Sabaton | Margaret Court Arena
You could feel it in the air outside Margaret Court Arena on Friday night. This wasn't just another gig. The queues were insane, snaking around the block, and it felt like half of Melbourne’s metal scene had shown up for a history lesson they actually wanted. People were kitted out in camo, some in full-on armour – this was a proper gathering of the Sabaton battalion.
First up, Sweden’s Amaranthe hit the stage, and let's be clear: calling them a "support act" feels like an insult. The place was already packed to the rafters for them, and they played like it was their own headline show. They are a whirlwind of polished chaos – the triple-vocal attack of Elize Ryd's soaring highs, Nils Molin's clean power, and Mikael Sehlin's guttural roars is something else entirely. They didn't just warm up the crowd; they lit a fire under them.
@DrewHMedia
Then, the lights went down for the main event. The roar from the crowd wasn't just loud; it was the kind of noise you feel in your chest. And as Sabaton stormed the stage, you couldn't miss the backdrop. Forget your standard band logo – they had a giant banner featuring tanks... and emus. A brilliantly ridiculous nod to Australia that had everyone grinning.
They kicked straight into "Ghost Division," and the floor immediately erupted. It was a sea of pumping fists and headbanging from the front barrier all the way to the back. Frontman Joakim Brodén is a force of nature. Striding around in his trademark armoured vest, he’s got the crowd in the palm of his hand from the first second. He’s got that perfect mix of metal frontman and hilarious history teacher, especially when he’s trading jokes with drummer Hannes Van Dahl, who kept pretending to get annoyed at how much Joakim was talking between songs. It felt genuine and was hilarious to watch.
@DrewHMedia
The set was a non-stop barrage of historical heavy hitters. "The Red Baron," "Great War," "Bismarck"—every one was a massive anthem that the crowd screamed right back at them. But the absolute highlight? Joakim brings out this tiny, bright pink Hello Kitty guitar. The crowd loses it. He messes around, plays the riffs from "Smoke on the Water," "Beat It," and even "Master of Puppets" on this ridiculous thing before the band crashes into a blistering version of "Resist and Bite." It was pure, unadulterated fun.
They even gave us a taste of their new album with "Hordes of Khan," and if that track is anything to go by, the next record is going to be immense. Joakim promised they’d be back soon to tour it, and you better believe everyone in that room will be there.
The sound was bone-crushingly loud and crystal clear, just how it should be. You felt every bass drum kick like a cannonball. When they played "Cliffs of Gallipoli," you could feel a wave of Aussie pride sweep the room. The encore was absolute chaos in the best way possible, with the whole arena chanting along to "Swedish Pagans" before "To Hell and Back" sent everyone home buzzing.
Sabaton promised a show for the history books, and they bloody well delivered. It was loud, it was heavy, it was fun, and it was one of the best metal shows Melbourne has seen in a long time. Now, we wait for the return assault.