Die to Live

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]}

Credits adapted from Apple Music.^[25]

Volbeat

• Michael Poulsen - lead vocals, guitar, songwriter, co-producer
• Rob Caggiano - guitar, songwriter, recording engineer, co-producer, editing engineer
• Jon Larsen - drums
• Kaspar Boye Larsen - bass guitar

Additional musicians

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

Additional credits

• Jacob Hansen - producer, recording engineer