Sabaton have recalled their early struggle to get their music released because it was mistaken for “Nazi propaganda.”
The Swedish metal heroes often tackle controversial material in their music, such as on the track The Final Solution from 2010 album Coat Of Arms. The song deals with the Holocaust, while their 2005 debut album Primo Victoria includes the word ‘Nazi’ in the lyrics, leading to a ban for the record in Germany.
Frontman Joakim Broden tells Metal Hammer: “Nobody would ask Stephen Spielberg if he was a Nazi because he made a movie about the Holocaust.
“It’s storytelling. If someone has a problem with what we sing about, they should talk to the leaders who made this shit happen many years ago.”
And on the furore surrounding Primo Victoria, Par Sundstrom adds: “It’s totally understandable that you can misunderstand Sabaton if you hear a bit of a song and don’t know where it comes from.
“It was harder in the beginning. Our first album was denied release in Germany because it contained the word ‘Nazi’. They thought it was neo-Nazi propaganda.
“When we sent the lyrics, they said, ‘This is actually quite interesting’ and we were able to release it.”
Sabaton’s eighth album The Last Stand is released on August 19 (Friday) via Nuclear Blast.
The full interview with Sabaton features in issue 287 of Metal Hammer magazine, which is available now in print and via TeamRock+. Find out more about TeamRock+ and sign up here.
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Sabaton remaining tour dates 2016⁄17
Aug 18: Binkelbuhl Summer Breeze, Germany
Aug 19: Hamburg Elb-Riot, Germany
Aug 20: Falun Sabaton Open Air, Sweden
Aug 28: Straszecin Czad Festival, Poland
Aug 29: Wroclaw Rock For Freedom, Poland
Jan 07: Oberhausen Konig Pilsener Arena, Germany
Jan 08: Antwerp Lotto Arena, Belgium
Jan 10: Dublin Vicar Street, Ireland
Jan 11: Glasgow O2 Academy, UK
Jan 13: Manchester O2 Apollo, UK
Jan 14: London O2 Brixton Academy, UK
Jan 28: Ludwigsburg MHP Arena, Germany
Jan 29: Amsterdam Heineken Music Hall, Netherlands
Jan 31: Frankfurt Jahrhunderthalle, Germany
Feb 01: Saarbrucken Saarlandhalle, Germany
Feb 04: Bamberg Brose Arena, Germany
Feb 05: Munich Zenith, Germany
Mar 15: Berlin Columbiahalle, Germany
