Sabaton: YouTube Theater - Los Angeles, CA - 10/15/24
Sabaton is a power metal band from Sweden. Their name comes from the part of a knight’s body armor that covers the foot. The majority of their albums are about wars, battles, historical events and historical figures. In 2022, they released their tenth studio album, The War to End All Wars. Sabaton made their way back to the USA and this time they were supporting British heavy metal legends Judas Priest. One of the last stops on the tour was the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California.
The venue was only about half full by the time Sabaton was getting ready to hit the stage. It was understandable because it was a Tuesday, and people were still at work and getting to the venue. The lights went out and the venue cheered as Sabaton made their way to the stage. The first song played was their usual opening song, “Ghost Division.” That song always gets you pumped up and makes you bang your head. All the band members come out wear their camo pants which are a staple for the band’s show and themes of their songs. The main thing you’ll notice is how drummer Hannes Van Dahl sits atop of a huge tank! I can promise you; you’ll never see that anywhere else. The next song was “The Last Stand,” and it kept the energy going from the opening song. The third song was one of their most popular songs, “Swedish Pagans.” Singer Joakim Brodén mentioned how the song is about them as they are proud Swedish men. All the band members were very active on stage and would constantly run around and interact with each other. When it was time to another one of their best songs “Carolus Rex,” Brodén decided to give the audience the Swedish version of the song which is always appreciated by the fans. Up next was the song “Resist and Bite” and it got interesting before the start of the song. Brodén was given a pink Hello Kitty guitar to play. He found it amusing, but also mentioned how he would find out who did that to him and would promptly fire the person. Nearing the end of their set, it was time to play some of their best hits starting with “Primo Victoria.” It has a catchy chorus, and fans of the band could be seen singing along. to end their set, Brodén pointed to the sky as the familiar whistle to “To Hell and Back” started. Sabaton played the song, and the audience gave them a standing ovation. Sabaton are one of Sweden’s best bands and it’s highly encouraged that you go see them if they come around to your area.
