Die to Live

❧

Wikipedia

"Die to Live"
Single by Volbeat featuring Neil Fallon
from the album Rewind, Replay, Rebound
Released4 November 2019
13 November 2020 (live)
GenrePower pop
Length3:02 (album version)
3:45 (live)
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Volbeat singles chronology
"Pelvis on Fire"
(2019)		 "Die to Live"
(2019)		 "Wait a Minute My Girl"
(2021)
Music video
"Die to Live" on YouTube

"Die to Live" is a song by Danish rock band Volbeat featuring American musician Neil Fallon from the American rock band Clutch. It was one of the singles from Volbeat's seventh album Rewind, Replay, Rebound. It reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in March 2020.

Composition

Fallon described the song as "a catchy straight-ahead rocker".[1] Consequence called it one of the album's most unique tracks, highlighting the presence of Fallon along with saxophone and piano.[2]

Several reviewers called the song a "rock-n-roll banger", with fast-paced guitar riffs and piano and saxophone parts that trade off throughout the track.[3][4] Distorted Sound noted that piano and brass instrumentation are introduced as the track progresses, creating a swinging mood.[5]

The Guardian highlighted its 1950s-style piano and saxophone flourishes,[6] while Kerrang! identified boogie-woogie influences in the piano work.[7] Blabbermouth compared its fast-paced arrangement to Queen's "Sheer Heart Attack",[8] and AllMusic described the track as blending punk and rockabilly styles, pointing to a middle eight reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen and a saxophone break likened to Clarence Clemons.[9] MetalSucks further described it as a "power-pop jam" reminiscent of Cheap Trick.[10]

Reception

Consequence listed the song as one of the essential tracks on the album,[2] while Upset Magazine wrote that Fallon adds a "raspy, bluesy growl" to the song.[11]

Music video

The band previewed the video for fans during a stop on the "Rewind, Replay, Rebound World Tour", with an early screening mentioned at the Berlin show.[12] Fallon said he flew up to Boston to film the video with Volbeat[13] which was directed by Adam Rothlein at Ghost Atomic Pictures and filmed at Futura Studio in Roslindale, Massachusetts.[14] The video includes appearances by musicians Raynier Jacob Jacildo and Doug Corcoran, members of JD McPherson's band.[15][16]

Live performances

At Volbeat's November 8, 2025 show at Manchester AO Arena, a reviewer for Louder Than War wrote that the live rendition of "Die to Live" was "pure rock n roll", noting flashes of Elvis-inspired vocals.[17] A Kerrang! review of Rewind, Replay, Rebound: Live in Deutschland noted that Poulsen impersonated Fallon while performing Fallon's guest vocal parts from the studio version of the song.[18]

Track listing

Die to Live - Live single[19]
No.TitleLength
1."Die to Live - Live"3:45

Commercial performance

It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart on March 14, 2020, their eighth song to do so. For Fallon, this is his first Mainstream Rock No. 1, whether solo or with Clutch.[20] With this song, the band surpassed U2 for the most No. 1 hits on this chart by a band from outside North America.[21][22][23][24]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Apple Music.[25]

Volbeat

Additional musicians

  • Neil Fallon - guest vocals
  • Raynier Jacob Jacildo - piano
  • Doug Corcoran - saxophone

Additional credits

Charts

References

  1. ↑ "Volbeat Unleash "Die To Live" Video Featuring Clutch's Neil Fallon". BraveWords. November 2, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Bowar, Chad (August 1, 2019). "Album Review: Volbeat Keep Bringing the Hooks on Rewind, Replay, Rebound". Consequence. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  3. ↑ Manktelow, Evelyn (August 1, 2019). "Review: Volbeat – Rewind, Replay, Rebound". Already Heard. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  4. ↑ Flashartmark (August 1, 2019). "Volbeat – Rewind Replay Rebound – Album Review". Rock N Load Magazine. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  5. ↑ McHugh, Dan (August 1, 2019). "Album Review: Rewind, Replay, Rebound – Volbeat". Distorted Sound. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  6. ↑ Horner, Al (August 2, 2019). "Volbeat: Rewind, Replay, Rebound review". The Guardian. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  7. ↑ Brannigan, Paul (August 3, 2019). "Album Review: Volbeat – Rewind, Replay, Rebound". Kerrang!. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  8. ↑ Roche, Jason. "Rewind, Replay, Rebound Review". Blabbermouth. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  9. ↑ Jurek, Thom. "Rewind, Replay, Rebound Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  10. ↑ Trepel, Jeff (August 1, 2019). "Album Review: Refuse, Resist, Renew, Recycle, Rewind, Replay, Rebound with Volbeat". MetalSucks. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  11. ↑ Press, Jack (July 31, 2019). "Volbeat's 'Rewind, Replay, Rebound' is one big rockabilly dance-off". Upset Magazine. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Watch Volbeat's 'Die To Live' Video Feat. Clutch's Neil Fallon". Blabbermouth. November 2, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  13. ↑ Revolver Staff (November 2, 2019). "See Clutch's Neil Fallon Bring Rock Fury in Volbeat's New "Die To Live" Video". Revolver. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  14. ↑ Wookubus (November 2, 2019). "Volbeat Debut "Die To Live" Music Video, Clutch's Neil Fallon Guests". ThePRP. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  15. ↑ Bauer, Simon (November 4, 2019). "Volbeat - 'Die To Live' Videoclip mit Clutch-Frontmann Neil Fallon ist online". RockHard (in German). Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  16. ↑ Lewry, Fraser (November 4, 2019). "Volbeat debut new video featuring Clutch's Neil Fallon". Classic Rock. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  17. ↑ Eales, Trev (November 11, 2025). "Volbeat: Manchester AO Arena – Live Review". Louder Than War. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  18. ↑ Beebee, Steve (November 24, 2020). "Album Review: Volbeat – Rewind, Replay, Rebound: Live In Deutschland". Kerrang!. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Die to Live (Live) - by Volbeat". Spotify. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  20. 1 2 Rutherford, Kevin (March 11, 2020). "Volbeat Breaks Record for Most Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1s by a European Act". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  21. ↑ Trapp, Philip (March 12, 2020). "Volbeat Break Record for Most No. 1 Mainstream Rock Songs by a European Band". Loudwire. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  22. ↑ Lewry, Fraser (March 12, 2020). "Volbeat Have The Most #1 Mainstream Rock Songs Of Any European Band". Kerrang!. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Volbeat Breaks Record For Most 'Mainstream Rock Songs' No. 1s By A European Act". Blabbermouth. March 11, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  24. ↑ Erickson, Anne (March 12, 2020). "Volbeat Set Record for European Act with Eight No. 1 Songs on U.S. Mainstream Rock Chart". Consequence. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Die to Live (featuring Neil Fallon) – Volbeat". Apple Music.
  26. ↑ "Volbeat Chart History: Canada Rock". Billboard Canada. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Volbeat – Die To Live (feat. Neil Fallon)" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Volbeat Chart History: Sweden Heatseeker". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Volbeat Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Mainstream Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2026.