As brilliant as they are ridiculous, Sabaton continue to bathe in the blood of rivals on fortress-crushing 11th album.
With Sabaton, you’ve firstly got to leave elements of your conscience, and maybe a few dozen brain cells, in a safe place. The war-obsessed Swedes, though immensely respectful towards real life veterans, do otherwise seem to treat bloodshed as if it’s all a bit of a jolly old romp.
‘I’ll defeat you, I’ll win the war, I will destroy you,’ they chant jauntily in I, Emperor, as if massacring armies is a bit like qualifying for the Euros. It really makes no difference whether you died in some ruler’s stupid, bloody argument centuries ago or last week – there was certainly nothing cool about it. That said, nobody in our wonderfully diverse metal world can compete with Sabaton when it comes to battle metal and predictably, Legends is as glorious and pomp-filled as anything the veteran outfit have done.
Take opener Templars and the brutishly brilliant Impaler with their anthemic, Viking choirs roaring a path to Valhalla. Unlike most Vikings, these had access to a studio and even dabbled with synths. A Tiger Among Dragons starts with fanfare that wouldn’t be amiss in a Rocky film, while Crossing The Rubicon (incredibly, featuring gym-honed alt.rockers Nothing More) brings more grand, triumphal hooks.
There’s no subtlety; this big-chested music just wants you to bang your head and raise your horns. Lightning At The Gates, about warrior legend Hannibal crossing the Alps with elephants, as you do, to piss off Rome, is one of several hugely singable songs competing to be your new favourite Sabaton stomper.
Maid Of Steel? More bridge-smashing triumphalism, the band at its fastest and most full frontal. Drummer Hannes Van Dahl does the work of three men, while his bandmates celebrate Joan Of Arc as if the future of their heads depend on it. The duelling guitars of Chris Rörland and the interestingly named Thobbe Englund make this a metallic nugget to chew on, and on it goes.
Sabaton do one thing, and after 11 albums there doesn’t appear to be an off switch. But by Odin, they do that one thing better than anyone else.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: Powerwolf, Iron Maiden, Five Finger Death Punch
Legends is released on October 17 via Better Noise
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