In the last two years, Sabaton has gone from a great band that didn’t get the recognition to a great band that is now in the spotlight. From ‘10’s Coat of Arms (their first album to be released by Nuclear Blast Records), it was clear that Sabaton was going to get thrust into the spotlight, beginning with the re-release of their previous albums to a double CD live album. 

This year, Sabaton has experienced an overhaul when it comes to its lineup, and with a headlining United States tour under its belt all of the pressure is on them to produce on their next studio album. That album is called Carolus Rex and, like their previous albums, Sabaton delivers.

The concept behind Carolus Rex centers on King Charles XII and the Great Northern War that happened between 1700 and 1721 AD. This particular war pitted the Swedish camp against the Allied camp, with Sweden and the Tsardom of Russia as the principal participants for the duration of the war. The Swedish Empire that was under the rule of King Charles XII (Carolus Rex in Latin, hence the album title) would be the last great empire in Sweden, though the country is still ruled by a monarchy, albeit in a lesser capacity.

Sabaton does a great job of researching its subjects, and Carolus Rex is no exception.  For this album they enlisted the services of Swedish historian Bengt Liljegren to ensure the accuracy of the subjects they sing about on the album. Musically, Sabaton injects its unique brand of energy into the subject, which is nothing new if you’re at all familiar with Sabaton. Where Carolus Rex differs depends on where in the world you reside; if you’re in Sweden, you will get the entire album sung in Swedish, and everywhere else they will sing in English. For the purposes of this review, the focus will be on the English version, since most will be hearing this version. That out of the way, it doesn’t take too long for Sabaton to firmly establish itself on “The Lion from the North.” Unlike Coat of Arms, which focused on specific parts of World War II, yet did not really put it in a specific order, Carolus Rex seems to have things in order for its subject, that being the Great Northern War of 1700-1721 A.D. On “A Lifetime of War,” Sabaton creates what could possibly be their next classic track along with the likes of “Primo Victoria,” creating a sound that seems bigger than the sum of its parts. The title track, which is also the first single from the album, displays the band’s ability to make a subject sound bigger than he or she is, with King Charles XII being the example on the song. Where Sabaton spins its wheels is that the listener will have likely heard the band’s basic sound structure, meaning they don’t necessarily present anything new musically. That isn’t to say the formula needs to be changed completely, as it has obviously gotten Sabaton this far, but at some point it could be helpful if they find ways to tinker with the sound while maintaining the core elements.

Since Coat of Arms, Sabaton has been riding a wave of momentum that has seen them tour the United States a couple of times. With Carolus Rex, they keep the fire going and in the process give the listener something to study. Don’t worry, Sabaton won’t be springing a pop quiz on the subject anytime soon; that said, with a largely unchanged sound from Coat of Arms, Carolus Rex is a solid, if unspectacular, follow-up album.

TRACK LISTING

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

*Comments:

1.  Dominium Maris Baltici
2.  The Lion From the North
3.  Gott Mit Uns
4.  A Lifetime of War
5.  1648
6.  The Carolean’s Prayer
7.  Carolus Rex
8.  Killing Ground
9.  Poltava
10.  Long Live the King
11.  Ruina Imperii

Total playing time:  45:09

Release Date: May 25, 2012
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

Sabaton - Carolus Rex

Reviewer: Peter

May 18, 2012