Formed in 1999, Sabaton have performed in dozens of cities across the world, and finally after almost twenty-six years it was Auckland’s time to shine last night. And shine they did.

Almost an hour before the doors of Tāmaki Makarau’s hallowed Powerstation were due to open and the line was already snaking its way down the street, the anticipation palpable as everyone patiently waited, reminiscing with stories of when and where they were when they first discovered the Swedish giants.

Sabaton may have been through a monumental change of the guard just over a decade ago, which saw only vocalist Joakim Brodén and Pär Sundström remain from the original line-up.

But that mattered none to their admirers who were already primed and ready to sing along to every track that would be laid down before them on a brisk spring evening in Aotearoa.

With no support act the crowd filed in and headed straight for the stage, some stopping to stock up on merch before doing so, Sabaton t-shirts soon mixed in with other impressive bands who have also graced the venue with their presence such as Behemoth and Machine Head.

As the lights dimmed and the stage came to life, a huge back drop of the band’s name illuminated perfectly, a roar rose from the crowd that even the Vikings themselves would have been proud of.

Sabaton soon filing out to The March to War, the quintet all wearing matching camo pants and insignia emblazoned tops. Brodén taking the helm with his short back and sides and iconic vest featuring no less than eight panels of diamond plate.

Straight into it and Sabaton hit the crowd with a one-two of Ghost Division and The Last Stand, attendees punching the air with joy as they sang along.

The Red Baron came next and with it a challenge from Brodén to sing the word higher as loud as they could, Brodén teasing them that they could do better than that each time until the room came to a standstill as the lights lit up and the very foundations trembled with the word as it was bellowed from hundreds of sets of lungs.

The smile plastered across Brodén’s face in that moment said it all. He wholeheartedly approved.

With their eleventh album due to be released next month, Sabaton certainly weren’t short of tracks to play, and it appeared that they were determined to perform as many as possible for the sold-out crowd.

But they also found the time to have some fun, Brodén soon donning a pink Hello Kitty guitar before looking questioningly at those before him and delivering a rather tongue in cheek joke about how the guitar was gifted to him by the late Michael Jackson.

The iconic opening riff of Beat It soon echoing through the venue before he jumped into Resist and Bite.

Often referred to as Power Metal, it is a genre that Sabaton have never really embraced, preferring to see themselves as a band who performs what Heavy Metal means to them, with lyrical themes that are based on historical battles, wars and acts of heroism.

It has often been said that they are influenced by bands such as Iron Maiden and that can not only be heard throughout their discography but seen in many of their cover and t-shirt designs.

Handing the mic to drummer Hannes Van Dahl, who throughout the night was gargantuan behind the sticks, and Dahl joked that his tech had just passed him a drink that looked like poison as he shook a short glass filled with blue liquid.

Without prompting, the crowd began to chant not just some it, all of it in unison, Dahl laughing as he raised the glass and downed it to appease them.

Treating the crowd to something a little bit special, Sabaton laid down Hordes of Khan from their upcoming album Legends, before following it up with The Attack of the Dead Men from 2019’s The Great War, the fans once again rising up to meet them with their voices.

The harmonisation between the members was phenomenal, no auto tune to be seen here kids, just pure unadulterated vocals that swept through the room like the mighty winds of the North Sea.

Carolus Rex brought with it a tale of the rise and fall of the Swedish Empire. Sabaton embracing their own history and telling the story with pride because it is theirs.

But their Kiwi audience wanted to impart a little culture of their own it would seem, as following a stonking version of Stormtroopers, guitarist Thobbe Englund – who had already been blowing people away with his intermittent killer solos – stepped forward and asked the room to hold up their phone lights.

Before being able to speak another word, the fans began to sing Tutira Mai Nga Iwi, a New Zealand folk song if you will, that is known and beloved by most.

Taken aback Englund bowed his head in reverence before asking those present to now join him in song as Sabaton played Christmas Truce which saw lights and arms simultaneously wave from side to side in a moment of solidarity.

But the night was fast approaching the end, Sabaton kicking it up a notch as fingers flew and long flowing hair that supermodels themselves would be jealous of whipped about the stage during Night Witches, The Art of War and a particularly moving version of Cliffs of Gallipoli, a song that is one of Brodén’s favourite’s and one that he thought was particularly fitting for their Australasian tour considering how many thousands of Anzac’s perished on those now sacred grounds.

Thanking all once again for making their first visit to these shores a truly special one, Brodén joked about how they would be back to do it all again tomorrow and that they didn’t want to waste any time playing the encore game.

Primo Victoria was delivered with such gusto that a call to arms could have been made right now and the crowd would have followed the Swedish five piece without a question. It was a track that just filled you with a sense of confidence and purpose.

Swedish Pagans dragged just ever so slightly due to a call and response game being played between Sabaton and their audience – but who could blame them. Both parties wanting to make sure they made the most out of every minute they had.

Finishing with To Hell and Back it was if the audience were farewelling their dearest friends, the closing notes seeing arms raised in the air, nods of respect going both ways and dare it be said even a slight tear or two being wiped away from the corner of the eye.

It may have been Sabaton’s first time in New Zealand, but they left an impression that will last a lifetime.

Sarah Kidd

Photography by Leonie Moreland

SET LIST

Ghost Division
The Last Stand
The Red Baron
Great War
Fields of Verdun
Bismarck
Resist and Bite
Soldier of Heaven
Hordes of Khan
The Attack of the Dead Men
Carolus Rex
Stormtroopers
Christmas Truce
Night Witches
The Art of War
Cliffs of Gallipoli
Primo Victoria
Swedish Pagans
To Hell and Back