Review Summary: The formula is working. This time better.
There is that one conflict. Are the bands following the same formula over and over again succesfull? Yes. As long as the formula is working I don't see any problems. If you like the previous materials, that means you don't have a problem with the formula. So, the problem is not self-repeating. That's a whole different thing. Sabaton recorded lots of different albums with the same formula. The concept changes, driven-power changes but the band and the style stays the same. They never repeated themselves. There are some records among their discography that I failed to connect, such as Metalizer and Coat of Arms. But those records did not suffer self-repeating. They suffered lack of creativeness. Lack of catchiness.
Things are working great for Sabaton since Carolus Rex. Their probably biggest record. Then came Heroes and The Last Stand. Those two records didn't get much attention if you compare them to Carolus Rex. If you ask me, they are pretty great. Different lyrical themes than eack other and lots of catchiness. I'm not complaining. But we can always expect better. The Great War is a proof for that.
The Great War and their previous two records' formulas are much like each other. They use this formula in every record but what I'm talking about is those three records has a lyrical integrity. Not concept, integrity. Because I believe Sabaton's idea of concept album is like Carolus Rex and Art of War. And also I believe they are dedicated to keep this lyrical integrity formula for their records for quite some time. So, let's open up a things little bit. The Great War is a vocal-driven album. Basically, Joakim is leading this time. Fully. And he did a quite marvellous job."The Attack of the Dead Men", "The Red Baron", "The Future of Warfare"... Those songs have some great melodies. This is what we expecting, right? If they released something lot different than this, some of their fans would bury them.
The Great War fits right in to my expectations. Not better than Carolus Rex and Art of War but definitely tops Heroes and The Last Stand. If Swedish power metallers continue to go this way, if they keep their catchy and exploding (you get what I mean) sound, they will be again... triumphant!
Recommended tracks:
The Future of Warfare
82nd All the Way
The Attack of the Dead Men
The Red Baron
Great War
Fields of Verdun
