Swedish Metallers Sabaton has once again returned to the trenches to bring another piece of war history with their new album ‘Heroes‘. In case you have been living under a rock, Sabaton writes and plays about wars of history which helps their passion and intensity in their music.
Sabaton’s new album ‘Heroes’ shows their continuation of war anthems but this time this concept is not just about battles, it’s about war heroes and the journey that these people take. This album also marks the first album with Sabaton’s new lineup with drummer Hannes Van Dahl, and guitarists Chris Rorland, and Thobbe Englund. The music still is the old Sabaton trademark with some changes with some ballad tunes and some old-school riffs. Vocalist Joakim Broden continues his unique vocals with power and passion.
As mentioned before, this is a concept album of different war heroes and their stories of valor and bravery.
Some of these include the Night Witches who were a Soviet night bomber regiment, one of the most decorated American veterans Audie Murphy, Witold Pilecki who was the leader of the resistance movement in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, and Australians do not despair, we also have a hero in this album: Ballarat born Leslie ‘Bull’ Allen who saved 12 American soldiers in the battle of Tampu in a hail of bullets and fire.
Stand-out tracks on this album include, ‘No Bullets Fly’ which is about German pilot Franz Stigler who helped a disabled American soldier back to his base this track was a stand-out when I first heard it. ‘Night Witches’, ‘Inmate 4859,’ and of course ‘The Ballad of the Bull’ which is the track about the Australian soldier Leslie ‘Bull’ Allen, personally this song was the best not just because of what it’s about but it’s a well-crafted ballad with a lot of emotion.
The subject of the song makes it even more passionate; it also opened my eyes to an Australian soldier who is not recognized as much as he should, so I have to thank Sabaton for that.
Another great release from the war-obsessed Sabaton. Hopefully, they will be on Australian shores soon to support this album as it is recommended and Sabaton is not slowing down.
Sabaton: Facebook
Release Year: 2014
Label: Nuclear Blast
Category: Album
Country: Sweden
Reviewed by Brent Logan
