Here's a hot tip if you're going to one of Metallica's North American tour dates this autumn: Be there early. Denmark's Volbeat are low men on the bill but pack good iron on their third album: speed-metal essentials — compressed-fuzz guitars; guitarist-songwriter Michael Poulsen's operatic Captain Ahab vocals — dusted with country love (a Kitty Wells cover, steel guitar) and rockabilly-Ramone swagger. Poulsen is not being ironic when he barks, "Time to light up this joint with some boogie woogie," atop the stuttering thrash of "Find That Soul." Like Social Distortion, Volbeat have a solid grip on the long, strong line that runs from Sun Records through CBGB and Ride the Lightning.