sabaton – The Offering

Sabaton announced this spring that they have signed with Better Noise Music. With the new recording contract, it was naturally time to announce the release of the band’s 11th studio album! The first taste of the upcoming album was released in April, when the Templars single saw the light of day.

Today, it’s the turn of the next taster in the form of the Hordes of Khan single. Vocalist Joakim Brodén says that the story of Genghis Khan is really interesting, and much more profound than they had initially expected:
“The song ended up having a lot more depth than we expected. Genghis Khan was not just a conqueror, he was a complex figure who left behind a huge legacy. He built the largest unified empire in history, and his influence continued to grow even after his death. Honestly, we couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate subject for Sabaton’s new direction!

The band’s bassist Pär Sundström adds:
“Joakim wanted to write a proper heavy metal song, and we happen to know that many of our fans appreciate pure and damn heavy metal! That’s what Hordes of Khan represents. When you listen to it with your eyes closed, you can easily imagine Genghis Khan riding into battle.”

Hordes of Khan is being released with a cinematic music video set in the future. It was filmed at the Natural History Museum in London and Harrow School. The main character is a young girl who plays in a band and loves Sabaton. However, she will not have the chance to see the band live, because in 2039 all wars have ended. The world is now at peace, and there are no more wars – and therefore no more Sabaton. The girl sneaks her band into the museum to see an exhibition about Sabaton. Inside, they are greeted by a hologram that tells them that Sabaton’s instruments have magic that brings history to life. Ignoring the warning, the children grab the instruments and start playing. This brings Genghis Khan to life, and that’s when things get really exciting!

The children in the music video didn’t just want to look like they were playing instruments – they really wanted to learn how to play the song and perform it properly. At first, it was thought to be too challenging, but everyone learned the song by heart.

“We were really proud of them all! The sound in the video is playback, of course, but each of them knows their part and can really play Hordes of Khan! The son of our former drummer Daniel Mullback played the drums and acted in the video. He pulled it off with a professional touch. A true top drummer for the future!”, Sundström enthuses.

Sabaton will kick into touring in the fall, starting in Australia next September, followed by Europe.

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Better Noise Music reported earlier this week that Sabaton has joined the BNM family. The band’s first new single, Templars, was released today, and the band’s tour calendar will be expanded with a tour in Europe later this year.

Templars is also a preview of the band’s upcoming 11th studio album. The song will also be released on June 27th as a 12-inch collector’s edition vinyl, with only 1,000 copies being pressed worldwide.

“Templars is the first song we wrote for the upcoming album, and it brings out Sabaton’s theatrical side. From the very first steps of the single, we were flooded with ideas about how it should look live on stage. We don’t just want to play it, we want to perform it,” says bassist Pär Sundström.

The single’s cinematic video was shot in two historical fortresses in Serbia, the Belgrade Fortress and the Smederevo Fortress, and in it the band members take on the role of the last Knights Templar, protecting a secret, not shying away from great sacrifices. The video project also involved a number of experienced filmmakers with experience in battle scenes. Two hot days of filming in the heat added their own spice to the battle scenes.

At the same time, the band wanted to create a unique return to Sabaton for Thobbe Englund, who returned to the band after eight years, by giving him the role of the last standing Knight Templar, who will fight one more epic battle.

“The original plan was for him to wear a helmet so that a stunt actor could fill in for him during a demanding scene if necessary. However, the stunt coordinator had another idea: he decided to fight alongside Thobbe himself. Although the scene was meticulously choreographed, the improvised moments added to the intensity. Both were clad in 40-pound suits of armor, and their confrontation was like an earthquake. The scorching summer heat and the fact that Thobbe had a fever during the scene added to the challenge. Nevertheless, he delivered a performance that was nothing short of legendary – the perfect way to celebrate his triumphant return to Sabaton,” the band says.

Sabaton is also excited about their new chapter under Better Noise Music, having first explored several options for a future label partner.

“Better Noise seemed like the perfect fit. Better Noise, which defines itself as an independent label, has not traditionally focused on the heavy metal genre like ours, which makes the collaboration particularly exciting. We look forward to seeing how this partnership develops and are confident that they are ready to take on the challenge of a band that brings a new sound to their artist portfolio,” Per continues.

Lexie Viklund, A&R Director at Better Noise Music, is also very happy about the new signing.

“Their strong music and storytelling have resonated with fans around the world, and we are excited to build their career both in the US and continue the band’s international success story.”

Sabaton will be spending some time on the road this year. First up is a tour of South America, and after the summer festivals, it’s time to turn our attention to Europe. The tour dates now announced are:

May:
3 São Paulo, BR – Bangers Open Air (Memorial da América Latina)
6 Buenos Aires, AR – El Teatro Flores (Wars and Wolves Metal Fest)
9 Bogota, CO – Royal Center
11 Santiago, CL – The Metal Fest (Movistar Arena)
13 San Jose, CR – Pepper Club
15 San Salvador, SV – Museo Marte
17 Guadalajara, MX – The MXMF Metal Fest
June:
7 Sölvesborg, SE – Sweden Rock Festival

European Tour:
November:
14 Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena
15 Berlin, DE – Mercedes Benz Arena
16 Ostrava, CZ – Ostravar Arena
18 Zurich, CH – Hallenstadion
20 Munich, DE – Olympiahalle
21 Vienna, AT – Stadthalle
22 Krakow, PL – Tauron Arena
24 Stuttgart, DE – Schleyerhalle
25 Frankfurt, DE – Festhalle
26 Esch Sur Alzette, LU – Rockhal
28 Paris, FR – Accor Arena
29 Lyon, FR – LDLC Arena
December:
1 Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome
2 Antwerp, BE – Sportpaleis
4 London, UK – The O2 Arena
5 Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
6 Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
8 Hannover, DE – ZAG Arena
9 Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena
11 Oslo, NO – Unity Arena
12 Gothenburg, SE – Scandinavium
13 Stockholm, SE – 3Arena