When I think of Sweden there are a few things that immediately come to mind like meatballs, those really cool ice hotels, and the blonde babes of the Swedish bikini team. But let’s not forget the powerful metal bands that hail from the great nation of Sweden. Sabaton is one of those bands and has a new album out, “Heroes.”
With the band splitting and four members leaving, bassist Par Sundstrom and vocalist Joakim Broden have rebuilt the band with the help of guitarists Thobbe Englund and Chris Rorland and drummer Hannes Van Dahl. Since Broden and Sundstrom were the songwriting core of Sabaton, not much has changed musically with “Heroes.” Sabaton is still bringing their driving brand of power metal to the masses. Their lyrical trend continues with historic themes of war and epic battles. The music itself is majestic, almost regal, with the distinctive vocals of Broden taking center stage. Metal anthems “Night Witches” and “Smoking Snakes” have massive soaring choruses and plenty of orchestral undertones. The lead guitar team of Englund and Rorland are epically glorious with blistering solos throughout. There is even a true keyboard driven power ballad with “The Ballad of Bull.” A bonus track inclusion is a spectacular cover of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”
The grandeur of metal lives with Sabaton’s “Heroes,” an album full of mighty, metal anthems and one you won’t want to miss.
