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Review: Sabaton - Carolus Rex
Sabaton
www.sabaton.net
Carolus Rex

Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Year released: 2012
Duration: 45:09
Tracks: 11
Genre: Power Metal

Rating:
4.5/5


Review online: July 8, 2012
Reviewed by: MetalMike
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Rated 4/5 (80%) (41 Votes)
Review

Sweden's Sabaton have been around since 1999 playing the same style of gritty, melodic Power Metal across all six of their full-length albums, including their newest, 2012's Carolus Rex. When you hit on something that works, you stick with it. Singer Joakim Broden and the band have continued to refine this formula without straying too far from the basic premise, that of huge choruses, riffs and keyboards and lyrics about human conflict. Earlier albums centered on World War II but on Carolus Rex, Sabaton have broadened their lyrical horizons to include Swedish history.

After the obligatory intro, Carolus Rex kicks off with an absolute barn-burner in the speedy, double-kick "The Lion from the North." If you aren't throwing your fist in the air or burning up the fret board on your air guitar after this one, you need to check for a pulse. The album goes back and forth between up-tempo rockers ("Gott Mit Uns," "1 6 4 8") and slower tracks ("A Lifetime of War," "The Carolean's Prayer") that all have one unifying element; the choruses are going to stick in your head. This album is like a clinic on how to write catchy melodies with sing-a-long choruses. There are absolutely no stinkers to be found. Carolus Rex is huge from start to finish. While there is nothing Sabaton fans haven't heard before, the band have never sounded better and their songwriting never sharper.

All Power Metal fans need to get their hands on a copy of Carolus Rex and, if you are in a band, you may want to take notes as you listen. This is how it is done.

Additional Information

Reviewed is the English-language version without bonus tracks

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