I have to admit, but the subject of this month is rather personal. The band in question is one I knew about for quite some time, but in recent years I gained an appreciation that almost borderlines on love. Power Metal has always be known for being an uplifting sub-genre, but these Swedish powerhouses have really created something special. Taking a style of music that familiar, but adding in an element of realism, and the end result is nothing short of magic! Dare I say it, but this band rivals the magnificence that Yngwie Malmsteen due to their sheer talent, if not eclipsing him. Who has the power to perform such an incredible feat?....Sabaton of course!
To be perfectly, this shouldn’t be a surprise to any of you, since I alluded to this group in my Ruin Explorers review late last month. This band means much to me, and since I’ve devoted 2 months so far to Power Metal, I found it was only right to give this band time on the last month of this celebration. So get on your uniform, polish your gun, and take a look at the Sabaton’s first official release, Primo Victoria. Let the review begin!
Background***
With their earliest material released 5 years prior, the band had some experience underneath their belt, Sabaton has the backing of Black Lodge Records behind them. So, with an infusion of money, Joakim and the boys got to work on their first official album, and March the 4th of 2005, Primo Victoria was released to the public. The album got heaps of praise piled upon it in it’s initial release, and today it is still considered to be one of their finest releases ever in their history.
Basic Description
Power Metal gone historical.
When one thinks of Power Metal, one does not think of historical warfare & the figures within. The sub-genre is known mainly for it’s fantasy lyrics & storytelling, and thus real life doesn’t really seem like something that such an over-the-top musical style shouldn’t touch. However, when one thinks about it, it’s not quite as ridiculous as you’d expect. Power Metal always had a storytelling aspect to it’s nature, and iconic battles & famous soldiers definitely have stories to tell. So when you really get down to it, the mix of real-life war & Power Metal storytelling fits surprisingly well (Even if it seems strange at first). In the case of Primo Victoria, Sabaton covers World War 2, Operation Desert Storm & Iraqi Freedom, and a few others. All the while as they cover these subjects, the familiar sounds of Power Metal come through loud & clear. It’s a really unique experience that you should go through at least once in your life.
Best Track
It’s probably a little lazy to say, but the title track has to be perhaps the best damn thing on here. I guarantee that most if not all Sabaton fans discovered the group through this song, and with good reason. Detailing the infamous D-Day landing, the song has a pacing that’s not too fast or slow, and hits that middle-ground sweet spot. The guitars & bass play at a steady yet intense pace, the drums sound like a combination of thunder & gunfire, and Joakim’s vocal work shows a surprising amount of range to it. Definitely a classic song!
Primo Victoria
A good second-place song, and one of my personal favorites, is the concluding track Metal Machine. This tune starts off a tradition that Sabaton has honored on & off since 2005, where they fit as many rock & metal references as they can into a single song. If I had to be a little honest, I find that their first foray into rock/metal reverence is the best. It’s got the right flow, the right pacing, and the right mood. It’s a little weird to describe it any further, so I suggest you take a listen to it.
Metal Machine
Worst Track
To be perfectly honest, Primo Victoria is a damn fine way to officially start a career. Every song on this album is crafted with such love & care, there’s not a bad one in the bunch! The worst thing one could say about this record, and least now a days, is that it does come across as a little dated in terms of sound quality. I wouldn’t exactly call it ancient sounding, but it seems that a little essence from their earliest days is still lingering around (More on that in a few weeks). It in no way diminishes how awesome the music is, but that slight datedness keeps Primo Victoria from sounding completely fresh.
Other
If you’re interested in listening to this album, check out the link below:
Primo Victoria
Overall Impression & Rating
Primo Victoria is a timeless piece of music. Despite being a little over a decade old, it still manages to impress & create new fans to this day. It’s heavy attitude & respect for the subject matter within is remarkable, and it has to power to touch anyone with it’s metallic magic. This is the album to start with when Sabaton comes a calling. Plain and simple!
Primo Victoria gets a 9.5 out of 10.
So that was our first look at the modern Power Metal titans known as Sabaton. It’s definitely got some age on it, but it still acts as a shining beacon in the realm of Power Metal. See you all in 2 weeks, when we’ll example the band’s most recent offering. Until then, may you get your first victory.
***
Wikipedia was being strangely uncooperative with it’s links to Primo Victoria. Just a heads up, it might affect other posts later on this month. Hence why the background isn’t quite as detailed as normal.
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