This one’s going to be slightly different. I had 2 albums in my no. 2 spot last year, so it makes sense to cover them back to back. I obviously have one up today, and one will come out on Friday like the rest have. Even though 2022 was definitely a better year than 2021 or the dreaded year that was 2020, there still was a bit of negativity in the air. Luckily, the cheesy yet badass force that was Power Metal was here to guide us into the light, and two of the most classic bands in the style brought their A-Game into the 2020s with some of their best material of the new millennium. So, let’s jump into the trenches, get our weapon at the ready, and take a look at my review for Sabaton’s first release of the decade, The War To End All Wars. Let’s begin!
Background
2019 was a great year for Sabaton. The Great War was a smash hit for the band in July of that year, and the hits would keep coming just a month later. On the first of August in 2019, The band would perform at Wacken Open Air for their 20th anniversary. During the show, former members from older iterations of the group (And some non band members) got up on stage & performed with the guys at various points, and generated a lot of positive buzz. Of course, in just a few months it would be 2020, and as well know.....things went to crap for everybody in the world.
To be honest, things kind of were going to crap for Sabaton even before The Plague arrived. On the 30th of August in 2019, the band were in a serious car accident while returning from a music shoot in the Sahara, and the injuries were bad enough that they had to cancel a show in Gdansk, Poland. From there, the previously mentioned Plague swept across the Earth, killing millions. Yet, as I stated before in prior reviews about albums from recent years, that didn’t stop bands from making music in isolation, and Sabaton were having their collective gears turning. In addition to popping out a couple special singles, the boys from Falun already had their sights on what their next full length album should be. In a curious turn of events, the band decided to keep on with singing about stories from World War 1 (A first in their career), and on the 4th of March in 2022, The War To End All Wars was released.
Basic Description
The Great War once again.
Outside of one weird quirk (More on that in a little bit), The War To End All Wars is a triumphant return to the greatness that was The Great War. Sabaton once again proved that not only are they master craftsman when it comes to Power Metal, but also surprisingly respectful historians at the same time. I’ve always found it fascinating that they manage to make the subject matter they sing about engaging, but never in any way diminish the significance of the history. They showed great respect to World War 1 on their 2019 release, and that respect comes back in force on this release as well. There’s great guitar & bass, drumming that sounds like artillery fire, keyboarding with just the right amount of cheese, and Joakim’s patented vocal work comes in crystal clear as always. It’s a testament to a band that’s been releasing records for nearly 20 years, that they all continue to have the same level of care put into them.....and I don’t expect anything different for the rest of their career.
Best Track
To say anything other that Christmas Truce as the best track of this album is, in my opinion, lunacy of the highest degree. For the first time ever, the band doesn’t sing about war, but of peace instead. There is an absolute metric ton of warm & fuzzy energy, with just a dash of melancholy to remind us of what happens afterwards. Ironic, there’s very little in the way of stereotypical Christmas instruments used in this song, save for some gorgeous piano that’s played by Joakim himself. It’s wintry & oddly sweet on the physical album, but it’s mesmerizing and soulful when you hear it live.
Christmas Truce
Christmas Truce (Live)
Worst Track
I hinted at this last year, but The War To End All Wars does backpedal a little bit when it comes to the seriousness. The Great War from 2019 was an absolute beast of an album, and managed to balance the seriousness of the subject matter with the more upbeat nature of Power Metal. On TWTEAW, things lean a little more in the Power Metal direction. Make no mistake: Sabaton still aren’t half-assing things on this record, and they still show the history they cover with the same respect here as they’ve done on every other release beforehand. However, there is a little more of an upbeat feel on this output when compared to what came out a few years prior. If this was intentional, I can only assume they did it because they wanted to come back in 2022 piping hot after being cooped up because of The Plague, and if that was the case then I understand. If this vibe was more coincidental, then maybe it’s just me.
Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:
The War To End All Wars
Overall Impression & Rating
The War To End All Wars comes very close to being a perfect album. The mild uptick in upbeat energy is ever so slightly distracting, but it in no way disrupts the overall quality of the music on this record. It’s great that the boys from Sweden emerged from the plague-ridden year of 2020 swinging pretty hard, and if this record is any indication of what’s to come for the rest of this decade, then I look forward to future releases with great anticipation.
The War To End All Wars gets a 9.5 out of 10.
And that was The War To End All Wars. An honestly refreshing album after what life has been like in recent years, and is a positive sign of things to come from Sabaton. So, I’ll see you all this coming Friday, when we’ll be taking a look at another Power Metal titan. Take care!
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