Video: SABATON Performs New Single 'The Lost Battalion' At SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL

Swedish metallers SABATON played their new single, “The Lost Battalion”, during their June 11 appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

“The Lost Battalion” is taken from SABATON‘s eighth studio album, “The Last Stand”, which will be released on August 19 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2014’s “Heroes” was once again produced by Peter Tägtgren (PAIN, LINDEMANN, HYPOCRISY) and it “marks a brand new chapter in SABATON history,” according to a press release.

The story behind “The Lost Battalion” lyrics: “‘The Lost Battalion” is the name given to nine companies of the United States’ 77th Division during the battle of the Argonne in 1918. Even though these 550-575 brave men were completely surrounded by the German Army and subjected to friendly artillery fire, they kept on fighting for a week until they were relieved. Of the over 500-plus soldiers who entered the Argonne Forest, only 194 walked out unscathed. The rest were killed, missing, captured, or wounded.

SABATON bassist Pär Sundström previously stated about “The Last Stand”: “We once again worked with Peter Tägtgren in his newly upgraded and top-class Abyss studio in Sweden to record, produce and mix the album. The mastering [was] done by Jonas Kjellgren who also works in the same building in nice Pärlby on the countryside of Sweden. Both ‘Carolus Rex’ and ‘Heroes’ were done in the same way and we [felt] very comfortable to return to the same place and people again. Fans will recognize the sound of the album as SABATON, but we really feel we took it a step forward this time.”

The artwork for “The Last Stand” was created by Peter Sallaí, who has worked with SABATON since “Carolus Rex”. Sundström explained: “We had the idea to make an image reflecting soldiers of different times representing the different historical battles we sing about on the new album. This only reveals a small part of the album topics though.”

Stated SABATON vocalist Joakim Brodén: “The concept of a last stand has always fascinated me, and both me and Pär were ‘all in excited’ about the subject so it was an easy choice to make.”

Added Sundström: “We have always several ideas for albums to work with. Since there are countless different views and angles of war, we will, unfortunately, never run out of ideas. We kinda felt that the last stand was something perfect for SABATON. Something we really wanted to do. ‘Heroes’ was a perfect theme and ‘The Last Stand’ is right down our alley too. It was exciting to do the research.”

“The Last Stand” will be available in the following editions:

– CD+DVD-Digi (including a concert DVD)
– CD
– Box (including earbook, 2LP Pic, 12″ photo card, 12″ poster, three plectra)
– 2LP (black, clear, gold, yellow/blue)
– Special edition (SABATON tank + box)
– Digital

“The Last Stand” track listing:

CD+DVD-Digi

01. Sparta
02. Last Dying Breath
03. Blood Of Bannockburn
04. Diary Of An Unknown Soldier
05. The Lost Battalion
06. Rorke’s Drift
07. The Last Stand
08. Hill 3234
09. Shiroyama
10. Winged Hussars
11. The Last Battle

Bonus:

12. Camouflage
13. All Guns Blazing

DVD – Live @ Stereolux, Nantes (France)

01. Intro (The March To War)
02. Ghost Division
03. Far From The Fame
04. Uprising
05. Midway
06. Gott Mit Uns
07. Resist And Bite
08. Wolfpack
09. Dominium Maris Baltici
10. Carolus Rex
11. Swedish Pagans
12. Soldier Of 3 Armies
13. Attero Dominatus
14. The Art Of War
15. Wind Of Change
16. To Hell And Back
17. Night Witches
18. Primo Victoria
19. Metal Crüe