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When Michael Poulsen was asked 2 years ago about new music he was working on, the founder and frontman of the Danish hard-rock outfit Volbeat replied, "We're trying to do some things we haven't done before."
Considering the band was already known for a unique style equally at home in the worlds of rockabilly and metal, equally influenced by Elvis and Anthrax, Johnny Cash and Metallica, such a promise seemed ambitious and intriguing.
And sure enough, when Volbeat's sixth studio album, "Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie," was released June 3, the group's instantly recognizable sound was evident, but was augmented by unexpected flourishes — '50s-style female backing harmonies on "Black Rose," a banjo on "The Bliss," bagpipes on "The Loa's Crossroad," a slide guitar on the cover of "Battleship Chains," even an appearance from the Harlem Gospel Choir on "Goodbye Forever."
"We're not trying to paint ourselves into a corner where it only has to be heavy or only has to be rock 'n' roll, or punk, or country," Poulsen said in a phone interview from a tour stop in Des Moines, Iowa. "We're so much inspired by so many different styles, and I like to incorporate all those things into my songwriting. At the end of the day, if it feels natural, it's a keeper. I think the audience can hear that honesty in the songs."
Volbeat will be telling its truth in Salt Lake City on Friday, Sept. 9, at The Complex. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Poulsen said the process of penning "Seal the Deal" began with one simple premise: Where other rock and metal bands fixate on chugging rhythms or ear-splitting volume, he would focus on melody.
"That is a must for me. I'm a sucker for melodies. Volbeat is all about that sweet melody," he said. "For me, it's important that it's a song that people can sing along to. … It definitely has a huge impact in Volbeat songwriting."
With that ground rule established, Poulsen & Co. got down to details.
The band's previous record, "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies," was something of a concept album, with an omnipresent Western motif. While the songs of "Seal the Deal" are more conventionally independent, a few do have some level of thematic interconnectivity, with myriad references to supernatural beings and the afterlife. But those are simply the most explicit examples of the album's overall tonality of "spirituality with sarcasm."
"Some people might feel it has a dark side 'cause of all the demons and devils and voodoo, but in general, there's a lot of light in them, because it's more about embracing those demons in yourself. Get rid of them, tackle them, get rid of them, and start a new, positive life with a lot of light in it," Poulsen said. "… You have to embrace every day when you wake up, and tell people around that care for them and care about them, and get something done with your life. You're not there for nothing — you have to deal with why you wake up and why you go to bed."
With the subject matter set, Volbeat went about crafting the music to convey it.
That required balancing the competing interests of keeping the music familiar enough to appease longtime fans while changing it up enough to make it fresh and compelling without resorting to randomness to accomplish it. After all, it's one thing to draw inspiration from Mumford & Sons' twang, it's quite another to drop it into a hard-rock song without it sounding awkward or out of place.
"When you have a rock song or a metal song and suddenly a banjo pops in, it makes a difference," Poulsen said. "But it should not only make a difference [just] because it's a banjo, it should make a difference because it works."
So he ultimately decided the best way to make the songs distinct was simply to trust his instincts.
"Using a gospel choir was something I'd really wanted to do since we wrote the 'Guitar Gangsters' album [in 2008], but I didn't have the right song, so it was not the right time. So you just have to embrace those moments where the magic is around you, where you get the right ideas," Poulsen added. "… Maybe the metal influence is not that high on this record, but it does still sound like Volbeat, it has the Volbeat signature sound. … It's all about that certain feeling you have."
The feeling has apparently resonated with listeners, as "Seal the Deal" debuted in the top five in countries throughout the world — including the United States.
It's a milestone Poulsen relishes considering that accumulating American followers has been a decade-plus process rather than an overnight achievement.
"Every time we came back to America and played some of the same cities, the venues got bigger and we had more ticket sales," he said. "It's definitely a great accomplishment for a band coming from a small country like Denmark — being able to tour America and actually do really good there. It's something that we're very proud of, and we definitely owe a lot to our fans out there in America."
Now, he's just eager to get the songs in front of audiences.
"We're just looking forward to playing the show and seeing the reaction from the fans," Poulsen said. "So hopefully we live up to expectations from the fans who've been waiting. We've been waiting for them too!"
That much, at least, will never change.
Twitter: @esotericwalden —
Volbeat
With Killswitch Engage and Black Wizard
When • Friday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m.
Where • The Complex: 536 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $46.50 advance, $51.50 day of; Smith's Tix