So, SABATON, those Swedish metalheads who apparently think history is just a suggestion for song lyrics, have dropped another single and video, “A Tiger Among Dragons.” It’s from their new album, “Legends,” which, according to their PR team, is the best thing since sliced bread… if sliced bread was made of tank treads and historical inaccuracies. Available through Better Noise Music, because apparently, subtlety is for bands who don’t wear camo pants on stage. 🙄
“Legends” is supposedly dominating charts, topping the “No. 1 Metal Album (U.S.)” and “No. 1 Rock Album (U.S.)” categories. Because, let’s be honest, what else are Americans listening to? Nickelback? 🤣 They also snagged the “No. 1 Current Hard Albums (U.S.)” spot, which I’m pretty sure is just a fancy way of saying “loud music.” And, of course, they had a “No. 2 iTunes Album (Global)” and “No. 10 Spotify Debut (global),” because apparently, even the algorithm is susceptible to catchy riffs and questionable historical narratives.
The song “A Tiger Among Dragons” is “inspired” by Lü Bu, some dude from ancient China who was supposedly the “Flying General.” Basically, SABATON is now ripping off Dynasty Warriors… I mean, paying homage to history. Lü Bu had a halberd called “Sky Piercer” and a horse named “Red Hare,” which sounds like a rejected Power Rangers villain. His duel at Hulao Pass sealed his place in history, because apparently, winning a fight is all it takes to get a metal song written about you these days. 🤷♂️
Joakim Brodén, the band’s frontman and apparent history buff (citation needed), claims the song has “a powerful, raw energy to it, but with a more melodic edge.” Translation: It’s loud, but slightly less ear-bleedingly so. He also claims it tells Lü Bu’s story with “intensity and emotion,” which is probably code for “we read a Wikipedia article and added some growls.”
Pär Sundström, the bassist, chimed in, saying that when Joakim showed him the track, he “immediately felt that it was a song connected to Asia.” Yes, because every song with a vaguely Asian-sounding riff is automatically connected to an entire continent. 🤦♂️ They chose Lü Bu because he “felt more like a myth than a man,” which is probably because no one can actually verify any of the stories about him. They then saw how he was “projected in comics, games and such,” which basically confirms they got their historical knowledge from video games.
The music video for “A Tiger Among Dragons” is supposedly “seriously epic and unmistakably SABATON.” They teamed up with “specialized costume designers” to create ancient Chinese armor that was “inspired by the lore.” In other words, they watched a bunch of kung fu movies and slapped some metal plates on. The video was shot in Belgrade, Serbia, mostly in front of a green screen, because apparently, ancient China looked a lot like Eastern Europe with CGI. The band is seen backing up Joakim as he “inspires an ancient Chinese army,” which probably involves a lot of yelling and pointing. They also have two sorceresses who can summon flaming guitars from thin air, because why not? 🔥🎸
The band claims they “set out to make this video completely over the top,” and, honestly, they think they nailed it! Well, I wouldn’t say they nailed it… More like hammered it into submission with a sledgehammer of historical inaccuracies and cheesy special effects.
Throughout “Legends,” SABATON apparently delves into “history’s greatest and most loved characters,” like Joan of Arc, Genghis Khan, and Vlad the Impaler. Because nothing says “greatest and most loved” like impaling people. They’re calling it a “bold evolution” in their sound and storytelling, which probably means they added a few more blast beats and made the lyrics even more historically questionable.
Blabbermouth.net (whoever that is) describes the album as “the rightful heir to ‘Heroes,'” and “kicks more than enough chainmail-wearing ass.” Because apparently, the bar for good music is now set at “does it sound like a Viking metal parody?” Screamermagazine.com (another mystery) noted that the album is “a crescendo of history and heavy metal,” making every song “a headbanger that goes beyond the barriers of language.” Which basically means you don’t need to understand history to enjoy it… or even understand the lyrics.
“Legends” is available worldwide in various formats, including a “Lü Bu Edition” vinyl. Because nothing says “collectible” like a historical figure you’ve never heard of before SABATON started singing about him.
SABATON has apparently “headlined major festivals, sold-out arena concerts worldwide, and gained a legion of loyal fans.” Which means they’re either really good at marketing, or people have really low standards for historical accuracy. They’ve earned “gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certifications,” because apparently, the music industry rewards loudness and questionable lyrics.
They’ve also earned eight Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards nominations, and a Grammis nomination. They’ve accumulated “more than three billion streams across all streaming platforms and two billion views on YouTube,” which basically confirms that the internet is a breeding ground for mediocre metal and historical revisionism.
SABATON is currently on a “massive worldwide tour,” because apparently, they haven’t inflicted enough of their historical inaccuracies on the world yet. The tour will take them through North America, because apparently, Americans are just as susceptible to catchy riffs and questionable historical narratives as everyone else. Tickets are available now at LiveNation.com, if you want to waste your money on something that could have been a decent history class. 🤡
