MERCYFUL FATE Guitarist MICHAEL DENNER To Guest On New VOLBEAT Album

MERCYFUL FATE guitarist Michael Denner has recorded a guest appearance on "Beyond Hell/Above Heaven", the fourth studio album from Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT. As previously reported, other musicians who are scheduled to appear on the CD include NAPALM DEATH's Mark "Barney" Greenway and KREATOR's Mille Petrozza. Additionally, Jacob Oelund of the Copenhagen rockabilly outfit TAGGY TONES and songwriter Hanrik Hall swung by the studio to lay down some seriously swinging double bass and harmonica.

"We were listening to those guys when we were 14, 15 years old, and we have definitely not forgotten them for inspiring us," VOLBEAT singer/guitarist Michael Poulsen told Revolver magazine about Greenway and Patrozza's contributions to the new album. "They know VOLBEAT — they like our records. We had the opportunity to talk to those guys during the last three years touring around Europe. And to actually have them on the record is really a great compliment. What they did in the studio to the VOLBEAT sound is amazing."

"Beyond Hell/Above Heaven" will be released in Germany on September 10 and in most parts of Europe on September 13 by Vertigo/Universal. The CD was once again recorded at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen.

Regarding the title of VOLBEAT's new album, Poulsen previously stated, "The title refers to the overall theme of the album, and it continues the storyline from where [the last VOLBEAT CD] 'Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood' left off…"

VOLBEAT is "very excited" about the new material, "carrying the songs into both extreme metallic territory, punk variations and some very catchy stuff at the same time," according to a posting on the band's web site.

Added Poulsen: "We have fast, slow and mid-tempo songs. We still blend different styles of punk, rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, metal, heavy metal, thrash metal, country — we still keep it very open, it's just music! I cannot say too much about it right now, but we're really excited about it and it's going to be very, very cool. Again, we're going to give people something they haven't heard before. We always try to do something special and different on each and every album."

Professionally filmed video footage of VOLBEAT performing a brand new song, "Fallen", at the Rock Am Ring festival, which was held June 4-6, 2010 in Nürburgring, Germany, can be viewed below.

"A Warrior's Call", a track recently recorded by VOLBEAT as a tribute to Danish boxer Mikkel Kessler (who is also featured on the cut),will also appear on the forthcoming album.

"Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood", the third studio album from VOLBEAT, received a U.S. release in March 2009 via Mascot Records.