The Great War (Sabaton album)

The Great War is the ninth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Sabaton. It was released on 19 July 2019.[2][3] It is the first studio album to feature guitarist Tommy Johansson.[4] Like many of Sabaton's albums, it is a concept album, this time about World War I, often known as the Great War. The songs cover multiple stories from the war, including those of Manfred von Richthofen, T.E. Lawrence, Alvin York, the Attack of the Dead Men, the Battle of Verdun, and others.

The Great War
Studio album by
Sabaton
Released19 July 2019
RecordedNovember 2018 - February 2019
GenreHeavy metal, power metal[1]
Length38:27
LabelNuclear Blast
ProducerSabaton
Sabaton chronology
The Last Stand
(2016)		 The Great War
(2019)		 The War to End All Wars
(2022)
Singles from The Great War
  1. "Fields of Verdun"
    Released: 3 May 2019
  2. "The Red Baron"
    Released: 13 June 2019
  3. "Great War"
    Released: 27 June 2019
  4. "82nd All the Way"
    Released: 20 July 2019
  5. "The Attack of the Dead Men (feat. Radio Tapok)"
    Released: 10 May 2020

The album's first single, "Fields of Verdun", was released on 3 May 2019.[5] The album's next single, "The Red Baron" was released on 13 June.[6] The title song, "Great War", was released as a single on 27 June.[7] A music video for the track "82nd All the Way" was released on 20 July.[8] A music video for "Seven Pillars of Wisdom", in which Indy Neidell plays the role of T. E. Lawrence, was filmed in the Tunisian desert in early September,[9] and was released on 21 December.[10] A live video and single for "The Attack of the Dead Men", recorded during a 13 March 2020 performance in Moscow that included Russian-language metal cover artist Radio Tapok singing the verses, were announced 8 May 2020 for a 10 July release.[11]

The album was released in four separate editions: the standard release,[12] a history edition with contextual narration preceding each track,[13] a soundtrack edition featuring instrumental orchestral versions of the songs,[14] and a Sabaton History Patreon exclusive release containing narration by Indy Neidell.[15]

The recorded lyrics for "82nd All the Way" mistakenly attribute Sergeant Alvin York to the 338th Regiment rather than his actual assignment to the 328th Infantry Regiment.[16] The band corrects the mistake during live performances of the song.[17]

Reception

The Great War garnered mostly positive reviews. Metal Hammer's Holly Wright gave it 4/5 stars, praising it as "a rip-roaring, riff-addled march towards victory, coaxing influences from folk and power metal that sounds remarkably upbeat for an account of bloodthirsty mass destruction."[18] The Guardian's Dave Simpson rated the album 3/5 stars and said he preferred the History version, which precedes the songs with voiceovers describing the events the songs are about.[19] Loudwire named it one of the 50 best metal albums of 2019.[20]

Cover versions

On 1 May 2019, Apocalyptica released their rendition of "Fields of Verdun".[21]

On 18 July 2019, YouTube-based cover artist Radio Tapok released a Russian-language cover of "The Attack of the Dead Men" with Sabaton's assistance.[22] Radio Tapok joined Sabaton on stage in Moscow the following spring during their Russian tour (cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after). The performance was recorded and produced as a single for a 10 July 2020 release.[11]

On 3 January 2020, Amaranthe released their rendition of "82nd All the Way".[23]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicThemeLength
1."The Future of Warfare"Joakim BrodénBrodénThe introduction of tanks at the Battle of Flers–Courcelette and the first tank battle at the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux3:26
2."Seven Pillars of Wisdom"BrodénChris Rörland · BrodénT. E. Lawrence and his role in the Arab Revolt3:02
3."82nd All the Way"Brodén · Pär SundströmRörland · BrodénAlvin York at the Meuse–Argonne offensive3:31
4."The Attack of the Dead Men"BrodénRörland · BrodénThe Attack of the Dead Men3:56
5."Devil Dogs"SundströmBrodénThe US Marines at the Battle of Belleau Wood3:17
6."The Red Baron"BrodénBrodénManfred von Richthofen, the German flying ace better known as the Red Baron3:22
7."Great War"SundströmBrodén · Viktor CarlssonSuffering in World War I, specifically, in the Battle of Passchendaele4:28
8."A Ghost in the Trenches"BrodénTommy Johansson · BrodénFrancis Pegahmagabow, one of the most decorated Canadian soldiers during World War I, specifically at the Battle of Passchendaele and the Battle of the Scarpe3:26
9."Fields of Verdun"Brodén · SundströmThobbe Englund · BrodénThe Battle of Verdun3:17
10."The End of the War to End All Wars"BrodénTommy Johansson [24] · BrodénThe Casualties and Armistice of World War I4:45
11."In Flanders Fields"John McCraeBrodénA war poem by John McCrae written the day after the funeral and burial of one of his closest friends: Alexis Helmer, killed during the Second Battle of Ypres1:57
Total length:38:27

Personnel

Band members

Guest musicians

  • Thobbe Englund – guitar solo on "Fields of Verdun"[25]
  • Antti Martikainen – orchestral arrangements on "Fields of Verdun", orchestral arrangements for the Soundtrack Edition[26]
  • Floor Jansen – additional vocals, vocals on Soundtrack Edition
  • Bethan Dixon Bate – narration on History Edition
  • Indy Neidell – narration on History Channel Edition

Production

  • Jonas Kjellgren – production, engineering, mixing
  • Maor Appelbaum – mastering engineer

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Poland (ZPAV)[56] Gold 10,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Flynn, Niki. "Sabaton - "The Great War" [Album Review]". puregrainaudio.com. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  2. "This Is The Great War!". Sabaton. 2 April 2019.
  3. "SABATON 'The Great War' Album Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  4. "Sabaton welcome new guitarist Tommy Johansson". Metal Hammer. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  5. "Sabaton Debut 'Fields of Verdun' Music Video". Loudwire. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  6. "Sabaton: Lyric Video For New Song 'The Red Baron'". Blabbermouth.net. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  7. "Great War - 3rd single - Out now - Watch & Listen". Sabaton.net. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  8. Munro, Scott (22 July 2019). "Sabaton share striking lyric video for 82nd All The Way". Louder Sound. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  9. Munro, Scott (2 September 2019). "Sabaton injured in car crash in Tunisia". Louder Sound. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  10. Munro, Scott (22 December 2019). "Watch Sabaton traverse the Sahara desert in video for Seven Pillars Of Wisdom". Louder Sound. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  11. "SABATON - release live version of 'The Attack Of The Dead Men' featuring RADIO TAPOK + announce new tour dates for Russia and Belarus!". Nuclear Blast. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  12. "SABATON - the great war".
  13. "SABATON - the great war HISTORY EDITION".
  14. "Sabaton - The Soundtrack To The Great War (Nuclear Blast Records)". geni.us. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  15. The Great War 'History Channel Edition' – Sabaton History Announcement [Official]. YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
  16. "82nd All The Way - Lyrics". Sabaton.net. Sabaton. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  17. "Wacken 2019: Sabaton". MagentaMusik 360. Deutsche Telekom. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  18. Wright, Holly (19 July 2019). "Sabaton: The Great War review". Metal Hammer. Louder Sound. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  19. Simpson, Dave (19 July 2019). "Sabaton: The Great War review − rage against the war machine". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  20. "The 50 Best Metal Albums of 2019". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  21. "Apocalyptica - Fields of Verdun (Sabaton cover)". YouTube. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  22. "Sabaton - The Attack of the Dead Men". YouTube. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  23. "AMARANTHE - 82nd All The Way (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)". YouTube. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  24. "Danny sur Instagram: "Sabaton - the End of the War to End All Wars, amazing song with an excellent solo! Learned this by ear so apologies if it's inaccurate haha! 😁🎸 #Sabaton #thegreatwar #powermetal #metal #epic #ibanez #bosskatana #cover #solo #melody"".
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