When Sabaton formed in 1999, power metal was about the dirtiest word you could utter. While most of the world was doing it for the Nookie, Gothenburg was transforming Sweden’s heavy music topography in a maelstrom of melodic death metal.
But, in time – and with a mid-2000s rebrand that saw them embracing military history – Sabaton opened the floodgates for waves of power metal-inspired bands to reshape the genre, and made the leap to arena level. With their 25th year behind them, and another arena tour scheduled for the end of this year, we cornered frontman Joakim Brodén to find out the secrets to his success…
