It took 3 ½ years to complete a roughly half-year cycle in which the Swedes embarked on the study and highlighting of some of the most important events of the First World War. This study, which touched the limits of scholarship, brought back to the surface almost forgotten stories, some of the worst that humanity has ever seen, but always with their own special filter, which is based on the accurate recording and narration of the events (as much as is possible when you choose to convey it with lyrics) and not on some inflated version of history, with the aim of further elevating and identifying the listener with each song.
Sabaton themselves leave behind the war stories of the last century for a while and dive into the wider history, releasing Legends, an album that deals with several important figures in world history, who in one way or another were involved in military conflicts, raids or campaigns, gaining immortality. Rulers or kings, folk heroes or local legends, become the vehicle (or chariot if you prefer), which continues their story within the discography, in a rather clichéd theme for metal data, since we have always heard songs about one of the legends of world history that are here.
Musically, productively and in terms of cover art, few things have changed. They are no longer the new big hit that Europe is discovering, but a global musical force, with 26 years of experience, over 1000 concerts in over 50 countries and billions of streams, with a frequent and dense discography and an even more recognizable image.
However, due to the specific theme of the album, Sabaton appear clearly more liberated compared to their past and seem to be moving in even more classic forms. Let’s not forget that as middle-aged people, they have also lived the golden pages of the greats of our music and enjoy it just as much as we do. That is why, from the very first listen to Legends, an aura of traditional metal is felt, which reminds us of something, without necessarily needing decoding. For the most observant, the return of Thobbe Englund brings back to the band the slightly slower, classic metal solos that we were accustomed to in the middle of the previous decade.
The most important move of the band is the change of label. From the perhaps largest and most recognized European Nuclear Blast, Sabaton moved to the American Better Noise Music, a company that is active in the majority of current art forms. Perhaps this move is an attempt to re-enter the classic metal sound with claims on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Whether the Swedes will succeed on their own or will be the first move in this direction, remains to be seen.
Those of you who have chosen to listen to the album only in digital format, all you have to wait for is the release of the version with the recitation that accompanies each song, a trademark of Sabaton. And because we talked above about a band consisting of middle-aged people, they know exemplary how to make satisfying versions for their physical products. So, in addition to the quite rich Box Set (limited 2000 pieces which has 4 different random cassette colors, earbook with the 2 CD versions, exclusive vinyl color), over 10 special vinyl editions are already released, each one in a different color and dedicated to each song separately, with a special poster depicting the hero (all work by Peter Sallai, their illustrator from the Carolus Rex era), which are sold exclusively in another country (that matches each hero) and of course, in a limited edition. Happy hunting!
Legends, as we said, is not here to establish Sabaton on the world stage. This has been happening for a decade. It is a job that gives them the impetus to travel the world again and lead an army of young fans to our favorite music. If you think about how many and who had the opportunity to do this last, then you automatically know the place of Sabaton in our music.
