Carolus Rex (album)

Carolus Rex is the sixth studio album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton. It is a concept album based on the rise and fall of the Swedish Empire, whose monarch Charles XII gives it its title. It was released with both English and Swedish vocals. It is the last album to feature guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, drummer Daniel Mullback and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr. It was produced by Peter Tägtgren in Abyss Studios.[4] The album received critical acclaim and commercial success, achieving gold certification in Poland and quadruple platinum in Sweden.

Carolus Rex
Studio album by
Sabaton
Released25 May 2012
RecordedOctober 2011 – January 2012
StudioThe Abyss (Pärlby, Sweden)
GenrePower metal,[1] heavy metal
Length45:09
LabelNuclear Blast
ProducerSabaton, Peter Tägtgren
Sabaton chronology
Coat of Arms
(2010)		 Carolus Rex
(2012)		 Heroes
(2014)
Singles from Carolus Rex
  1. "Carolus Rex"
    Released: 8 April 2012
  2. "The Lion from the North"
    Released: 2012
Limited edition cover
Platinum edition cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Encyclopaedia Metallum[2]
Metal Storm[3]
About.com[1]

In 2015, four Carolus Rex songs were featured in the Sabaton Soundtrack DLC for the historical grand strategy game Europa Universalis 4 by Paradox Interactive. The four included with the DLC were "The Lion from the North", "A Lifetime of War", "The Carolean's Prayer", and "Carolus Rex". Another song ("The Art of War") from Sabaton's The Art of War album was also included.[5]

Reception

As of 18 September 2012, the album is certified gold in Sweden, selling over 30,000 copies (20,000 copies sold is needed for an album to be certified gold in Sweden).[6] As of March 2013, the album is also certified gold in Poland.[7] On 18 June 2013, Carolus Rex was certified platinum in Sweden with 40,000 album sales, making it the "most successful Swedish heavy metal album ever" according to the band.[8]

On 28 September 2018, Sabaton announced that the album had been awarded quadruple platinum status after remaining on the Swedish chart for 326 weeks, and commemorated this with a number of limited edition versions and merchandise. These were set for release on 30 November 2018, the 300th anniversary of the death of Charles XII.[9]

In 2019, Metal Hammer ranked it as the 20th best power metal album of all time.[10]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicThemeLength
1."Dominium Maris Baltici" ("Dominion of the Baltic Sea")   0:29
2."The Lion from the North"Brodén, SundströmBrodénGustavus Adolphus of Sweden4:42
3."Gott mit uns" ("God with Us")Brodén, SundströmBrodénThe 1631 battle of Breitenfeld3:15
4."A Lifetime of War"Brodén, SundströmBrodénThe misery caused by the Thirty Years' War5:45
5."1648"Brodén, SundströmBrodénThe 1648 battle of Prague3:54
6."The Carolean's Prayer"BrodénBrodénThe Caroleans6:14
7."Carolus Rex" ("King Charles")Brodén, SundströmBrodén, Ken KängströmThe crowning of Charles XII of Sweden, his belief in the Divine Right of Kings and the Great Northern War.4:53
8."Killing Ground"Brodén, SundströmBrodén, Ken KängströmThe battle of Fraustadt4:24
9."Poltava"SundströmBrodénThe defeat in the battle of Poltava4:03
10."Long Live the King"Brodén, SundströmBrodénThe death and funeral procession of Charles XII4:09
11."Ruina Imperii" ("Downfall of the Empire")Brodén, SundströmBrodénThe Carolean Death March and the fall of the Swedish Empire3:21
Total length:45:09
Bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Twilight of the Thunder God" (Amon Amarth cover, limited edition and platinum edition only)3:59
13."In the Army Now" (Bolland & Bolland cover)3:59
14."Feuer frei!" (Rammstein cover)3:12
15."Harley from Hell" (Originally an exclusive on the compilation album Metalus Hammerus Rex, re-released on the platinum edition)3:50
Total length:60:09

A Swedish edition of the album, with Swedish lyrics, is also available.

Swedish edition track list
No.TitleLength
1."Dominium Maris Baltici"0:29
2."Lejonet från Norden" ("The Lion from the North")4:42
3."Gott mit uns" ("God with Us")3:15
4."En Livstid i krig" ("A Lifetime at War")5:44
5."1648"3:55
6."Karolinens bön" ("The Carolean's Prayer")6:14
7."Carolus Rex" ("King Charles")4:54
8."Ett slag färgat rött" ("A Battle Coloured Red")4:24
9."Poltava"4:03
10."Konungens likfärd" ("The King's Funeral Procession")4:09
11."Ruina Imperii"3:21
Total length:45:10

The limited 2-CD mail order edition of the album includes the English version with all of the bonus tracks and the Swedish version, as well as alternate artwork.

Covers
  • Fellow Falun-based metal band Follow the Cipher, which includes Carolus Rex contributing songwriter Ken Kängström, covered "Carolus Rex" on their 2018 self-titled debut album. Metal Injection's review of the album noted Linda Toni Grahn's version of the vocals sounded "more haunting".[11]
  • German metal band Feuerschwanz released a cover of "Gott mit uns" for their 2020 studio album "Das Elfte Gebot".

Personnel

Band members
  • Joakim Brodén – lead vocals
  • Pär Sundström – bass
  • Oskar Montelius – guitars, backing vocals
  • Rikard Sundén – guitars, backing vocals
  • Daniel Mÿhr – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Daniel Mullback – drums

Guest musicians
  • Peter Tägtgren – vocals on "Gott mit uns" and "Twilight of the Thunder God", guitar solo on "Twilight of the Thunder God"

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Poland (ZPAV)[12] Gold 10,000*
Sweden (GLF)[13] 4× Platinum 120,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Sabaton – Carolus Rex Review". heavymetal.about.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  2. "Sabaton - Carolus Rex". Encyclopaedia Metallum. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  3. "Sabaton - Carolus Rex (guest review)". Metal Storm. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  4. Pain interview - Peter Tägtgren (part 3). YouTube. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  5. "Europa Universalis IV: Sabaton Soundtrack on Steam". Steam. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. "Sabaton – Official Headquarters Carolus Rex sells gold in Sweden - Sabaton - Official Headquarters". Sabaton - Official Headquarters. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  7. "Sabaton: 'Carolus Rex' Certified Gold In Poland - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  8. "Sabaton – Official Headquarters Carolus Rex Sells Platinum! - Sabaton - Official Headquarters". Sabaton - Official Headquarters. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  9. "Sabaton To Release 'Carolus Rex (Platinum Edition)' In November". Blabbermouth.net. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  10. Chantler, Chris (14 November 2019). "The 25 greatest power metal albums". Metal Hammer. Future plc. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  11. Price, Aaron (1 June 2018). "Album Review: FOLLOW THE CIPHER - Follow The Cipher". Metal Injection. Retrieved 30 September 2018. While the original has more power behind the vocals—this version is more haunting. Grahn adds a different level of depth to the song. The original gave the impression of a song for a destructive ruler; you can hear the power and terror behind that. Yet, Follow The Cipher's version sounds more like a history lesson. This is a ruler who lived in the past, these are the horrible things he did—feel for his victims. It's interesting how giving the same song to a vocalist with a much different style can shift the tone massively.
  12. "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2013 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  13. "Veckolista Album, vecka 8, 2020 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Scroll to position 45 to view certification.
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