Album Review: Sabaton – Legends (Better Noise)

Sabaton is ready to ignite a new era with the highly anticipated release of their 11th studio album ‘Legends’. It arrives on 17th October via Better Noise Music and marks the band’s label debut. It finds the band delving into some of history’s greatest and most loved characters such as Jeanne D’arc (also known as Joan of Arc), Napoleon Bonaparte, Julius Caesar, and the legendary swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi.

Big, bombastic, and ballsy, this new album is Sabaton doing what Sabaton do best, with very little in the way of deviation. Which, depending on your feelings towards this band will be the best or the worst thing ever. The best, because Sabaton make heart-pounding, foot-tapping, head-banging anthemic music steeped in rich history. The worst, because it lacks innovation and feels a bit too familiar in places.

I like Sabaton a lot, but even I can recognise that the formula isn’t messed with much here. Although this is the most collaborative Sabaton record to date (every member wrote here). It’s not quite stale, but there are notably one or two tracks that I find to be a bit ‘meh’.

One of which happens to be the opener, Templars.

Hold your boos! I do think it has got a lot to like. It is suitably bombastic, has driving rhythms, a catchy chorus, and a very cool guitar solo. Yet, for some reason, it really failed to register with me. I struggled to take much from it. Especially when compared to the lovable heavyweight hit that follows, Hordes of Khan, a track that features hyperactive instrumentation and massive vocals hooks. Now that’s a Sabaton banger and one you can really thump your chest too.

The tempo slows down again on A Tiger Among Dragons, but it feels natural here, especially with the hefty percussion and how Joakim Brodén’s vocals soar outside of the chorus. His vocal abilities are never in doubt, but here, he sounds better than ever. Before Crossing the Rubicon’s thumping rhythms, powerful choruses, and epic storytelling puts a smile on the face, and we get varied tempos with I, Emperor and Maid of Steel. The former, all about its chorus, the latter, a welcome burst of heavy energy.

There’s nothing surprising of course, but there’s also nothing to complain about either. Sabaton through and through, especially from a story telling aspect, one of the band’s strengths. The decision to focus on figures is an inspired one, and there’s no end to powerful, remarkable, and terrifying people for Sabaton to look at. With the likes of Vlad the Impaler (Impaler), Hannibal (Lightening at the Gates – a personal favourite track), and Miyamoto Musashi (the Duelist) being some of the focus in the latter part of the album.

Alas, there’s a bit of a ‘steam running out’ feel come the penultimate track, The Cycle of Songs. It’s a track with some old-school guitar metal flair, and has a suitably epic chorus, but that’s about it. It’s boring and overstays its welcome. Thankfully, things do end on a high with Till Seger. A potent, chest-thumping, fist-raising, soul-buoying head-banger of Sabaton track. Staying true to themselves right to the end.

It’s Sabaton… what more do you want?

Sabaton – Legends Track Listing:

1. Templars
2. Hordes Of Khan
3. A Tiger Among Dragons
4. Crossing The Rubicon
5. I, Emperor
6. Maid of Steel
7. Impaler
8. Lightning at the Gates
9. The Duelist
10. The Cycle of Songs
11. Till Seger

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