Sabaton - The Last Stand review
| Band: | Sabaton |
| Album: | The Last Stand |
| Style: | Power metal |
| Release date: | August 2016 |
01. Sparta
02. Last Dying Breath
03. Blood Of Bannockburn
04. Diary Of An Unknown Soldier
05. The Lost Battalion
06. Rorke's Drift
07. The Last Stand
08. Hill 3234
09. Shiroyama
10. Winged Hussars
11. The Last Battle
12. Camouflage [Stan Ridgway cover][bonus]
13. All Guns Blazing [Judas Priest cover][bonus]
The hype train for The Last Stand was as swift, powerful, and unstoppable as Jan III Sobieski at the Battle of Vienna. Sabaton and Nuclear Blast ardently touted this album as a new chapter in the band's sonic evolution, a new incarnation of our Swedish pals featuring more experimentation and variation than ever. It's clear that they wanted us to recognize something greater in The Last Stand. But what is it that sets The Last Stand apart?
While Heroes found Sabaton digging deeper, darker, and grittier trenches, The Last Stand embarks on a journey in the opposite direction, brimming with lighter, catchier, and more uplifting melodies than ever. Sabaton has reinvented itself as an even brighter, more melodic, and more epic-sounding force, news which is undoubtedly loathsome to those who already found the band's trademark bombast saccharine and cloying - but to those fans who appreciate the uncomplicated magniloquence that Sabaton exemplifies, or to those who found the last few albums monotonous and shallow, The Last Stand represents revitalization and new possibilities. With a mere key change, "The Lost Battalion" transforms from a dramatic re-write of "Hearts Of Iron" into a triumphant, upbeat hymn that breaks new ground for the first time in ages, and for that reason, I believe that "The Lost Battalion" was the most appropriate choice for the first single. In that song, we can pinpoint the exact moment of transition from old Sabaton into new.
This Sabaton sounds more honest and inspired than Heroes, or even several older albums. Taking as much influence from the Europop of the members' youth as from the standard gamut of metal forefathers, The Last Stand sounds like the album S-ᗅᗺᗷᗅ-ton always wanted to make, but avoided for fear of disconcerting fans; the energy and passion pour through in volumes never before heard on a Sabaton record. Joakim's voice soars higher and more confidently than ever, continuing his steady improvement from album to album (one of my personal favorite aspects of this band), and the cheesiest keyboards to date, much more present than on Heroes, embellish these Brobdingnagian anthems with enough pomp to drown Louis XIV. The album's highly apposite thematic preoccupation, indicated by the title, strengthens the dramatic impact of the musical approach and is likely responsible for some of The Last Stand's resounding success.
It's clear that "Last Dying Breath," "Rorke's Drift," and "Hill 3234" took the brunt of the recycling; any Sabaton fan worth their salt could rattle off the older tracks reimagined in those three. It was inevitable that we wouldn't get a whole Sabaton album without some reincarnations; after all, The Last Stand is a fulfillment of the Sabaton promise, not a repudiation of the band's trademarks. I'm not bothered by filler, especially filler that trumps the Heroes- and Carolus Rex-brand filler. With only "The Last Battle" making reference to World War II (a record low for Sabaton, not counting Metalizer), The Last Stand explores new thematic realms to make up for some of those stale-ish riffs.
Casual listeners may well dismiss this entire album as another in a long, cannibalistic line, but fox-eared fans will detect the many differences, sometimes subtle, that prove that Sabaton worked up a sweat to make The Last Stand shine. Floor Jansen needs to guest on every Sabaton album, because her voice could very well be the whistling of the Winged Hussars themselves. The riffs in "Last Dying Breath" march and batter like Rammstein, but they twang like Mötley Crüe; the drum kit used on "The Lost Battalion," a construction sampling gunfire, grenade explosions, and bayonets ripping flesh for percussive effect, draws the listener deep into the Argonne with one of the most warlike atmospheres Sabaton has yet achieved. "Sparta" is a volcanic song destined to be entrance music for the world's greatest professional wrestler/tank commander/head-of-state, "The Last Battle" amusingly recounts the strangest tale of WWII over a driving dance beat, and the title track has just claimed the position of my favorite Sabaton song with its unflaggingly triumphant lead-in to the final chorus. "Winged Hussars" has Winged Hussars, and I've got nothing else to say about that.
This is power metal for the fan who loves to sing along, but doesn't want to remember too many words. This is music for the fan who likes ideas expressed in big choruses, big chords, and big words, for whom history is an open and endless book with a bitchin' guitar solo wedged in between every few pages. For some, Sabaton's grandstanding is crass, cringe-worthy, or even offensive. For me, Sabaton is triumph, a fathomless wellspring of spirit that replenishes the exsanguinated corpses of textbooks and makes everything I've ever loved about history come alive. Honestly, I can't imagine looking at Sabaton without the lens of historical devotion, so it's fully understandable for somebody disinterested in military exploits to pass up Sabaton. But ask yourself: if a handsomely-mustachioed Swede in reflective aviators and body armor shouting about 189 Swiss Guards, 500 samurai, and 3,000 Winged Hussars doesn't make you want to jump up and down like an idiot and scream about tanks, then what the hell are you living for?
All in all, 1683/1791, would ask to join the Holy League.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 10 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 8 |
 | Written on 20.08.2016 by I'm the reviewer, and that means my opinion is correct. |
Rating:
7.4
7.4
|
Rating: 7.4 |
Sabaton. Yeah, that name has become really well-known in the world of power metal. With albums like The Art Of War and Carolus Rex, it's not hard to understand why. But what about the latest album? Is The Last Stand really a masterpiece like the official lyric videos tell us? No, I wouldn't say so personally. This is Sabaton as you already know them. I don't find anything really innovative on this album. Is it bad? No, it's just that I expected more from the album (especially when they are claiming it would be a masterpiece). To me it feels a bit generic. Read more ›› |
Comments page 2 / 3
Comments: 75
Visited by: 522 users
| Ellrohir Heaven Knight Posts: 8662  |
Come on...9.3 on THIS? there are like 3 good songs (and only because they are half-copied from previous work) this is easily their worst album so far
---- My rest seems now calm and deep Finally I got my dead man sleep 
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| ScreamingSteelUS Editor-in-Chief Admin Posts: 5689  |
Written by Ellinor on 21.08.2016 at 14:23 Here we go again. Boy, if only I had a dollar for every time somebody told me I should be banned from reviewing... Frankly, I don't think it's fair for somebody who rated Virtual XI a 10 to tell me that my opinion of Sabaton disqualifies me from expressing my opinion on music. Does that fact, which, judging by that album's average rating, I think most people would find ridiculous, disqualify you from rating albums? No, of course it doesn't. Why, praytell, does the fact that I have favorite bands whose albums I love more than the average listener disqualify me from writing reviews? I want you to tell me exactly what you think an objective review is, and then I want you to write one. Write me an "objective" review of The Last Stand. Tear it to shreds if you have to, if you think that that's what "objective" means, but I'm not letting you off the hook until you justify to me why my opinion of an album matters less because it is higher than what you think it should be. There are definitely parts of this review that sound more subjective than others, but this is not "fanboy apologetics." I've explained what I like about this album. If I had more space, I could go into greater detail about what I like and what I dislike and then maybe you would be more satisfied, but as it is, this review is twice the length of the average review, and I had to consider carefully which parts of the album I wanted to mention the most. The idea of "fanboy apologetics" is nonsense. "Fanboy apologetics" means that I love this album a lot more than you think I should (which I'm perfectly allowed to do) and I'm trying to justify or explain myself to people who don't feel as strongly. That's one of the main purposes of reviewing. What do you expect to hear me say about this album? That you, Ellinor, were right all along, and Sabaton is actually as boring as you think they are? What would be the point of writing that review? YOU write that review. I'm going to write a review that demonstrates just how much I love Sabaton, because if I don't stand up for my favorite bands, who will? What if I told you that I think "Shadows" is a pretty good song, but that ultimately nothing from Metalizer is all that special (coming from somebody who really likes that album)? I can think of many more than three or four songs "worth mentioning" to challenge your assertion, but there would be no point in listing them, because it's up to you and me individually to determine what constitutes a song worth mentioning. We have different musical values, as everybody in the world does, so while I can state factually that "Ghost Division" follows different musical patterns from "The Last Battle," "Stalingrad," "Metalizer," "Screaming Eagles," "Gott Mit Uns," and "Carolus Rex," I can't force you to think that any of those songs is any good or distinguished. I agree to some extent that Sabaton is generic, but not to the same extent. Ultimately, "generic" is a fairly subjective term itself, because it relies on our personal perceptions of art to build up a context. What sounds generic to you might not sound generic to somebody else. I'm actually giving you ground here by recognizing and agreeing with your opinion, to a degree, so why can't you reciprocate and recognize that other people are entitled to have opinions different from yours and express those? Why are "fanboy reviews" not "helpful"? How would a review that parroted your exact opinion be "helpful"? If anything, it's more "helpful" to read a review that challenges your opinion about something, because it raises the possibility of you looking at something in a different light or coming to new conclusions about an album. Try Googling "opinions" and then get back to me so you can categorically, objectively define what is and is not "good" or "worthy" music.
---- "Earth is small and I hate it" - Lum Invader I'm the Agent of Steel.
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Elite Posts: 5963  |
Written by Ellinor on 21.08.2016 at 14:23 >Thinking "objective reviews" are actually a thing 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| boodaddy Posts: 1 |
I actually find my musical tastes quite often align with SSUS. I can't speak to numerical reviews, as I think trying to quantify a subjective assessment is an exercise in futility, but I'm excited to check this album out when I have the time. Sabaton has a distinctive sound that I have enjoyed on each of their albums. Are they extraordinary at any particular facet of what they do, no I suppose not. Do I have a helluva lot of fun listening to them and getting to history nerd along, oh yes. Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go prep some D&D. 
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| Eternity'sChild Posts: 148 |
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| ScreamingSteelUS Editor-in-Chief Admin Posts: 5689 |
Written by boodaddy on 21.08.2016 at 22:20 Written by Eternity'sChild on 21.08.2016 at 23:06  
---- "Earth is small and I hate it" - Lum Invader I'm the Agent of Steel.
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| Necrodamus Posts: 435  |
Why is everyone going crazy over this? Reviews are, and will always be, opinions of the reviewer. I'm actually enjoying this album, it's not my favorite Sabaton album by any stretch, but still a fun listen and one that'll be in my playlist for a while.
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| SoUnDs LiKe PoP Posts: 1054 |
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| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6062  |
Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 21.08.2016 at 17:36 You write good reviews. Why don't you just accept that and stop wasting your time having discussions with stupid people who attack your opinions/tastes/choices. Why explain to idiots why you liked the album? The review serves this purpose, why do you engage in discourse with morons who can't understand what the word "review" means? Looking at how much you posted in this thread, I'd say you'd use that time much better if you wrote 2 more reviews. And, as far as I am concerned, you can give away 10's like candy. It's your opinions, your reviews. Never feel obliged to explain your ratings and choices to anyone.
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| LuciferOfGayness Account deleted |
LuciferOfGayness
Account deleted Written by Daniell on 22.08.2016 at 09:08 Such bitterness If one gives 9.5 to Sabaton - be prepared to defend it. And SSU has done that good. Not gonna change my opinon but I can see where he is coming from.
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| Nick Carter Posts: 257  |
Guys, you are reading a review from someone that fucking loves Sabaton. This is actually the lowest rate he has given to them (I know because I really like his reviews). For me it would be an 8, for others less and maybe someone would even be a 10. The thing here is that he made a Review and was very clear saying why this was such a great album for him. After that, you can agree of disagree with him. That is the point of a Review!
---- #MetalIsForEveryone
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| Marcus Doit Like Bernie Posts: 642  |
What I love is no one mentions the review at all, their fixation is on their score and nothing else, and the score absolutely does not matter. Read the review - does it make the album sound interesting? Then listen to it. If not, don't. That's the whole point. NUMBERS DON'T MATTER. God, I hope the backlash in this thread is really just a huge joke, fucking with all of us.
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5256  |
The hatred is strong in this one...
---- rekt
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| Zap Guest Posts: 3528  |
Written by [user id=4365] on 22.08.2016 at 18:01 Yeah, I think I've said this a million times but so far I think you're the only one who agrees. And I've had the same experience as you each time I came back to the internet after a while away.
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| Maco Pvt Funderground Posts: 3593  |
It might be ridiculous for all parts involved but it's still funny.
---- Crackhead Megadeth reigns supreme.
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| Marcus Doit Like Bernie Posts: 642 |
Written by Zap on 22.08.2016 at 18:28 Written by [user id=4365] on 22.08.2016 at 18:01 The whole thing is pretty silly; I've always appreciated that you (JOOE) and Jupitreas got rid of numbers in reviews, would be an interesting change to do sitewide. Though there might be some backlash at being forced to read. Even a thumbs up/thumbs down would be an improvement. Ah well, till then we can only sit back, enjoy, and watch the shitstorms.
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| ScreamingSteelUS Editor-in-Chief Admin Posts: 5689 |
Written by Daniell on 22.08.2016 at 09:08 I appreciate your words of praise, and you do have a solid point. I don't have any obligation to explain or justify my taste to begin with, much less to people with such illogical and desperately silly reactions to the musical predilections of a stranger on the internet. There are a couple of reasons why I bother. First, I organize my thoughts best by explaining them. I have to do this in real life, too; I understand my own positions and opinions better if I bounce them off someone. I don't typically look for feedback when I do that, which works out well, because I'm not likely to find anything useful here; I do this more so that I have a venue to reason through what I already think than to actually try to convince somebody of something. I like the sound of my own voice (or the sight of my own writing, in this case). Second, I don't want any such arguments, unfounded and petty as they are, to be blotting up my reviews without being dealt with. Even if I don't actually need to, I want it clear that I can defend my opinions if I want to. Also, if somebody who was not secure in their own understanding of taste and subjectivity and whatnot were to come along and see these complaints without a proper rebuttal, they might be unduly influenced into thinking that these complaints have some merit. Finally, I always hope, just a little bit, that the people who bitch about my writing might turn out to be okay people. As inflammatory as I understand my reviews to be sometimes, I don't want anybody to leave here fuming over something so trivial. I'd like to be on good terms with everybody around here. That's obviously wishful thinking, because we're on the internet, but I still harbor some hope (however misguided) that if I explain myself to somebody they actually might understand where I'm coming from.
---- "Earth is small and I hate it" - Lum Invader I'm the Agent of Steel.
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| BLIND GUARDIAN Posts: 46 |
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| ScreamingSteelUS Editor-in-Chief Admin Posts: 5689 |
Written by BLIND GUARDIAN on 22.08.2016 at 22:29 I'm genuinely surprised that it took this long for someone to pick up on that. The originality score is always a pesky thing to nail down, because it's unclear as to how we should be judging something's originality. There is some unoriginal material on this album, but I thought that the influx of new ideas, the different sound of this album compared to the rest, and the fact that Sabaton has a pretty unique and recognizable sound in general warranted a higher originality score than might initially seem appropriate.
---- "Earth is small and I hate it" - Lum Invader I'm the Agent of Steel.
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| psykometal A staff guy... Elite Posts: 6101  |
@Jooe and Zaph, it's a matter of choice. It's the writer's decision to apply numbers to their reviews or not, and we all know that. @Hevy Kevy, I get where you're coming from entirely about not liking to let such shitty comments go unresponded because it has the potential to make it appear as if you can't actually defend yourself. I have the same problem of not liking to let that kind of shit just sit. Lol
---- ~Zep, Database and Forum Moderation~ 
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| Cy Nide Posts: 64  |
I've listened to the album a few times since first reading this review and while I think 9.3 is pretty generous, it is a solid Sabaton record. I think it tops the last few they've done, probably my favorite since Art of War (of course, time will tell if that's just the newness of it). If you're a Sabaton fan, there's plenty to like about this record, if you're not, there's nothing so drastically different about this one that it's gonna convert you. Definitely a solid album, but again, 9.3 may be a bit high...
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Written by [user id=160508] on 23.08.2016 at 12:43 And rightly so.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| RockSplendid Posts: 68  |
Very mainstream and teenage band! Their live was simply garbage (I was there for Amon Amarth, btw)
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| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6062 |
Written by RockSplendid on 23.08.2016 at 18:06 So you were there for another mainstream teenage band.
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| EthicaOdini85 Posts: 30 |
Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 20.08.2016 at 23:17
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| EthicaOdini85 Posts: 30 |
Written by ScreamingSteelUS on 20.08.2016 at 23:17 too much fluridated water for you naab !
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| ScreamingSteelUS Editor-in-Chief Admin Posts: 5689 |
Written by EthicaOdini85 on 24.08.2016 at 19:53 I notice you deleted your previous comment, wherein you actually went to the trouble of reasserting your original claim rather than resorting to something that barely constitutes a cohesive thought, but that doesn't change the fact that you have simultaneously disputed the right of any band to have a 9.3 rating and handed out 10s to several bands yourself. I wonder how you will defend your ludicrous assertions.
---- "Earth is small and I hate it" - Lum Invader I'm the Agent of Steel.
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) no band deserves such a grade and especially this catchy albumHits total: 18285 | This month: 23