SABATON

Sabaton, the Swedish power metal band formed in 1999 in Falun, currently features Joakim Brodén (vocals), Tommy Johansson and Thobbe Englund (guitars), Pär Sundström (bass), and Hannes van Dahl (drums). Known for their hard-hitting lyrics centered on historical themes—especially epic battles and warfare—the band debuted with “Metalizer” in 2002 but truly made waves with “Primo Victoria” (2005). Their momentum continued to grow with “Attero Dominatus” (2006), “The Art of War” (2008), and “Coat of Arms” (2010).

Their 2012 album “Carolus Rex” took a bold turn by featuring Swedish-language tracks and diving deep into the country’s past, particularly the reign of King Charles XII. The band maintained their energy with “Heroes” (2014), “The Last Stand” (2016), and “The Great War” (2019), the latter drawing inspiration from World War I. “The War to End All Wars” (2022) reinforced their dominance with their signature blend of history-fueled metal. Sabaton’s music videos, live performances, and singles are often filmed in historically significant locations, further deepening the connection between their lyrics and real-world events. “The songs, the history, and the lyrics all need to share the same emotional language—that connection is crucial to us,” Joakim Brodén once told Roadie Crew magazine.

Sabaton thrives on storytelling, bringing military history to life with powerful anthems. Their lyrics spotlight legendary battles like Stalingrad, Midway, and Monte Cassino, as well as wartime heroes such as Audie Murphy—one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War II. They also pay tribute to military leaders like Sweden’s King Charles XII in “Carolus Rex” and General Gustavus Adolphus in “The Lion from the North”. Other historical events, like the Warsaw Uprising in “Uprising”, World War I in “The Great War”, and Sweden’s military dominance in “Dominium Maris Baltici”, also find their way into Sabaton’s catalog.

“We always give it all we got, but we’re not aiming to create the perfect documentary on historical events. You can’t capture all the details in a three- to five-minute heavy metal song, but what we do is create a trailer for them,” Brodén explained. “Imagine a documentary, a movie, or a book. Our job is to create a teaser that would spark people’s interest so they would watch the movie or read the book, because we don’t have the answers. We ask questions so that fans would be interested in finding the answers since our albums are not the final stop. We love history, but we are not experts.”

Although they initially avoid political and current affairs, their statements and actions, such as their outspoken opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, demonstrate their impact and influence on public debate and social consciousness. Sabaton has built a dedicated global fan base and continues to tour extensively, sharing their passion for history and music. Their shows are often intense spectacles, with sets and visual effects that bring their themes to life. Their set at Bangers Open Air 2025 is sure to be a memorable one.