, and on Republic in the United States.

Contents

The title refers to the overall theme of the album, continuing the storyline of Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood. [1] This was the first Volbeat album to chart on the Billboard 200, and was certified Gold by the RIAA on 22 March 2016. [2]

Background

The album, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven was released on 10 September 2010. Michael Poulsen explained the title of the album stating "...it's a way telling people that we don't belong or believe in neither heaven nor hell. So if we go beyond hell, we will make heaven look like hell, and if we go above heaven, we will make hell look like heaven. Heaven and hell is something we create in our minds and personal self-created demons come out of that." [3] Featured on the album is previously released track, "A Warrior's Call", which was made for Danish boxer Mikkel Kessler. [4] The track Evelyn contains some death grunts provided by Mark "Barney" Greenway (Napalm Death), which was a whole new element on Volbeat's music, making a groove metal style.

Michael Poulsen has also revealed several of the guest musicians on the album stating "I'm very very proud to have these fine gentlemen with me, since they inspired me a lot for a long time." [3]

The cover and artwork was created by Karsten Sand.[ citation needed ]

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]

The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 3.5 stars stating "Any way you slice it, Volbeat, a skillful repository of so many lineage sounds, are their own thing: a band apart who are sophisticated, accessible, and utterly entertaining as songwriters and performers. Nowhere is this more true than on Beyond Hell/Above Heaven.". [5]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 142 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. On 22 March 2016, the album was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 units. [6] The album has sold over 1,000,000 copies worldwide. [7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Michael Poulsen, except where noted [8]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Mirror and the Ripper" 4:01
2."Heaven nor Hell" (featuring Henrik Hall of Love Shop) 5:23
3."Who They Are" 3:42
4."Fallen"Poulsen, Thomas Bredahl 5:01
5."A Better Believer" 3:25
6."7 Shots" (featuring Mille Petrozza of Kreator and Michael Denner of Mercyful Fate / King Diamond) 4:45
7."A New Day"Poulsen, Bredahl4:07
8."16 Dollars" (featuring Jakob Øelund of Taggy Tones) 2:49
9."A Warrior's Call" 4:24
10."Magic Zone" 3:52
11."Evelyn" (featuring Mark "Barney" Greenway of Napalm Death)Greenway, Poulsen, Jon Larsen 3:30
12."Being 1" 2:22
13."Thanks"Poulsen, Larsen3:43
14."Angelfuck" (Misfits cover, bonus track) Glenn Danzig 1:31
15."Still Counting" (bonus track)Poulsen, Larsen, Kjølholm & Bredahl4:22
Total length:56:57
Limited edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Angelfuck" (Misfits cover)Danzig1:31
Danish edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
14."Rebel Angel"3:22
15."Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza" (live)4:11
16."A Moment Forever" (live)4:37
Best Buy bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Still Counting" (from the album Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood )Poulsen, Larsen, Kjølholm & Bredahl4:22

Personnel

Volbeat

Guest musicians

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria) [32] 3× Platinum60,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [33] Platinum80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [34] 3× Platinum60,000‡
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [35] Gold12,094 [35]
Germany (BVMI) [36] 3× Platinum600,000‡
Sweden (GLF) [37] 2× Platinum80,000‡
United States (RIAA) [38] Gold500,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Volbeat Reveals Album Title!". Volbeat.dk. 15 February 2010. Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  2. ↑ "RIAA Gold and Platinum certification". Recording Industry Association of America .
  3. 1 2 "Michael Poulsen Interview". EspyRock.com. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET – VOLBEAT: 'Beyond Hell/Above Heaven' Track Listing, Artwork Unveiled". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 30 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  5. 1 2 Jurek, T. AllMusic Review [ permanent dead link ] accessed , 2012
  6. ↑ "VOLBEAT's 'Beyond Hell/Above Heaven' Album Certified Gold By RIAA". Blabbermouth. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  7. ↑ Volbeat. "Volbeat | History | Part 5". Volbeat. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  8. ↑ "BMI Entry". Repertoire.bmi.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Volbeat – Beyond Hell Above Heaven" (in German). Hung Medien.
  10. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Volbeat – Beyond Hell Above Heaven" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Volbeat – Beyond Hell Above Heaven" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "Danishcharts.dk – Volbeat – Beyond Hell Above Heaven". Hung Medien.
  13. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Volbeat – Beyond Hell Above Heaven" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  14. ↑ "Volbeat: Beyond Hell Above Heaven" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  15. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Volbeat – Beyond Hell Above Heaven" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  16. ↑ "Greekcharts.com – Volbeat – Beyond Hell Above Heaven". Hung Medien.
  17. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Volbeat – Beyond Hell Above Heaven". Hung Medien.
  18. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Volbeat – Beyond Hell Above Heaven". Hung Medien.
  19. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Volbeat – Beyond Hell Above Heaven". Hung Medien.
  20. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  21. ↑ "Volbeat Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  22. ↑ "Volbeat Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  23. ↑ "Volbeat Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  24. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2010". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  25. ↑ "Album 2010 Top-100". Danish Albums Chart (in Danish). Nielsen Music Control. 2010. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  26. ↑ "VIVA Album Top 50 - Alle Musikvideos - Chart". VIVA.tv. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  27. ↑ "Årslista Album – År 2010" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  28. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2011". Ultratop. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  29. ↑ "Album-Top 100". Hitlisten. IFPI Danmark& Nielsen Music Control. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  30. ↑ ":: MTV". Mtv.de. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  31. ↑ "Platz 46 der erfolgreichsten Singles und Alben des Jahrzehnts geht an diese hier: @PostMalone feat. @21savage und @VOLBEAT". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 18 November 2019– via Twitter.
  32. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Volbeat – Beyond Hell / Above Heaven" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  33. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Volbeat – Beyond Hell/Above Heaven". Music Canada.
  34. ↑ "Danish album certifications – Volbeat – Beyond Hell/Above Heaven". IFPI Danmark.
  35. 1 2 "Volbeat" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  36. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Volbeat; 'Beyond Hell / Above Heaven')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  37. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – Volbeat" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  38. ↑ "American album certifications – Volbeat – Beyond Hell, Above Heaven". Recording Industry Association of America.
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