Band : Sabaton
Album title : Coat Of Arms
Label : Nuclear Blast
Distributor : Pias
Release date : 21/05/2010
Release : CD

The Swedish Power Metallers from Sabaton have managed to bring out 5 studio albums over the last five years. So you cannot blame them for not being productive. And I have to say that even while being that productive, quantity has not out-focused quality. 

This time they have chosen the Second World War as theme for their album. Whereas a title like "Midway" speaks of itself, other titles aren't as straight-forward and need some listening to, to find out what they are about.  For instance "Uprising" goes about the insurrection of Warsaw in Poland.

Musically not much has changed. Sabaton are still able to deliver some good quality Power Metal, but this time I've got the impression they sound a bit more bombastic, and have added a lot more keyboards to the songs. In "The Final Solution" they even manage to produce a keyboard solo. Drum work is pummeling, even sounding a bit militaristic at times, which goes well with the theme of the album of course. Guitar work is also impeccable, with some great solo's to top it off. To sum it up they're able to provide a wall of sound. And Joakim Broden has got just the right voice for this kind of music.

Those of you who liked the previous Sabaton album Art Of War should not hesitate and can buy this album blindly. If you've not heard the band before, but like aggressive, militaristic Power Metal, you might give this a try. It's not subtle, but it's good stuff.

80/100

Erik Morren.