The Great War
Sabaton
The great modern purveyors of Power Metal return this year with an exemplary release. Sabaton sing songs about war and in their latest opus they turn their eyes upon World War I, also known as the Great War and the War to End All Wars. We all know how true that turned out to be. WWI was a brutal, brutal conflict, leaving thousands dead and thousands more crippled and disfigured for life. It was the first time modern machinery was turned to war and turned towards it in such a massive fashion. This was definite erection material for the generals and the nations involved, but it was utter destruction and damnation for the men who fought in these battles. Sabaton here examines the war through many lenses and does so in a concise and focused way.
Clocking in at less than forty minutes, it’s hard to believe that such a record could be considered an opus, given that epic albums are usually regarded thusly because of their length. Let the Wizard tell you, Sabaton pack a lot of meat on these bones but it’s not bloated in the least. Instead of a barbaric, Conan-style metal assault, this is more precise, more like a series of surgical strikes. Lean, mean, melodic, glorious and yes, epic, are the best words to describe it. Sabaton have refined a lot of what works for them and made it better, while at the same time jettisoning many of the traits that tended to drag them down a bit on past releases.
So yes, you get ten songs that fire on all cylinders (the final track is more of an atmospheric fade out). They roll with ease and power, the tales the band spin echoing in your brain while your head bangs in unison to the awesome riffs and rips and melodic runs. This is Power Metal and you know if you’re into this before it even starts. And if you’re into Power Metal, you will love this. Again, the focus is like a laser here, making every single note feel vital and important, a matter of life and death. You will find yourself pumping your fists and singing along on very first listen; it’s just that infectious.
The only drawback the Wizard feels towards this record is one that probably won’t bother most listeners. The glorification of war is something the Wizard does not really condone and while Sabaton have always kept it real with their music, never lying about the battles and the consequences, there is again that infectious quality that makes the Wizard a bit uneasy. No, they’re not doing anything wrong here or committing any sort of sin, but still…Iron Maiden is a good guide when it comes to this sort of thing. Sabaton tends to lean a little too much in the direction of chest-thumping-warrior for the tastes of the Wizard.
All that said, this is an amazing record. Clean, fast, furious, focused, ready for battle. So far, it’s one of the best releases of 2019 and will surely be on many end of the year lists. Come for the Power Metal, stick around for the history lesson, and ice your neck after you’re done. This is a headbanging delight.
Four Wands out of Five
The Wizard Has Spoken!