The Swedish war machine turns the O2 Arena into a Hollywood battlefield, proving that heavy metal is the ultimate cinematic experience.
On a freezing December night, Swedish power-metal masters Sabaton turned London’s O2 Arena into something that felt more like a giant film set than a concert venue. With booming music, huge visuals, and more fire than most Hollywood blockbusters, the band proved that heavy metal can be just as thrilling and dramatic as anything on the big screen.
If legendary movie director Cecil B. DeMille had swapped cameras for guitars and decided to bring the scale of The Ten Commandments to a stage, it would look exactly like this. Everything about Sabaton’s Legends Tour felt massive, detailed, and deliberately over-the-top in the best way possible.
As fans poured into the arena, the excitement was evident. Old-school supporters still talk about the days when Sabaton played tiny venues with almost no budget. Seeing the O2 covered in giant props, special effects, and a stage big enough to house a medieval fortress made those early days seem unbelievable. Tonight wasn’t just a gig—it was a full-blown metal movie, performed live.
Sabaton’s journey didn’t happen overnight. Formed in Falun, Sweden, in 1999 by vocalist/keyboardist Joakim Brodén and bassist Pär Sundström, the band gradually forged its identity. Around 2005, they found their true mission: turning real history—wars, battles, and the legends behind them—into powerful metal songs. Now, with eleven albums under their belt, including 2025’s Legends, Sabaton don’t just play music. They retell the past like storytellers, with riffs rather than scripts. Their newest record expands beyond World War tales and dives into emperors, conquerors, and warriors whose stories feel like myths.
The Legendary Orchestra — An Overture Worthy of War
Instead of the usual support band, the night opened with something bold: The Legendary Orchestra. Created in 2025 from an idea by Pär Sundström, this isn’t just a classical group tagging along. It’s a serious project designed to merge orchestral music with Sabaton’s themes of war and heroism.
The Orchestra features elite musicians explicitly chosen for their skill and stage presence. It isn’t a fixed lineup—new artists will join over time, making each tour unique. For this run, the group included violinist Mia Asano, hurdy-gurdy powerhouse Patty Gurdy, and conductor/vocalist Noa Gruman. Under award-winning producer Joost van den Broek, they transformed Sabaton’s songs into emotional, cinematic pieces.
The strings sliced through the air like blades, and the woodwind instruments carried the weight of history. Gruman’s voice floated over it all—haunting, powerful, and impossible to ignore.
By the end of their set, the audience wasn’t just warmed up—they were ready for battle. The Orchestra didn’t simply support Sabaton. They opened the gates.
The Film Begins
Then, the real show kicked off. Actors dressed as historical giants—Napoleon, Julius Caesar, and Genghis Khan—stalked a smaller stage near the sound desk. Suddenly, a group of Templar knights marched through the crowd, took off their helmets, and revealed themselves as Sabaton. A bridge dropped to connect the B-stage to the main platform, and the band marched across it through the roaring audience. It wasn’t just an entrance. It was an opening scene worthy of a blockbuster.
The band exploded into their opening track, Templars, and immediately the stage turned into chaos—in a good way. Flames shot into the air, sparks rained down, and the lighting made the arena look like a real medieval battleground. During Hordes of Khan, the blasts of fire were so intense you could feel the heat from halfway across the room. DragonForce might want to take notes—or bring asbestos next time.
When the band finished Crossing The Rubicon with an eruption of sparks, the crowd had completely given themselves over to the spectacle. People in the front row probably left without their eyebrows, but they left smiling.
A Cathedral of Memory
Despite all the fire and noise, Sabaton have something most theatrical bands don’t: heart. They can shift the mood from chaos to pure emotion without losing anyone’s attention. When the music slowed, the O2 fell quiet—not out of boredom, but respect. Thousands of people stood together, remembering real soldiers and real sacrifices. It felt less like a mosh pit and more like a moment of shared history.
Legends March Again
This tour also marked the return of guitarist Thobbe Englund, greeted like a hero returning from war. Joined by founders Joakim Brodén and Pär Sundström, guitarist Chris Rörland, and drummer Hannes Van Dahl, the band tore through their set with renewed energy. Gas masks, cannons, costume changes, and the crushing power of I, Emperor—inspired by Napoleon—showed why Legends isn’t just another album. It’s a fresh start.
The emotional peak came with, Christmas Truce. As the crowd lit up the arena with thousands of phone lights, the stage lost all its props. No fire. No fortress. Just music, memory, and one of the most touching moments you’ll see at a metal show.
Final Cut
As the smoke drifted into the rafters of the O2, one thing was for sure: this was the Director’s Cut. Sabaton has released a vision where music is just one part of the breathtaking spectacle. They proved that you don’t need a cinema screen to tell a blockbuster story; you need a castle, a choir, and enough fire to incinerate the darkness.
DeMille himself couldn’t have directed it better.
All photos – Cris Watkins
GALLERY
