Mad About Rock

  Continuing a banner year, the Swedish masters of heavy metal SABATON re-up their 2025 hit 'Templars' with a brand-new version featuring Leigh Kakaty of Platinum-certified, chart-topping rock powerhouse Pop Evil. The song is now available on all DSPs and digital download providers via Better Noise Music. It's a collision of two different genres of hard rock that feels completely seamless. Yesterday, SABATON welcomed Pop Evil frontman Leigh Kakaty to the stage during their set at Louder Than Life in Louisville, KY. Surprising tens of thousands of fans, they debuted this version together, leading to one of the standout moments of the massive fest. Kakaty infuses the track with a rush of fresh energy and fire. Between blasts of distortion and thunderous drums, his soaring vocals take flight. All of this momentum culminates on the chantable chorus: “Templars on the march, charge from the temple.” Regarding the new version, SABATON vocalist Joakim Brodén says: “'Templars...

  Making another major move and breaking down walls once again, the Swedish masters of heavy metal SABATON have joined forces with leading historically accurate naval multiplayer game, World of Warships, and released a brand new single and music video entitled ‘Yamato’ — available in-game and on all DSPs now. It is being released by Better Noise Music on the heels of 2025's Legends, which marked SABATON's first album for the label. ‘Crossing The Rubicon’ (feat. Nothing More) from the album was also the band's first-ever Top 10 single on the Billboard Rock Chart. This song notably marks the second World of Warships collaboration between the band and developer Wargaming following the mega-popular ‘Bismarck’. For the first time, a SABATON-branded Yamato is also available in World of Warships in addition to dialogue by vocalist Joakim Brodén and bassist Pär Sundström. Along with different bespoke items in game, Brodén can take the helm of the ship while the standard battle soun...

  #1 Global Power Metal Band and one of Sweden’s most successful bands SABATON today release their latest video, 'Crossing The Rubicon'. It’s taken from their brand new studio album LEGENDS, out now via Better Noise Music, marking the band’s label debut. SABATON released a special version of 'Crossing The Rubicon' to radio in September featuring singer Jonny Hawkins and guitarist Mark Vollelunga of Nothing More. The track is currently positioned at #17 on the Billboard “Mainstream Rock Airplay” chart and #18 on the Mediabase Active Rock chart. Listen to the album version of 'Crossing The Rubicon' here and watch its corresponding truly epic video here . As bassist Pär Sundström says, it was filmed at a historic location in Italy. “This was one of the most enjoyable music videos we’ve ever made. Everything flowed smoothly thanks to the amazing energy of the actors and the unique charm of the location. We spent two days filming in Sabbioneta, Italy, at the Tea...

  As the summer festival season winds down after a string of unforgettable performances, THE HALO EFFECT surprise fans with a brand-new release — a cover of the beloved 1997 hit 'If You Were Here' by Swedish alternative pop-rock icons Kent (originally released in Swedish as “Om du var här”). Handpicked by bassist Peter Iwers, the track is a heartfelt tribute to a band that helped shape Sweden’s musical landscape. The Halo Effect’s rendition blends Mikael Stanne’s rich, emotive clean vocals with a hypnotic, pounding bass line and soaring melodic guitars, honoring the song’s essence while infusing it with the band’s signature sound. Listen to 'If You Were Here' on all platforms: https://thehaloeffect.bfan.link/iywhsg Watch the visualizer for 'If You Were Here': https://youtu.be/Gz3Q94CXG4c Peter Iwers reflects: “Kent was a band that left a mark on many, weaving together pop rock and synth in a way that deeply moved me. This song remains one of my personal favori...

  Better Noise Music is proud and excited to announce the signing of the mighty SABATON. On the 25th April, the #1 Global Power Metal Band and one of Sweden’s most successful bands unveiled the single and video ‘Templars’ as the first release from their forthcoming 11th studio album. Along with the digital release of ‘Templars’, SABATON is offering their fans a special one-sided 12" vinyl single which is limited to 1000 copies worldwide and set to be released on 27th June. Watch the strikingly cinematic video, filmed at two massive historical fortresses in Serbia, here and pre-order the vinyl/stream/download the track here . SABATON—Joakim Brodén (vocals), Pär Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Thobbe Englund (guitar), Hannes Van Dahl (drums)—have always had a signature focus on writing songs about historical battles, wars, and acts of heroism that have solidified their impact with their loyal and longtime fans. SABATON have accumulated more than three billion streams ac...

  Due to overwhelming demand, SABATON´s animated film, 'The War To End All Wars - The Movie', will hit video streaming services starting 11th March in a wide range of territories. The movie will be available on Apple TV, YouTube Movies, Google Play, and Amazon Prime Video. You can already pre-order it on Apple TV today! This exciting development means you can enjoy SABATON´s film from the comfort of your home on your favourite platform. Relive the epic battles and untold stories of World War 1 like never before. About 'THE WAR TO END ALL WARS - THE MOVIE': 'The War To End All Wars - The Movie' is the result of years of dedication, research, and collaboration with Yarnhub, a renowned animation studio specialising in historical storytelling. This 67-minute-long animated musical motion picture takes viewers on a captivating journey through the harrowing and heroic stories of World War 1. It brings to life the remarkable and often untold experiences of those who li...

  THE HALO EFFECT have unveiled the stunning video for the third single from the highly anticipated album March Of The Unheard, set for release on January 10, 2025, via Nuclear Blast. The new single is an anthemic masterpiece, driven by soaring melodic guitars and THE HALO EFFECT’s unmistakable signature sound. Capturing the very essence of Gothenburg’s melodic death metal legacy, the track delivers a powerful blend of haunting melodies and crushing intensity, cementing the band’s place as modern torchbearers of the genre. The accompanying video takes fans on an immersive journey through the streets of their hometown, Gothenburg. With sweeping visuals and a raw, heartfelt connection to their roots, the video is both a tribute to the city that shaped them and a striking visual complement to the single’s energy and emotion. Guitar wizard and main songwriter Niclas Engelin comments: "'Cruel Perception' is packed with guitar harmonies and melodies that sprung from my noodling...

  Heavy metallers SABATON are set to conquer 20 European cities in 2025 with a groundbreaking tour that promises to be bigger and better than anything they've ever done before. Get ready for The Legendary Tour 2025! Known for their spectacular live shows, SABATON are famous for their huge production — think tanks on stage, walls of fire, and all manner of impressive props that make their performances truly unforgettable. With this tour, the band has put together a show unlike anything you’ve seen previously, as they proclaim: “Throw traditional thinking out the window and prepare yourself for more SABATON than ever before.” What does that mean? Only time will tell, but you can expect an experience like no other, packed with jaw-dropping surprises. This isn’t just another tour — it’s a massive celebration of SABATON’s music, their epic storytelling, and the powerful bond they share with their fans. They are also planning something they’ve never done before, stating: “Without revea...

  Swedish metal band Sabaton's "The Tour To End All Tours" concert film aired in theatres in Europe, the UK and Australia on October 11, 2024. As a huge Sabaton fan, I visited my local UK cinema to check out this heavy metal concert experience. I was fortunate enough to attend the London date of "The Tour To End All Tours" last year on April 15, 2023. It was a spectacle, especially since it was my first time seeing Sabaton. It was a memorable and fantastic show with fire, guns and dramatic theatrics. It is one of my favourite shows so far, so I was excited to relive that experience in this cinematic experience. The concert aired was filmed during their European part of the tour at Amsterdam's iconic Ziggo Dome Venue in 2023 on May 3. If, like me, you attended the tour, this was essentially the same show, but I can see why they picked the Amsterdam crowd for the unique recording, as they were a particularly impressive and lively crowd that exceeded expectatio...

  Internationally acclaimed heavy metallers, SABATON, are gearing up for an epic celebration as they approach their 25-year milestone in the music industry. Founded in Falun, Sweden, in 1999, SABATON's journey has been nothing short of legendary. Their music industry adventures have been fuelled by powerful anthems, 10 studio albums, passionate historical storytelling and explosive international shows and tours, not to mention out-of-the-box initiatives and projects, all of which wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of their dedicated fan base across the globe. To mark this momentous milestone, SABATON will embark on a year-long celebration. Fans around the world can look forward to a series of celebratory events and an abundance of surprises. Each month of 2024 will be dedicated to an album from SABATON’s discography, beginning with Primo Victoria and ending with The War To End All Wars. Special activities and insights will be provided to grant fans a better ...

  THE HALO EFFECT’s debut album Days Of The Lost hit the charts all over Europe - #1 in Sweden, #3 in UK, #6 in Germany, Austria and Finland, and #8 in Switzerland. An extensive European tour with MACHINE HEAD and AMON AMARTH followed, as well as numerous festivals and headline shows. While fans are eagerly waiting for the follow up to their mind blowing debut album Days Of The Lost, the band offer up a video for a track that has already become a staple in their live setlist for quite some time, ´The Defiant One´. Mikael Stanne comments: "´The Defiant One´ was recorded during the Days of the Lost sessions and has been one of the songs we have played live last year. So in order to hold you over before we present you with what we have written and recorded for the next album here is ´The Defiant One´. The video was shot at Pustervik, Gothenburg during our sold out tour of Sweden and it captures us in our hometown among some of our closest friends. Enjoy!" Watch the video here: h...

  The band that started the Swedish wave of heavy metal is back: HEAVY LOAD! Four decades have passed since HEAVY LOAD released their latest album: Stronger than Evil (1983). Years before the rest of the northern world, their songs ventured into Viking themes and existential lyrics, spearheading a movement way ahead of its time. The compositions are dramatic and render a great variety of moods, while passionate innovation and creative fervor are always shining bright in every song on the album – pioneering 101! HEAVY LOAD’s comeback album Riders of the Ancient Storm rings of their well-known sound and songwriting. Thanks to an epic pact between the band and No Remorse Records, the band’s whole back catalog is brought back as high quality re-releases. After releases in 2018 and 2019, more will follow. The records come with bonus tracks and old recordings never before heard by the public, and extensive booklets. It’s a release long awaited by people all over the globe – and it will ...

  Swedish Grammis Award-winners TRIBULATION have announced their upcoming EP Hamartia, due for release 17th April via Century Media Records. In celebration, they've also shared the new single and video for 'Axis Mundi'. The track is the second recording to feature new guitarist Joseph Tholl, after their last stand-alone single ' Hamartia '. Watch the music video, (directed by Johan Bååth in collaboration with Astrid Bergdahl) 'Axis Mundi' HERE . Stream 'Axis Mundi' HERE . Purchase and stream 'Axis Mundi' HERE. TRIBULATION guitarist Adam Zaars comments on the new single: "'Axis Mundi' sees TRIBULATION entering The Machine Age through the lens of dystopian fiction in a journey to the centre of the world, and beyond. Being the first composition by Joseph Tholl (guitars), it offers the listener and the viewer a new set of flavours and hues to the palate, and from the palette that constitutes the egregore that is TRIBULATION. A new ye...

  In the spirit of Christmas, Swedish metallers SABATON are unveiling their brand new 'Christmas Truce' pop-up vinyl to bring in the festive season. Now available for preorder, this collectible pop-up vinyl pays tribute to the band’s popular track 'Christmas Truce' from the album The War To End All Wars. The vinyl features three variations of the song, including the symphonic version, which is featured on SABATON’s The Symphony To End All Wars. It will be officially released on 23rd December 2022. Pre-order HERE . SIDE A: Christmas Truce Christmas Truce (Radio Edit) SIDE B: Christmas Truce (Symphonic Version) Collectors are going to want to get their hands on this special release as the record itself features a camo pattern on Side A and a festive design with the SABATON logo on Side B. But the real magic lies in the gatefold packaging. A unique display of a vibrant Christmas Tree surrounded by soldiers of opposing sides standing united pops up when opening the vinyl. S...

  Today, the engaging, enchanting, cutting, yet beautiful Swedish metal supergroup Soen release the enchanting video for the single “Fortune”. The track is taken from the forthcoming release ATLANTIS, out via Silver Lining Music this week on November 18th, 2022. Musically, “Fortune” is epically heavy with its crushing riffs and percussion, yet delicate with haunting vocal phases and an outstanding guitar solo, all whilst carrying a poignant story and message. Founding members Martin Lopez and Joel Ekelöf comment "Fortune is a song about getting beaten up by life, falling down again and again, but getting back up regardless. In this specific case, it is about seeing a loved one face the obstacles that you have faced, letting them know that things will eventually get better and that you have got their back no matter what.” ATLANTIS is a special concert film featuring thirteen of the group’s most popular compositions reinterpreted with live orchestral accompaniment. ATLANTIS was...