Former Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano has joined Danish metal rock 'n' rollers Volbeat. Caggiano served as producer on Volbeat's latest album, "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", alongside longtime production partner Jacob Hansen, who produced and mixed the band's prior four albums. Caggiano's other producer credits include The Damned Things, Bleeding Through and Anthrax, and he was a member of Anthrax for two tenures — from 2001 to 2005 and again from 2007 to 2013.

Comments Volbeat singer and guitarist Michael Poulsen: "The band is very proud and happy to announce that he will also be the new guitar player in Volbeat. The collaboration with Rob in the studio was so inspiring and in good spirit that we the decided to keep him. Basically we went into the studio as a three-piece and came out as a whole band!�

Adds Caggiano: "Wow! I have to say I'm completely blown away by the turn of events over the last few weeks here in Denmark and at this point an update is definitely in order.

"To start with, I came to Denmark about a month ago to produce the new Volbeat record which in and of itself has been an incredibly exciting adventure from a producer's perspective thus far. However, I'm extremely happy to say my relationship with these guys will not end there as it turns out... it's just beginning!

"Michael had asked me on the phone before I got out here if I would play some guest solos on the new album in addition to my other duties, and, of course, I was thrilled about that and agreed to do so. When I actually got to Denmark and started going through the material, this turned out to be so much more than that.

"After weeks of collaboration between Michael and I, it became quite clear that we had an amazing creative chemistry together and a huge mutual respect for one another.

"It's so refreshing and inspiring to be creative again on a songwriting level that words can't even describe it and the vibe between Anders, Jon, Michael and I is just awesome. I'd say an artistic relationship like this one is very rare and it's also something I don't take for granted.

"When the guys asked me if I was interested in joining Volbeat the other day, my jaw just about hit the floor! It actually didn't even register in my brain properly until the next morning, but I gotta say, it also didn't take me long to decide. It really isn't the way I envisioned the rest of my year to play out but at the same time, This feels more 'right' to me than anything I could have possibly imagined and I'm going for it!

"To all my fans, family, friends and overall supporters that have reached out to me over this last month wondering if I'm ever gonna play guitar again or what I'm up to in general etc., see you all soon my friends and get ready for a wild ride!!!"

Volbeat's fifth album, "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", will be released on April 9 (one day earlier internationally) via Spinefarm/Universal Music.

Says Poulsen: "Half of the album tracks will take you into the world of outlaw gunslinger stories sometime in the 1800s. Some of the characters are true legends, while others are fiction. The listener will hear inspiration from classic spaghetti western movies which gives you a clue to the album title and cover artwork."

He adds: "We are still ‘rocking out’ in the studio, and working on the last details. We are very excited about this album. We feel that we’ve achieved the goals we set out. The heavy stuff on the album is perhaps more old-school heavy riffs than earlier, and the rock songs rock out with tons of melodies and take us into unchartered territory. All that without losing the Volbeat sound that is the cornerstone of our band."

Volbeat will embark on a North American headlining tour in the spring. The trek, which will feature support from Danko Jones, will kick off on March 6 in Dallas, Texas.

Volbeat in 2011 parted ways with guitarist Thomas Bredahl, who had been a member of the band since 2006. He was replaced on the road by Mercyful Fate's Hank Shermann

Volbeat's fourth album, "Beyond Hell/Above Heaven", has sold more than 170,000 copies in the United States since its December 2010 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The Cd was once again recorded at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen. The cover artwork was created by illustrator Karsten Wrysand.

Volbeat in 2011 released "Live From Beyond Hell/Above Heaven" via Vertigo/Universal on double Dvd, Blu-ray, limited double Dvd + audio Cd, Cd, digital download and Vod. The set included footage from Volbeat's sold-out show in front of 10,000 fervent fans at the Forum in Copenhagen, to the House of Blues in Anaheim, California and the Rock Am Ring show in Germany.