Sabaton released their tenth album, “The War to End All Wars”, on March 4, 2022 via Nuclear Blast — and they continue their historical storytelling in their unique way: over-the-top, anthemic power metal that turns history lessons into hymns. As always, the Swedes found inspiration in the people who fought in World War I.
Country: Sweden
Genre: Power Metal
For fans of: Powerwolf, Amon Amarth, Windrose
The listen
“Stormtroopers” opens the record with a catchy, over-the-top track that grows with every chorus — one of Joakim Brodén’s favorite vocal styles. “The Unkillable Soldier” honors Adrian Carton de Wiart, the one-eyed, one-handed soldier who fought in three wars over 60 years, while “Race to the Sea” has the album’s biggest chorus, following the soldiers at the Battle of the Yser. For the fast tempos there are “Hellfighters” and “The Valley of Death” — the first with strong Iced Earth elements, for the 369th regiment of African-American soldiers.
On the melodic side, “Soldier of Heaven” uses techno keyboards that feel jarring, while “Christmas Truce” is a tender ballad about the Christmas truce of 1914, with piano, soft vocals and “Carol of the Bells” giving it a mournful atmosphere. “Dreadnought” recalls the band’s early years with the sinister aura of “Rise of Evil”, and “Lady of the Dark” tells the Serbian story of Milica in a heavy style.
Like their compatriots Amon Amarth, Sabaton have entered a phase where they steadily produce good records without lowering the bar: “Carolus Rex” (2012) remains their masterpiece, but even as “the weakest post-Carolus Rex”, this album stays at a good level. The stories cover everything — from the one-handed hero to the Versailles ceremony at the close — and as always, the lens falls on the people who rose above their darkness. The closer “Versailles” asks whether a war can end all wars — and we all know the answer.
See also
Sabaton – Legends · Judas Priest – Invincible Shield
