Sabaton

Sabaton is a Swedish power metal band from Falun, formed in 1999. The group’s core founders are vocalist Joakim Brodén, bassist Pär Sundström, guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, and drummer Richard Larsson. Brodén and Sundström remain the only consistent members through a series of lineup changes.

Style and lyrical themes

The band plays heavy metal, metal, pop metal, power metal and speed metal. Much of its material focuses on historical subjects, especially wars and major battles.

Early releases and label history

After early recording sessions at Peter Tägtgren’s studio, The Abyss, Sabaton releases the promo CD Fist for Fight through Underground Symphony. Its intended debut album, Metalizer, is recorded in 2002 but not released at that time. The band later signs with Black Lodge Records and issues its debut studio album Primo Victoria in 2005, followed by Attero Dominatus in 2006. Metalizer is eventually released in 2007 together with Fist for Fight, including the previously unreleased track “Birds of War”.

Breakthrough albums and lineup changes

The Art of War, released in 2008, is inspired by Sun Tzu’s book. During this period, keyboardist Daniel Myhr joins, allowing Brodén to concentrate on vocals. Sabaton tours Europe with bands including Edguy, DragonForce and HammerFall. In 2010, after signing with Nuclear Blast, the band releases Coat of Arms, an album largely about World War II, and supports it with a European tour and videos for “Uprising” and “Screaming Eagles”.

The concept album Carolus Rex follows in 2012. Around this time, the band undergoes major personnel changes, leaving Brodén and Sundström as the only remaining original members. The departing musicians form Civil War. Chris Rörland and Thobbe Englund join on guitars, and Robban Bäck joins on drums before being replaced by Snowy Shaw and then Hannes Van Dahl.

International profile

Heroes is released in 2014 and reaches number one on the Swedish album chart. Sabaton performs internationally, including at Download Festival and Loud Park in Japan. The Last Stand follows in 2016 and includes “The Lost Battalion”. Tommy Johansson later joins on guitar after Thobbe Englund’s departure.

Historical projects and later releases

In 2019, Sabaton creates the YouTube channel Sabaton History with Indy Neidell and TimeGhost History, using it to provide historical context for its songs. That year the band also releases “Bismarck” in collaboration with the game World of Warships, and the concept album The Great War, centred on the First World War, with singles including “Fields of Verdun”, “The Red Baron” and “The Great War”. Its 20th anniversary show features former members and musicians from Civil War.

In August 2019, the band is involved in a car accident in Tunisia, which leads to the cancellation of some shows. It continues touring with North American acts and performs livestreams during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sabaton releases “Livgardet” in 2021 as a tribute to the Swedish Royal Guard, followed by “Defence of Moscow”. The War to End All Wars, another First World War-themed album, appears in 2022, preceded by “Christmas Truce”, “Soldier of Heaven” and “The Unkillable Soldier”.

The band also contributes songs to video games including World of Tanks and Hearts of Iron IV. It releases the EP Weapons of the Modern Age in 2022 and Heroes of the Great War in 2023, completing the Echoes of the Great War trilogy with Stories from the Western Front. It supports these releases with European tours.

Recent activity

Thobbe Englund returns to the band in 2024 following Tommy Johansson’s departure. Sabaton releases the concert film The Tour to End All Tours in 2024 and an animated film based on The War to End All Wars, which later appears on streaming platforms in 2025. In 2025, the band performs in South America and at Sweden Rock Festival and releases Legends, preceded by “Templars”, “Hordes of Khan”, “The Duelist” and “Lightning at the Gates”.

Discography and output

By 2025, Sabaton has released eleven studio albums, four live albums, five live DVDs and twenty-nine music videos. Its studio albums are Primo Victoria, Attero Dominatus, Metalizer, The Art of War, Coat of Arms, Carolus Rex, Heroes, The Last Stand, The Great War, The War to End All Wars and Legends.