Sabaton – Templars (Quote)
There are few certainties in life: death, taxes, and SABATON writing banger tracks about war with more bombast than a Michael Bay film set on fire. With Templars, the Swedish warlords once again strap on their polished sabatons (pun unavoidable) and march into the annals of history, this time tackling the fabled and blood-soaked rise of the Knights Templar.
Swiss Guard on Easter Sunday
Let’s get the obvious out of the way — if you’ve heard any SABATON record post-The Art of War, you already know what’s in the armory: power chords wielded like broadswords, lyrics soaked in battlefield lore, and Joakim Brodén’s signature baritone bark delivering martial anthems with terrifying gusto. Templars doesn’t reinvent the trebuchet, but it absolutely hurls it with practiced efficiency.
The track opens with a Gregorian chant-inspired intro — a neat touch that nods to the sacred roots of the Templars before everything explodes into classic SABATON territory: chugging guitars, synths that sound like war horns, and drums that march more strictly than a Swiss Guard on Easter Sunday. It’s formulaic, sure, but this is the band’s thing, and damn if they don’t do it with the fervor of a holy crusade.
Brodén’s vocals are in top form — gravelly, commanding, and theatrical without tipping into parody. Lyrically, “Templars” traces the Order’s rise, battles, and inevitable martyrdom, distilling centuries of history into four and a half minutes of helmet-polishing metal. There’s even a cheeky line referencing “1312,” and for once, it’s not about cops. Props for making Medieval finance and papal politics sound like a heavy metal siege.
Sabaton more Maiden than Malmsteen
The solo rips — more Maiden than Malmsteen, thankfully — and the production (handled by the ever-reliable Jonas Kjellgren) is as polished as a crusader’s breastplate. If there’s a complaint, it’s the same one that dogs every SABATON release: it’s so polished, so surgically tight, that it can sometimes feel a little safe. The risk factor is low, but the impact? Still high.
RockNGrowl Ruling: A righteous banger that does exactly what it says on the tin.
“Templars” won’t convert any non-believers, but if you’re already in the church of SABATON, this is another banner to raise high. History nerds, power metal zealots, and anyone who wants to blast a war hymn while painting miniatures — your holy grail awaits.