SABATON: Next Album 'Will Still Be About War But Not What People Are Expecting From Us'

Metal Kaoz recently conducted an interview with vocalist Joakim Brden of Swedish metallers SABATON. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal Kaoz: Have you ever faced harsh criticism for your lyrics? I mean do people understand that you are just narrating stories and talking about people dying in battle regardless of their beliefs?

Joakim Brden: In the beginning we were facing a lot of criticism. Especially, due to some artwork we had in albums and t-shirts; maybe the German-style helmets and stuff like that. But most of the time, let's say 8 of 10 people get it instantly, person number 9 gets the whole idea if you explain to him the concept of writing about military history and then there is last person who will know understand you no matter what you'd say or do; you are fucked anyway.

Metal Kaoz: SABATON are going to be back in the U.S. with EVERGREY. ACCEPT and EVERGREY are musically different bands and so is the audience they attract; has this any effect on your setlist?

Joakim Brden: We won't change the setlist that much after all we are not big at all around here. But we also know that our fans tend to be very loyal so we don't want to come back and play exactly the same songs. Maybe we will use some of the more progressive songs we have, but other than that, of course, we are going to play "Primo Victoria" and stuff like that. We would be crazy to make radical changes.

Metal Kaoz: You have also announced a Swedish live date supporting IRON MAIDEN; so there you are going to have a really big stage and a bigger audience; have you planned something special for that show?

Joakim Brden: We wanted to bring pyros and everything, but we are not allowed and I don't think it is matter of IRON MAIDEN but it is the production company's decision. But still, it is going to be great since this is our country (even though it is not our hometown) and 64,000 tickets have been already sold. This is going to be the biggest audience SABATON have played for. When you are playing in small stage, you do not understand what a guy like Bruce Dickinson does and how great frontman he is. Because, when you are on big stages, it might take half of the song to get from one side to other and then you are just panting (laughs)

Metal Kaoz: You have been on the road for quite some time; so, are there any thoughts about the next album? Do you write music while on tour?

Joakim Brden: Well, at least I try to write while on tour but I am afraid there is not much coming out of me. There are some ideas but I cannot really work on them since I need to have many vocal harmonies and stuff like that and it is not that easy to do with just one guitar. But I think two or maybe three songs are almost complete in terms of music and vocal melodies. But not the lyrics; it is going to be a surprise so I cannot really tell you everything. (laughs) It will still be about war but not what people are expecting from us. Most people are going to be surprised when they see the war we are singing about.

Metal Kaoz: Is there a chance to get bored writing lyrics about military history?

Joakim Brden: No, I don't think so. Although this kind of happened in "Coat Of Arms" where the lyrics were only about WWII and that felt a little bit limiting. I liked it also but I found that my interest was getting elsewhere and this is where we are heading right now with the next album. When it comes to reading books, I have all the time in the world when we are on tour and especially in America where there is a lot of traveling between cities and states. I mean, nine hours in a bus, what can you do?

Read the entire interview from Metal Kaoz.