Heroes (Sabaton album) explained

Heroes
Type:	studio
Artist:	Sabaton
Cover:	Sabaton Alblem cover.jpg
Released:	16 May 2014
Recorded:	January–February 2014
Studio:	The Abyss (Pärlby, Sweden)
Genre:	Power metal
Length:	CD 36:57 Digipak 44:18 Earbook 50:21
Label:	Nuclear Blast
Producer:	Peter Tägtgren
Prev Title:	Carolus Rex
Prev Year:	2012
Next Title:	The Last Stand
Next Year:	2016

Heroes is the seventh studio album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton, released on 6 May 2014. It is the first album to feature the new Sabaton line-up with guitarists Chris Rörland and Thobbe Englund, as well as new drummer Hannes van Dahl. It was produced by Peter Tägtgren at Abyss Studios.^[1] The artwork was created by Péter Sallai and the photos by Ryan Garrison. The first single, "To Hell and Back", was released digitally on 14 March 2014 and available on iTunes, Nuclear Blast, Amazon and Google Play.^[2] The second single, "Resist and Bite", was also released digitally on 2 May 2014, available on iTunes, Nuclear Blast and Amazon.^[3]

Pär Sundström said about the album's concept: "Well, I think this is a perfect concept for Sabaton. We decided to go for the idea to write about individuals instead of bigger battles. Individuals who we think basically went beyond their call of duty, put themselves into harm's way for the good of others".^[4]

In an interview to the Brazilian Army's official blog, Sundström explained that the idea for the track "Smoking Snakes" came when he was doing some research for the album: "I tried searching for the word 'Helden', which means heroes in German. I then came across the story of the Drei Brasilianischen Helden (Three Brazilian Heroes) and, from that point on, we deepened our research and decided to write the track."^[5]

Track listing

All lyrics by Joakim Brodén and Pär Sundström. All music by Joakim Brodén,^[6] except "Inmate 4859" by Brodén & Peter Tägtgren, and "Soldier of 3 Armies" by Brodén & Thobbe Englund.^[7]

• These last two tracks are listed on every other released version of this album.

• These last three songs are only featured on the earbook edition, although track 13 is available on Spotify.^{[8] [9]}

Music video

The song "To Hell and Back" was also made into a music video which was directed by Owe Lingvall and produced by Bengt Larvia. It was uploaded on Nuclear Blast Records main YouTube channel on 15 May, and currently has over 5 million views as of March 2020.^[10]

Personnel

• Joakim Brodén – lead vocals, keyboards
• Pär Sundström – bass, backing vocals
• Chris Rörland – guitars, backing vocals
• Thobbe Englund – guitars, backing vocals
• Hannes van Dahl – drums, backing vocals

Release information

• The special limited earbook edition (28x28cm) is housed in a faux leather sleeve including a metal emblem, a signing card and a five-track bonus CD (only through mailorder).^[11]
• Limited 500 blue yellow splatter vinyls edition.^[12]
• Black vinyl edition with six songs on the A-side and six on the B-side of which the last two are bonus tracks: "7734" and "Man of War".^[13]
• Limited Digi book edition.^[14]
• Limited 300 green vinyls edition.^[15] The green vinyl edition also comes in a DLP (double LP) format.^[16]
• Limited edition Clear Numbered Vinyl, LP, Album 100 hand numbered copies with gatefold cover.^{[17] [18]}

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sabaton – Official Headquarters NEW ALBUM "HEROES" TO BE RELEASED IN MAY 2014! - Sabaton - Official Headquarters. Sabaton - Official Headquarters. 19 March 2015. 19 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140519095853/http://www.sabaton.net/new-album-heroes-to-be-released-in-may-2014/. dead.
2. Web site: SABATON – first single "To Hell And Back" ... - Nuclear Blast. 19 March 2015.
3. Web site: SABATON - 'Resist And Bite' – Digital ... - Nuclear Blast. 19 March 2015.
4. http://www.grande-rock.com/sabaton-2014 Interview with Pär Sundström
5. Web site: Banda Sabaton concede entrevista onde fala sobre a canção Smoking Snakes. EBlog. Brazilian Army. 23 July 2014. Portuguese. 17 July 2014.
6. Web site: Sabaton. RELEASES – DISCOGRAPHY – LYRICS. Sabaton. 11 August 2016.
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC5h7j7B1T0 Nuclear Blast Records: SABATON - Heroes (OFFICIAL TRACK-BY-TRACK PART II), official YouTube Video
8. Web site: SABATON | Heroes EARBOOK DELUXE - Nuclear Blast . 15 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140415141359/http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/products/tontraeger/cd/buch-cd-cd/sabaton-heroes-earbook-deluxe.html . 15 April 2014 .
9. Web site: Sabaton – Heroes (2014, CD). Discogs.
10. SABATON - To Hell And Back (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO). 15 May 2014. YouTube. 19 March 2015.
11. Web site: Sabaton – Heroes (2014, CD). Discogs.
12. Web site: SABATON | Heroes BLUE/YELLOW SPLATTER VINYL - Nuclear Blast . 15 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140415141404/http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/products/tontraeger/vinyl/lp/sabaton-heroes-blue-yellow-splatter-vinyl.html . 15 April 2014 .
13. Web site: SABATON. 19 March 2015.
14. Web site: SABATON | Heroes DIGIBOOK - Nuclear Blast . 14 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140414030509/http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/products/tontraeger/cd/cd-digi/sabaton-heroes.html . 14 April 2014 .
15. Web site: SABATON . 19 March 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150403064928/http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/products/tontraeger/vinyl/lp/sabaton-heroes-green-vinyl.html . 3 April 2015 .
16. Web site: SABATON . 19 March 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104213/http://shop.nuclearblast.com/en/products/sound/vinyl/2lp/sabaton-heroes-green-vinyl-import-.html . 2 April 2015 .
17. Web site: Sabaton – Heroes (2014, Clear, Vinyl). Discogs.
18. Web site: SABATON | Heroes CLEAR VINYL - Nuclear Blast . 22 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140523013347/http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/products/tontraeger/vinyl/lp/sabaton-heroes-clear-vinyl.html . 23 May 2014 . dead .
19. Web site: Årslista Album – År 2014. Sverigetopplistan. sv. 7 March 2021.
20. Web site: Årslista Album – År 2015. Sverigetopplistan. sv. 7 March 2021.