Sabaton (band)

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Sabaton
Sabaton at Hellfest, 2017
Background information
Origin	Falun, Sweden
Genres	Power metal
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Underground Symphony, Black Lodge, Nuclear Blast
Members	Joakim Brodén Pär Sundström Chris Rörland Hannes van Dahl Tommy Johansson
Past members	Oskar Montelius Rikard Sundén Richard Larsson Daniel Mullback Daniel Mÿhr Robban Bäck Thobbe Englund
Website	sabaton.net

Sabaton [ˈsæbəˌtɑn] is a Swedish heavy metal band from Falun. The band's main lyrical themes are based on war and historical battles - the name is a reference to a sabaton, knight's foot armor. The armor and battle theme is heard in the albums The Art of War, Coat of Arms, Carolus Rex, Heroes, and The Last Stand in which all of the songs contain these motifs, except final tracks which are tribute songs to influential heavy metal bands. Lyrical content drawn from World War I, World War II and other historical conflicts is prevalent and lyrics often recite stories of heroic deeds by men and armies from all over the world. In April 2012, guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, drummer Daniel Mullback, and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr left the band to form Civil War. Lead vocalist Joakim Brodén and bassist Pär Sundström continued with new members, with Brodén assuming keyboard duties.

Sabaton was formed in December 1999. After the first songs were recorded in Peter Tägtgren's studio, The Abyss, Sabaton was contacted by a couple of record labels. The band decided to sign with the Italian label Underground Symphony, under which internationally released the promo CD Fist for Fight —actually a compilation consisting of material from two demotapes recorded between 1999 and 2000— with the intention to promote forthcoming releases. In 2002, a new album was recorded. Metalizer was supposed to be distributed by Underground Symphony as the band's debut album, but after two years of waiting, during which the band held various performances across Sweden, the album was abandoned.

The band returned for a second album titled Primo Victoria. They signed with Black Lodge, the metal division of the Sound Pollution record label. In early 2005, they recruited Daniel Myhr to relieve Joakim Brodén. Their third album Attero Dominatus was released in Europe on 28 July 2006. In March 2007, Sabaton released Metalizer as a double disc together with Fist for Fight, along with the previously unreleased song "Birds of War".

As a follow up to Metalizer, in May 2008, Sabaton released its fourth album The Art of War an album inspired by the influential book by Sun Tzu. The decision to base the album upon Sun Tzu's book came from the idea that in the 2000 years since the book was written, the human race has achieved many things but apart from weapon advancements, operational art, strategy, and war itself have remained basically the same.^{[citation needed]} The album contains the singles "Cliffs of Gallipoli" and "Ghost Division". They toured Europe in 2009 as an opening act on the Hammerfall Tour. After their Bloodstock performance, the band went on a tour with DragonForce, towards the end of 2009, for 18 shows in the UK.

The band had hoped to begin recording the next album in October but with concerts booked and the DragonForce support tour the following month, it was pushed back. On Wednesday December 23, 2009, the band announced the name of their forthcoming album. Coat of Arms contains a majority of songs about World War II including the Winter War "White Death". They announced it on their official website, and posted a link to a YouTube video containing the album art and a teaser music sample. Coat of Arms was released on 21 May 2010. The first music video, for Uprising, was released on August 1, 2010 and features Peter Stormare. This was accompanied by a European tour. A second music video, for Screaming Eagles, was released on May 25.

On 31 March 2012 vocalist Joakim Brodén confirmed rumors that the band would be going separate ways, with only Brodén himself and bass player Pär Sundström staying on-board. Sabaton was joined by touring members Chris Rörland and Thobbe Englund on guitar, and Robban Bäck on drums. Before separating, Sabaton had finished recording of their new album Carolus Rex, which was released in May 2012.^[1]

Following the announcement of a new lineup taking the stage, "Carolus Rex," the first single for the album of the same name, was released on 4 April 2012. The former members of Sabaton have since formed a new band called "Civil War", including vocalist Patrik Johansson and bassist Stefan Eriksson.

In November 2012, drummer Robban Bäck decided to take a break from touring due to becoming a father. Snowy Shaw replaced him as touring drummer.

In January 2014, the band announced the cover of their new album called Heroes, then due to be released on May 16, 2014. The album proved to be a hit and made #1 on the official Swedish album chart. On 27 January the band was announced to play Download Festival in June.^[2] In October 2015 performed the first concert in Japan in Loud Park.

In April 2016, the band announced the cover of their new album called The Last Stand, then due to be released on 19 August 2016.^[3] On June 10th 2016 the first single of the upcoming album was released, called The Lost Battalion and about the eponymous military unit of World War I.^[4] On 25 July 2016, the band announced via their Facebook page that guitarist Thobbe Englund had left the band. Thobbe Englund played his last show with Sabaton at Sabaton Open Air 2016.

Tommy Johansson was announced immediately as the new member after Englund's final show with the band.

NOTE: Carolus Rex (2012) was recorded with previous members, and then released after the split.

• Primo Victoria (2005)
• Attero Dominatus (2006)
• Metalizer (2007)
• The Art of War (2008)
• Coat of Arms (2010)
• Carolus Rex (2012)
• Heroes (2014)
• The Last Stand (2016)

Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2011	Sabaton	Best Breakthrough Band	Won
2012	Sabaton	Metal As Fuck	Nominated
2013	Sabaton	Best Live Band	Nominated

Metal Hammer Awards (GER)

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2012	Sabaton	Best Live Band	Won

Bandit Rock Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2012	Sabaton	Best Swedish Group	Won
2012	Sabaton	Best Swedish Live Act	Won
2013	Carolus Rex	Best Swedish Album	Won
2013	Sabaton	Best Swedish Live Act	Won
2013	Sabaton	Best Swedish Group / Artist	Won

Rockbjörnen

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2013	Sabaton	The Year's hard rock/metal	Won

• Official Sabaton Website