Review SABATON “Legends”

Swedish metal band Sabaton has enjoyed tremendous success, building a loyal fanbase that has grown every year for the past 26 years. What began with the 2005 debut album “Primo Victoria” has turned into a triumphant metal endeavour to date.

Three years after releasing “The War to End All Wars”, the Swedish metal force is back with their 11th studio album. Simply titled “Legends”, the latest release lives up to expectations. Sabaton stick to their success formula and why should they change? Their well-balanced blend of metal and melody, combined with a theatrical vibe, has been a winning formula for years, and their trademarks are immediately recognisable on “Legends”.

The quintet also sticks to its lyrical approach, taking a broader view of battles and war in a historical context. “Templars” is the opener and is a textbook Sabaton anthem. Alongside the lyrics, the band provides historical background for each song, here addressing the fate of Jacques de Molay. The next two songs take us further to the East. The cinematic “Hordes of Khan” and the dramatic “A Tiger Among Dragons” portray two warlords: Genghis Khan and Lü Bu. These songs take a heroic view of both figures, glossing over the misery they caused.

The faster-paced “Maid of Steel” tells the story of Joan of Arc, while the pulsating “Impaler” covers the life of Vlad III, also known as Vlad Dracula. As with the aforementioned songs, each of the tracks on ‘Legends’ features different historically significant characters, including samurais (as in “The Dualist” ) and Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, and his role in the Thirty Years’ War (“Till Seger”). The latter, by the way, comes with Swedish lyrics, making the closer rather authentic.

“Legends” showcases all the familiar Sabaton signatures, and fans of the band will appreciate what the five-piece from Sweden offers on their latest studio album – eleven songs with a dramatic feel and catchy melodies that are tough to resist define the album. So, as usual, everything is centred again on the theme of battles and wars at Sabaton. The remaining question is, how long can success be maintained without tactics and strategies being adjusted?