sabaton

(5/10) Even though Raubtier makes you think about being a band from Germany the trio is based in Sweden.

The three-piece have released four records that have been quite successful in their home country. Top 10 positions and gold records have been the achievements so far and I could imagine that the new album will not change this appreciation.

Outside Sweden Raubtier is far less well known and also here I think that the album will not change a lot. The main reason for not being more successful abroad are the Swedish vocals. As a metal fan, not having sufficient command of the Swedish kanguage, the lyrics feel strange and you have to get used to it. But also the songs miss the thrilling factor.

Raubtier combines, as on the predecessors, industrial sounds with thrash elements by adding a lot of pathos as we know it from Sabaton. Such a mixture could be really interesting and when I heard the album I had to think more than once about Raubtier being the mean little brother of Rammstein.

However, in the end I think that the songs on "Bärsärkargång" are a bit over the edge. It's too much of everything and I got the feeling that things are rather artificially build-up that organically grown. You could get the impression that a lot of things have been done by purpose more than by passion. It's all surface with too little meat.

Some 'less is more' would have been benefitial. 

(5/10)

Tracklist:

1. Bärsärkargång
2. Bothniablod
3. Den Sista Kulan
4. Levande Död
5. Tropaion
6. Brännmärkt
7. Hymn
8. Förvildad
9. Prätorian
10. Genom Allt
11. Röd Snö
12. Lejonhjärta

Label: Despotz

Genre: Industrial/Thrash Metal

Release Date EU: January 19th, 2016

This breathtaking six-piece features former members of Sabaton and Astral Doors and stands for galloping heavy metal riffs that melt into epically sweeping melody lines!

Just in time for their upcoming shows with their label mates in POWERWOLF starting today, CIVIL WAR has released a brand new music video for the track "Braveheart"!

Get your daily dose of pure Swedish Heavy Metal here:

22.10.15 DE – Berlin / C-Club
23.10.15 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser
24.10.15 DE – Munich / Backstage
26.10.15 AT – Wien / Arena
29.10.15 DE – Ravensburg / Oberschwabenhalle
30.10.15 DE – Geiselwind / Music Hall
31.10.15 DE – Stuttgart / LKA Longhorn
01.11.15 BE – Antwerpen / Trix

(8/10) It doubtless creates quite some attention when Mercyful Fate guitar legends Michael Denner and Hank Shermann team-up again to work on new songs. If than also Snowy Shaw (King Diamond/Therion/Sabaton) joins, things get even more interesting. Those guys came together under the banner of Denner/Shermann, which is completed by bass player Marc Grabowski and Sean Peck (Cage) on vocals. Just checking the names feels already like a metal firework.

The first output of this five-piece is an EP called "Satan's Tomb". Of course it's a given that you will find some Mercyful Fate crosslinks on this new record. Already the cover brought back the old "Melissa" and "Don't Break the Oath" days and since Thomas Holm signed responsible for the artwork the parallels aren't a big surprise.

But also the songs show some links to the early days of Mercyful Fate. Of course, the six-stringers have been a crucial part of this band. However, Denner/Shermann is different too. This has also to do with Sean Peck's vocals. Even though his vocal range also covers high pitches he has a more balanced approach in his way of singing. He combines the high screams with mostly rough and raw vocals that fits perfect to the four songs on the EP.

The tracks are all around 5-6 minutes and are a mixture of the mentioned Mercyful Fate (guitars) and pure US Metal (vocals); all build on the heavy punch of the rhythm powerhouse Shaw/Grabowski.

The title track is a tradition metal track that takes up power by Peck's scream after a few seconds. For the rest it's a more complex number which is an excellent start into the album.

"War Witch" instead comes with furious guitar leads before the vocals add the melody to this fast power metal track.

Those two songs are equally good, but the second half is even better. "New Gods" is a six minutes long piece of music that shows the full range of the two iconic guitarists as well as the entire vocal capabilities of Peck. Mighty riffs are a pleasure for each headbanger and the raw vocals in the chorus are the peperoni on the pizza. Power metal can't be done much better.

We're coming already step by step towards the end. "Seven Skulls" is the closer on this EP and when it comes to me, it's the best track on "Satan's Tomb". It starts slow and heavy; something that brings back Black Sabbath memories. This doesn't last for too long, since the speed increases dramatically and the good old Liege Lord came to my mind when Denner/Shermann gear up.

Denner/Shermann isn't Mercyful Fate - and that's good. This band is a bunch of passionate musicians that wrote and recorded metal songs that will lead to a 'wow-effect' by a broad variety of metal fans - new and old. Hopefully this EP isn't more than just a beginning. A lonplayer would be highly appreciated and to my understanding the plans for a full-length album are already pretty concrete. I'll keep you posted.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Satan's Tomb
2. War Witch
3. New God
4. Seven Skulls

Label: Metal Balde

Genre: Heavy Metal

Release Date EU: October 2nd, 2015

(7/10) When four musicians leave a band it's often the end of the same. Not in the case of Sabaton. Four band members left in 2012 and started a new group called Civil War, while Sabaton was continuing the success-story. In the meantime Oskar Montelius left the band and was replaced by guitarist Petrus Granar.

The expectation in 2012 was from a lot of fans that Civil War will be a kind of Sabaton 2.0.. But the debut of the band has shown something else. "The killer angels" was a rather big surprise in the meaning of being different. The album was less bombastic, had more edges and sounded more down-to-earth. The icing on the cake is and was the voice of Nils Patrik Johansson, also known from Astral Doors. The guy has an excellent metal voice and the comparisons with the legendary Ronnie James Dio aren't taken out of nowhere.

OK, why do I mention all this. It's because I think that the new release of Civial War is a step back. The new album only in parts contain the mentioned trademarks. Instead Civil War goes back to their past - actually not Civil War but more the band members. "Gods and generals" comes with those cross-references to Sabaton that was expected from the debut. Also the 'war theme' comes back more often and like with Sabaton I don't like the theme of war being combined with almost 'happy metal sing-a-long chorusses.

Songs like "Bay of pigs" and the fast "USS Monitor" could have been also on one of the Sabaton records. Considering the background of the band members this might be something that is very explainable - if they would not have shown on the debut that they can do better. Don't get me wrong, the new longplayer isn't a bad one. It is just that it could be a bit more Civil War and a bit less Sabaton.

And there are tunes on "Gods and generals" that show this. "Admirals over the oceans" is one of them and the pounding "Back to Iwo Jima" is another one. Actually the more you get towards the end the more the old Civil War are returning. The slow "Schindler's ark" is one of the best tracks on the album and also the title track belongs to the credit side of the album.

"Gods and generals" has its moments. Towards the end the tunes get more authentic and less Sabaton. What is a big joy throughout the entire album is singer Nils Patrik Johansson. For me he does a great job on the album. I think that "Gods and generals" is one of the best records he was singing on.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. War of the world
2. Bay of pigs
3. Braveheart
4. The mad piper
5. USS Monitor
6. Tears from the North
7. Admiral over the oceans
8. Back to Iwo Jima
9. Schindler's ark
10. Gods and generals

Label: Naplam Records

Genre: Heavy Metal

Dutsch female fronted Delain are again on tour. After having had the support slot for the mighty Sabaton the band will play a few shows in Europe with The Gentle Storm as special guest. Here are the dates:

And here are even more Delain and Sabaton tour dates. Both bands are also touring through North Amercia in 2015 together with Nightwish as being the headliner. The dates are:

Swedish melodic power metal band Sabaton is on tour next year. The package includes Dutch symphonic metal band Delain and also Battle Beast.

Here are the dates:

09.01.2015 DE - Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle
10.01.2015 DE - Geiselwind, Event Hall
11.01.2015 NL - Tilburg, O13
12.01.2015 UK - London, HMV Forum
14.01.2015 FR - Paris, Bataclan
15.01.2015 CH - Pratteln, Z7
16.01.2015 DE - Ludwigsburg, MHP Arena
17.01.2015 DE - Langen, Stadthalle
19.01.2015 DE - Berlin, Huxley's
25.01.2015 HU - Budapest, Petofi Hall
27.01.2015 RO - Bucharest, Turbohalle
28.01.2015 BG - Sofia, Hall Universiada
30.01.2015 GR - Athens, Fuzz Live Club
31.01.2015 GR - Thessaloniki, Principal Club Theater
03.02.2015 IT - Milano, Alcatraz
04.02.2015 DE - Munich, Tonhalle
06.02.2015 AT - Vienna, Gasometer
07.02.2015 CZ - Prague, Forum Karlin
08.02.2015 CZ - Zlin, Hala Euronics Novesta
09.02.2015 SK - Bratislava, Refinery Gallery
11.02.2015 DE - Saarbrücken, Garage
13.02.2015 BE - Antwerpen, Lotto Arena
14.02.2015 DE - Hamburg, Alsterdorfer Sporthalle
15.02.2015 NL - Amsterdam, Melkweg

(4/10) Raubtier is not from Germany. Eventhough the name might give you this impression we are talking about a band from Sweden. They started in 2007 and scored some success in their home country.

Now the band want to conquer also Europe with their sound. The first step in this journey is the release of "Bestia borealis". The album can be seen as a 'Best of...' and contains songs from the band, covering all phases.

If they will have the same success as they did have in Sweden is something that time will tell. Their music is a mix of power metal combined with some industrial samples and a lot of pathos. The song reflect a certain mix of Sabaton, where the band has a very good relation with, and German Rammstein. "Dobermann" is one song that shows those parallels with the famous German band - like e.g. the whistling part. But also the verse from "Kampfhund" reflects where the inspiration partly comes from.

This brings me to another point. Raubtier has quite some songs with German titles. The question is 'why'. Furthermore they are singing in Swedish what is basically nothing wrong. But since their songs are catchy and have an enormous sing-a-long potential it is a pity that not many fans can join the choir due to language reasons.

I have to say that I don't like the military context of the songs combined with those catchy melodies. This just doesn't go together.

And another downer for me was that the album started to get a bit annoying over time. The songs have a certain diversity like "Polarvagen" that has a bigger part with only rough vocals and keyboard samples, but it is the general pathetic interpretation of the tunes that doesn't really work for me.

And the cover is for sure a mtter of taste. It fits to the music and the image of the band  - no doubt.

Due to the catchiness of their sound Raubtier might manage to build a bigger fan base also outside of Sweden. I personally still prefer Sabaton and Rammstein if I want to listen to this kind of music.

(4/10)

Tracklist:

1. Det finns bara krig
2. Dobermann
3. Kampfhund
4. Verldherravelde
5. Polarvargen
6. Lebensgefahr
7. Sveriges eilt
8. Vittring
9. Lat naplamen regna
10. Skjut, grev, tig
11. Quaqortoq
12. Panzarmarsch

Label: Despotz Records

Genre: Power Metal

(7/10) What happens if you merge Santiano with Sabaton and spice it up with a bit of the Dropkick Murphies and Running Wild? Exactly. You get Alestorm.

The band, that started as Battleheart, re-named in 2007, which means that they reflaged and continued the journey as Alestorm. "Sunset of the golden age" is album number four from the 4 sailor under the Jolly Roger.

In total the album comes with 10 new tracks. One of those is a cover version. It's not another metal track they make their own. No it's a pop mega seller - "Hangover" from Taio Cruz. For all of you who liked the song so far but never dared to admit this - now you have your version. All of a sudden the song rocks and sounds like being live from the quaiside-bar. Well done and more authentic than the original. Who dares wins.

But this is of course just one out of ten tracks. The own compositions are quite cool too. The opener "Welcome to the plank" sounds like the pirate version of Kreator - mainly due to the vocals of Christopher Bowes in the verse parts. A powerful riff introduces "Drink". If Swedish Sabaton would be pirates they would sound like this catchy tune. But there is also the folk compontent in Alestorm's songs. "Magnetic North" is one example as well as "Quest for ships" which sounds like a metal version of a Dropkick Murphys song. "Wooden leg!" is very fast and straight forward, while the longest track is reserved for the end. The bouncer "Sunset of the golden age", also the title track, is an eleven minutes long epos which shows quite some variations. The track is kept mid-speed, has an irresistable hookline and a great melody. It's a good song, eventhough Alestorm has their strength more in the 3-4 minutes tracks. But anyhow, a nice try with an entertaining result.

Funny side note when it comes to the cover of the album. I don't know if it is purely coinsident, but the cover looks very similar to the one of the latest Axel Rudi Pell release. A prove that the metal armada is still sailing on and on and on.

Pirates and metal belong together. That's what we know since Running Wild. Alestorm picked up the topic and  made their version out of it. Pirate metal 2.0.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Walk the plank
2. Drink
3. Magnetic North
4. 1741 (The battle of Cartago)
5. Mead from hell
6. Surf squid warfare
7. Quest for ships
8. Wooden leg!
9. Hangover
10. Sunset of the golden age

Label: Napalm Records

Genre: Heavy Metal / Pirate Metal

After their successful tour with Within Tempatation and few headliner shows Delain from The Netherlands is supporting Sabaton on their tour beginning of 2015. The package will be completetd by Battle Beast from Finland. Here are the dates:

SABATON with Delain & Battle Beast EU TOUR 2015

09.01.2015 DE - Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle
10.01.2015 DE - Geiselwind, Event Hall
11.01.2015 NL - Tilburg, O13
12.01.2015 UK - London, HMV Forum
14.01.2015 FR - Paris, Bataclan
15.01.2015 CH - Pratteln, Z7
16.01.2015 DE - Ludwigsburg, MHP Arena
17.01.2015 DE - Langen, Stadthalle
19.01.2015 DE - Berlin, Huxley's
25.01.2015 HU - Budapest, Petofi Hall
27.01.2015 RO - Bucharest, Turbohalle
28.01.2015 BG - Sofia, Hall Universiada
30.01.2015 GR - Athens, Fuzz Live Club
31.01.2015 GR - Thessaloniki, Principal Club Theater
03.02.2015 IT - Milano, Alcatraz
04.02.2015 DE - Munich, Tonhalle
06.02.2015 AT - Vienna, Gasometer
07.02.2015 CZ - Prague, Forum Karlin
08.02.2015 CZ - Zlin, Hala Euronics Novesta
09.02.2015 SK - Bratislava, Refinery Gallery
11.02.2015 DE - Saarbrücken, Garage
13.02.2015 BE - Antwerpen, Lotto Arena
14.02.2015 DE - Hamburg, Alsterdorfer Sporthalle
15.02.2015 NL - Amsterdam, Melkweg

(7/10) Next round for the power metal band from Falun, Sweden. Or should I say: the next battle to fight for the guys in the camouflage pants?

Sabaton had an enormous increase in popularity over the last years. In my point of view this has mainly to do with the fact, that their power metal has a highly melodically component, which makes the music and the songs easy accessible for a broader fan base.

Beside the fact that Sabaton doesn't have a fixed keyboarder at the moment, not a lot of things changed. They reached a level of stagnation and repetition, eventhough on a high level. The missing keyboarder led to the fact that guitars are more in focus compared to the latest release, which makes "Heroes" a bit more heavy and basic. Something which fits the band very well.

The sound of the album is excellent too. Peter Tagtgren did an excellent job and gave "Heroes" the volume, power and heaviness which a band like Sabaton needs.

The songs on the album follow the same pattern as we know it from the band from the last years. Very melodic power metal anthems with hooks that definitely do their job. The melodies stick to your mind from the very first moment and I can imagine, that the tunes work out live pretty well.

Already the opener contains all Sabaton trademarks. "Night witches", which is about a Soviet bomber regiment with the same name, comes with the bombastic sound and the arching harmonies which are so typical for the guys from Sweden. "No bullets fly" keeps the melodic approach but reduces the speed a bit. The keys are more dominant than with the opener, but the song still rocks. Having a ballad is something which isn't so usual for Sabaton. This time they have one of them on the album. "The ballad of bull" is the name of the tune and it's full of cliche and pathos. For me a bit too much and overdone. It reminds to the newer Manowar - if you understand what I mean. But again, the music is pretty cool and catchy.

Next to the powerful songs there are still things which I don't like with Sabaton. When it comes to the new album I must say that the cover choice for the earbook isn't really clever. The martial expression combined with the 'S' in the middle feels strange. I don't like that. But that's peanuts. Where I even have a bigger problems with is the fact that Sabaton combined 'happy' sing-along music with lyrics about war and historical abominations. This just doesn't go together, eventhough the lyrics mostly focus on resistance and 'heroes'. To swing and sway to these lyrics stays weird. The whole things reached its peak in "Inmate 4859".

To conclude: "Heroes" became from a musical standpoint a good power metal album; maybe a bit weaker than the predecessor but far better than a lot of other releases in this genre. The lyrics and the image of the band are for me still conflicting with the music.

Generally spoken it seems to me that the band is a bit on the same trip as Manowar - image, lyrics, stagnation, own festival,... I hope that they don't end up like the band from New York (by the way. I still love the early Manowar releases).

The ones who likes the former releases of Sabaton will also enjoy "Heroes" and all the other ones will still go for other bands. That's life. Stagnancy - for the good ot the bad.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Night witches
2. No bullets fly
3. Smoking snakes
4. Inmate 4859
5. To hell and back
6. The ballad of bull
7. Resist and bite
8. Soldier of 3 armies
9. Far from the fame
10. Hearts of iron
11. 7734
12. Man of war

Label: Nuclear Blast

Genre: Power Metal

Here comes the cover of the new Sabaton album "Heroes" which will be released on May 16 via Nuclear Blast Records.

In addition the band will be on tour in North America an Europe during spring and summer. Here are the dates:

04.04. USA Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection 
05.04. USA Milwaukee, WI - The Rave 
06.04. USA Chicago, IL - House Of Blues 
07.04. USA Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 
09.04. USA Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE 
10.04. USA Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall 
11.04. USA Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre 
12.04. USA Detroit, MI - St. Andrew’s Hall 
14.04. CND Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre 
15.04. CND Quebec City, QC - Imperial Theater 
16.04. CND Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre 
17.04. USA Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero –
18.04. USA New York, NY - Best Buy Theater 
19.04. USA Worcester, MA - The Palladium 
21.04. USA West Springfield, VA - Empire 
23.04. USA Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade 
24.04. USA Orlando, FL - House Of Blues 
25.04. USA Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution 
26.04. USA St. Petersburg, FL - State Theatre 
28.04. USA Houston, TX - Scout Bar 
29.04. USA Dallas, TX - Trees 
01.05. USA Tempe, AZ - Club Red 
02.05. USA West Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues 
03.05. USA San Francisco, CA - Slim’s 
05.05. USA Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory 
06.05. USA Seattle, WA - El Corazon 
07.05. CND Vancouver, B.C. - The Venue 
09.05. CND Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room
10.05. CND Calgary, AB - Republik 
11.0.5 CND Regina, SK - Riddell Centre 
12.05. CND Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre 
14.05. USA Denver, CO - The Summit Music Hall 
15.05. USA Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater 
16.05. USA Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom 

31.05. NL Nijmegen - Fortarock 
13.06. CH Interlaken - Greenfield Festival 
19.06. D Loreley - Metalfest 
21.06. NO Halden - Fredrikstens Fästning 
26.06. SK Piestany - Topfest 
27.06. BE Dessel - Graspop Metal Meeting 
10.07. D Ballenstedt - Rock Harz 
11.07. CZ Vizovice - Masters Of Rock Tickets 
12.07. HU Pecs - Rockmaraton 
25.07. SLO Tolmin - Metaldays 

31.07. SE Stenungsund - Nösnäsvallen
01.08. AT Graz - Seerock 
02.08. SE Varberg - Fästningshörnan
07.08. SE Borgholm - Borgholms Slottsruin
08.08. SE Ronneby - Brunnsparken
09.08. SE Trelleborg - Östervång
16.08. SE Falun - Sabaton Open Air
21.08. SE Uppsala - Vaksala Torg
22.08. SE Norrköping - Folkets Park / Borgen
23.08. SE Karlstad - Mariebergsparken