Defenders of epic metal get ready, this is your long wait album for this year. Pull aside your despair and arm yourself, the awesome, straight forward epic power metal album with colorful folk and symphonic elements are present now. Sabaton new release Carolus Rex is your historic epic metal album must have this year.
Just few weeks ago Sabaton almost got ripped off from the metal map due to departure of its core members. But the history didn't went that way. Joakim Broden and bassist Par Sundstrom was able to find their replacement. Carolus Rex however is the last album recorded with that line up.
But let's forget that issue, let's talk about the other history. Carolus Rex is, unlike generic power metal album, built upon historical story in lieu to self-made fantasy dragonland. They are build upon history of Sweden with protagonist King Carol and believe me the atmosphere is really up there. I guess this is their most valuable originality Sabaton build until now.
All tracks here are great in their respective song writing. "Dominium Maris Baltici" sounds "reguler" but don't get yourself fold, it's maybe the least point of interest in this album. "The Lion From the North" is the main attraction, song writing and music are really up the point with the lyric, it's just epic. "Gott Mit Uns" is your folk dancing metal favorite. "A Lifetime of War" maybe coming too soon but it's a great ballad. "1648" is another high point, telling the failed siege and resulting Battle of Prague, "The Carolean Prayer " also keep high the atmosphere with it's gothic organ intro. The album keep continue with its pace, enjoy the galloping drum as in "Killing Ground" and exotica feel of "Ruina Imperii".
Musical performance are automatically done their job fantastically. Riff are keep simple and the solos although never in the status of virtuoso fill the moment perfectly. Notable are the vocal harmonization and chorus performs really well and uplift the feel. One more thing to point out is the great cover album that reflected its contents without much burdens. And then the Swedish edition will give you what the singer really up to, if you got little annoyed with his thick non English accent.
So, even taking consideration of Sabaton past work, this is a little unexpected triumph. Especially when the weeks had been dominated by Stones Grow Her Name (Sonata Arctica) and Few Against Many (Firewind), Carolus Rex is a victory of epic metal. The genre now can have its benchmark for always being criticized as too generic genre. Embraced yourself and just enjoy this awesome masterpiece.
Metal Harem class: ********* 9 stars out of 10
Sabaton - Carolus Rex (2012 A.D.)
buy it here
- Dominium Maris Baltici
- The Lion From the North - Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and his revolutionary tactics and their impact on war.
- Gott Mit Uns - Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)
- A Lifetime of War - The misery caused by the Thirty Years' War
- 1 6 4 8 - The failed siege and resulting Battle of Prague (1648)
- The Carolean's Prayer
- Carolus Rex - The Crowning and policies of Charles XII of Sweden
- Killing Ground - About the Battle of Fraustadt
- Poltava - The Battle of Poltava and resulting defeat.
- Long Live the King
- Ruina Imperii
- In the Army Now (Bonus Track)
English version bonus also included:
Twilight Of The Thunder God [Amon Amarth cover] [Mailorder edition bonus]
In The Army Now [Status Quo cover] [Mailorder edition bonus]
Feuer Frei [Rammstein cover] [Mailorder edition bonus]
Joakim Brodén - Vocals
Pär Sundström - Bass
Oskar Montelius — guitar, backing vocals
Rikard Sundén — guitar, backing vocals
Daniel Mÿhr - keyboards, backing vocals
Daniel Mullback — drums
Peter Tägtgren – Guest vocals on "Gott Mit Uns"
Epic cover album for Carolus Rex
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