After starting life in Denmark around 10 years ago, and releasing their first album 'The Strength / The Sound / The Songs' in 2005, Volbeat have been an ever growing popular force around the world. From achieving critical acclaim in their native country they have managed to branch out globally, thanks in no small part to claiming support slots for metal pioneers such as Metallica and Megadeth.

Now confidently holding their own in the rock scene, Volbeat have had a string of successful albums, albeit with questionable titles, and 2010's 'Beyond Hell / Above Heaven' is no different. It is often easy to spot the varying influences that the band continue to bake into one big Danish pastry, and they are more than happy to offer up the recipe. This adds to a charm which has helped carry them on their journey, a trip that saw them stop off at the HMV Forum in Kentish Town this October.

Kicking off the show were the increasingly popular Black Spiders, who now are seemingly making their way on to support slots of nearly every major rock band that tour these shores. Their popularity is in evidence here tonight, as they have a decent amount of support in a sizeable venue, and manage to fill the space with confident ease. The northern quintet power through a riff-laden set full of fan favourites, from the commanding opener 'Stay Down', to the crushing riffs of 'Blood of the Kings'. Many favourites from the new album 'Sons of the North' are squeezed in to this compact set, with 'KISS Tried to Kill Me' and 'Just Like a Woman' being among the highlights.

After producing such a powerful set, and earning a highly positive reception, Black Spiders leave the stage knowing the job was well and truly done here tonight. The lights come back up for a bit and the crowd mill around waiting for the headlining act in this great hall. I like the Forum. It has to be one of my favourite large venues in London, and I have fond memories seeing the Wildhearts for the first time here, with Devin Townsend and AntiProduct in support. But this is in fact the first time I've been here since that night, and already the evening is serving my sentimentality well. Volbeat ensure that this remains the case.

As Volbeat meld all their influences together they provide something that is always familiar, but no doubt their own. At every turn we hear a little bit of Misfits, a little of Metallica, and even those hints of Johnny Cash or a thousand other rockabilly artists that contribute to this wall of powerful hard rock. I feel that sometimes they hover undecidedly between their influences, or at least they never quite match each one individually. However, I doubt that is of much concern to them, and so it shouldn't be. On stage they are near faultless and they deal a refreshing dose of the good times.

Beginning proceedings with the Metallica-esque 'The Human Instrument' from 2007's 'Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil', some hint of the force of the band washes over the crowd, but it is really with 'Guitar, Gangsters & Cadillac Blood' that the storm is in full swing, in a way in which it is set to continue. From this moment on every song gets the crowd flowing and joining in with their big rousing sing-a-long choruses. Songs from the recent 'Beyond Hell/Above Heaven' album such as 'Heaven Nor Hell' and '16 Dollars' are definitely at the forefront of the set tonight and just demonstrate how far Volbeat have developed, never being afraid to wear their influences on their sleeve. It's somewhere between these two songs, maybe 'The Mirror and the Ripper' or 'Radio Girl', that it suddenly hits me just how good this band are.

Barney of Napalm Death joining them for a run through 'Evelyn', another cracker from the latest album, only serves to confirm my opinion of them. They are a grateful band too, as a run through 'Thanks' attests, which they then follow with a joyous rendition of 'I Only Want to Be With You', a song which is perhaps unnecessary as a record in their discography but which nonetheless goes down a treat tonight. They finish with the destructive noise of 'Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza' and go out to the rapturous sounds of the crowd. As I leave I think to myself that it's time to revisit those albums, as they've just proven that live, at least, they can certainly match their influences. Let the good times roll, however: time for another drink first.