Album Review - Legends Never Die: Sabaton's New Album "Legends" Marches Through Time

Photo Credit: Steve Bright

The Swedish heavy metal band Sabaton is back with a thunderous new album “Legends.” “Legends” is an 11-song masterpiece of an album that consists of melodic guitar riffs, choirs that are haunting yet beautiful, epic ballad choruses, and fantastic storytelling through the lyrics. Simply put, this album will make you want to run into battle with Sabaton singing battle hymns, pumping your fist, and screaming your war cry!

“Legends” opens with “Templars,” which captivates listeners with the eerie choir. Combine that with the hi-hat kick drum pattern with the guitar riff, it draws listeners in to fist pump to the beat. Then Joakim Brodén showcases his vocal and lyrical presence, with lyrics that dive into the Knights Templar. “Templars” effectively sets the tone for the rest of the album, featuring high-energy ballads, fist-pumping guitar riffs, orchestral instrumentals, and a powerful guitar solo.

“Hordes of Khan” is the second track on “Legends," opening with a ripping guitar riff. Combined with the energy Hannes Van Dahl brings with the ride pattern and the double kick, it makes me want to run in circles and mosh. This energy goes hand in hand with the theme of the song, Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire. I may be overanalyzing this, but the speed and ferocity of the instrumentals can emphasize the Mongol Empire and Genghis Khan’s mobile army, known for speed, archery, and psychological warfare.

“Lightning at the Gates” was the third single off “Legends” and it serves as the ballad on the album. While it doesn’t have the energy of “Hordes of Khan,” this is an absolute beast of a song. “Lightning at the Gates” lyrics focus on Hannibal Barca, a famous Carthaginian general and his terrifying campaign against Rome. I don’t recall ever learning about Hannibal Barca in school, but after researching, I discovered he is known for his crossing of the Alps during the Second Punic War in his campaign against the Roman forces. After reading about Hannibal Barca and listening to the song several times, “Lightning at the Gates” makes me feel like I am a part of the march through the Alps, dealing with the cold temperatures and the constant threat that could be around every corner. 

The fourth single, “The Duelist,” is the anthem of the album. With a chorus that starts out with “fight or die,” how can you not feel the urge to shout a war cry and join Sabaton in battle? The song is based on Miyamoto Musashi, who was a legendary Japanese samurai and ronin. Miyamoto fought in over 60 duels, developed the “Niten Ichi‑ryū” style of swordsmanship, and wrote a book called The Book of Five Rings, which discusses strategy, mindset, and philosophy. Personally, the lyrics stand out in this single because I can imagine Miyamoto training and dueling, mastering his skills and growth that go beyond just fighting.

“Crossing the Rubicon” was their latest single from "Legends," and I am a bit confused about it. The song is fantastic, but the single version features Nothing More's Johnny Hawkins on vocals, while the album version does not. I am not sure why this is the case, but perhaps it's because Sabaton wants to play “Crossing the Rubicon” live and felt that releasing both versions will allow listeners to experience it both with and without Johnny Hawkins. Or maybe two separate streams might provide them with two separate sources of income. Regardless, back to the review. 

“Crossing the Rubicon” features a bone-crushing guitar riff for the intro, showcasing Sabaton's signature sound. The song maintains a rhythmic beat until the interlude, where it unexpectedly shifts to double time with a guitar solo that packs a punch. This solo highlights the impressive collaboration between Chris Rörland and Thobbe Englund. The song's lyrics focus on the historical events of Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon River, the act that triggered the Roman civil war. 

My personal favorite track on this album is “Maid of Steel.” There is no build-up to this song; it is just explosive and thrashy, full of high energy for the entire 3:17 duration. Even in its high-energy pace, the chorus is still catchy, and you can sing along to it. I do appreciate the slower, epic bridge that gives contrast before diving back into the intensity. The song's lyrics focus on Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc), celebrating her transformation from farm girl to a military leader that is still talked about to this day.    

Sabaton’s albums are complex, and it takes a legendary producer to make their albums sound full and not overcrowded. Jonas Kjellgren did a phenomenal job producing this album. I have listened to this album in my car, on various headphones, and through a PA system, and everything is distinctive. With each listen, I discover new sounds or unique details from each band member.

What impressed me the most about Jonas’s production is the clarity with which Joakim's vocals and the choir are presented. They complement each other perfectly. Oftentimes, I hear vocals and a choir, and it just sounds mushed together and I can’t understand the vocals, but that's not the case here. Well done, Jonas! 

You can’t talk about Sabaton's album without mentioning the artwork done by Peter Sallai. Visually, the artwork is striking and incredible. There's a lot happening, with even more hidden in the details. The more you examine it, the more characters and items appear. This artwork complements the album perfectly. Much like the music, the more you listen to it, the more it reveals. Fantastic job, Peter!

I also want to highlight Sabaton’s website and YouTube channel. "Legends" is an album that covers famous leaders, revolutionaries, strategists, warriors, and kings all throughout history. Their website has a tab for every song with a description about the lyrical themes. I highly recommend reading through them while listening to the album to deepen your understanding of the lyrics and enhance your connection to the songs. You can explore that here:

https://www.sabaton.net/discography/legends/. While their YouTube channel may not have videos specifically about these songs, they do have in-depth history videos about previous songs that are worth checking out, available here: https://www.youtube.com/@SabatonHistory/featured. 

With "Legends," Sabaton proves that history can be just as thrilling when told with explosive guitar riffs and battlefield anthems. Longtime fans will find exactly what they came for, and for newcomers such as myself, we will get a crash course in Swedish metal-fueled mythology.

Don’t just take my word for it—go experience “Legends” yourself. Stream the album on October 17th, 2025, via your favorite platform, or grab a physical copy from the band’s official site. March into history one track at a time!