ALBUM REVIEW: LEGENDS BY SABATON
Reviewed by Cecilia Pattison-LeviSabaton are the true bards of heavy metal and the keepers of the flame of memory as their new album ‘Legends’ tells the stories of 11 historical figures and reminds people that the story of life, and history, keeps going round in cycles. As a historian, my heart was so happy to hear this album, full of lyrics based on historical fact and sung like the Íslendingasögur sagas except heaps heavier.
Sabaton is a Swedish power metal band from Falun. The vast majority of their songs are about historical events, people, their struggles, wars and significant battles. The band comprises of: Joakim Brodén, Pär Sundström, Chris Rörland, Hannes Van Dahl and Thobbe Englund. Their new album ‘Legends’ is truly astonishing as it blends heavy metal rock music with history. Their music and songs are for fans of all ages: from history tragics to those who want to hear a great story in song.
Photo Charlyn Cameron
The album opens with the rollicking and gothic sounding ‘Templars’ with the monks chanting as the bassline thrums. The song is inspired by the Knights Templar, a brotherhood of warrior monks founded in 1119 who were betrayed by the Pope in later times and murdered of for their money and land. It is followed by the dark synths, big drumbeats and brooding atmosphere of ‘Hordes of Khan’. The song is about Genghis Khan and the legacy he left behind in Europe. I believe he left a strong footprint in the Y chromosomes of modern male descendants across Asia and Europe.
Then, the dark cinematic song led by the drums and big chord pulses about the Han warlord Lu Bu ‘A Tiger Among Dragons’ is next. It’s great to hear those Asian historical figures and their stories are in Sabaton’s sites. Next, the big guitar riffs deliver a very imperial classic heavy metal sound (very Roman) about ‘Crossing the Rubicon’, with Julius Caesar’s throwing of the dice of fate. It is a great song about the crossing of the Rubicon River in January 49 BC. This was the event that marked the beginning of the Roman Civil War and set many threads into European history that are still playing out today. It is a fantastic track! And, from one dictator to another, the bassline and dark choir vocals bring in the song ‘I, Emperor’. No album would be complete without Napoleon, but Sabaton’s vocalist has the most extraordinary voice. It is mellifluous and strong, and is so clear on this song.
Photo Charlyn Cameron
The nu-metal song ‘Maid of Steel’ about Jeanne D’arc (aka Joan of Arc for those of English backgrounds) explodes at double fast pace like a jackhammer of beats. The song is about a misunderstood female soldier and a dark song about her role in the wars between the French and the English. Then, for completely misunderstood, the dark heavy song ‘Impaler’ is next. The spooky mid-tempo song with huge drums and guitar riffs is about Vlad III (aka Vlad the Impaler) who, through piles of bodies and heads on pikes, became ruler of Wallachia in 1448. Then the big guitar barrage and a huge marching chorus start ‘Lightning at the Gates’ and it hits like thunder. I think the song is about Hannibal but it could easily be about the leadership of Alaric I of the Visigoths, or the Vandals led by Gaiseric when they sacked Rome in 455 AD. So many people sacked Rome, it was a thing to do! I would love to know as Sabaton did not mention elephants – if there were Elephants – then we are taking Hannibal Barca.
The song ‘The Duellist’ is a fascinating song featuring crystal-clear guitar riffs about the Japanese artist and swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. The next song is melodic ‘The Cycle of Songs’. Chiming tremolo guitars and a drum kick bring in this track about legends and the heady brew of the rising of the divine right of power, and immortal Horus “made of gold” the guardian of the sun.
Sabaton closes out the album with ‘Till Seger’ about the Swedish King Gustav Vasa. He rebelled against those tricky Danish overloads to become the first King of Sweden: Gustav I. And, it’s right that this song should end ‘Legends’.
