Sabaton Combines History, Metal
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Swedish heavy metal band Sabaton is scheduled to perform their war-themed ballads at The Paramount in Huntington on March 4.
By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com
Heavy metal bands often look for on stage production that can match the high intensity of their music and lyrics. Swedish heavy metal group Sabaton is no different, and the stage at The Paramount will provide the space that the group needs to take the visual intensity of their show to the next level.
One of Sabaton’s original members and bassist, Par Sundstrom, promised fans who come out to see the band during its 2018 North American tour they’re in for something new.
They “have not seen us this way before,” he said.
He continued, “It’s a bigger stage then we have previously playing, and this means that we can get closer to the show we want to present to the fans. When we do shows in Europe, we have a lot of fire, pyrotechnics, even tanks on stage, and this is something we want to bring to America.”
Sundstrom, 36, said the Falun, Sweden-based band has accumulated a strong following in the states after nine pervious American tours.
“The response of the fans is always great when we come, and I see the reactions now when I look on the internet,” Sundstrom said. “People are very excited now that we are coming.”
Sabaton is best known for its heavy metal sound that’s juxtaposed with lyrics detailing historical battles and those who fought them. Many of the band’s songs recount battles from World War I, World War II and other major wars throughout history.
“The Last Stand”, which shares a name with Sabaton’s latest album, recounts the heroic stand of the Swiss Guard during the sack of Rome in 1527.
Sundstrom said fans have been sending him ideas for new battles to sing about ever since he asked for inspiration ahead of Sabaton’s 2010 album, “Coat of Arms.”
“We are thankful that are fans are supplying us with a lot of good ideas because they can sometimes inspire us to write something, and it is how several of our songs have been created, especially the ones that come from smaller stories that are not so well-known,” Sundstrom said.
Although their songs focus war and battle, Sundstrom said, Sabaton is still able to create a celebratory atmosphere on stage.
“We are not really sharing the emotions of some of our songs that are very dark and destructive,” Sundstrom said. “We enjoy playing our music so much that we are smiling a lot and having fun, and it spreads to the crowd.”
Sabaton will be joined at the March 4 show by German metal band Kreator. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $20-$40 and can be purchased at the box office or online at Paramountny.com.
