“Carolus Rex”, the new album from Swedish metallers SABATON, has registered the following first-week chart positions:
Sweden: #2
Poland: #7
Germany: #7
Finland: #9
Commented the band: “We just found out the amazing news that SABATON entered the world chart at position 50. With that, SABATON are, at the moment, the best-selling Swedish artist, worldwide, all because of YOU who bought the brand new album, ‘Carolus Rex’!”
“Carolus Rex” sold around 950 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 29 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
“Carolus Rex” was released on May 22 via Nuclear Blast Records. The lyrics for the CD, which was made available in both English and Swedish, deal with the Swedish Empire (referring to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721).
The band previously stated about “Carolus Rex”: “For the first time ever we have had an expert to help us out with the theme, the well-known Swedish historian Bengt Liljegren. We have also added some extra time in the studio to find the absolute right sound on ‘Carolus Rex’, and our producer, Peter Tägtgren, says that this album will mark a brand new standard for how a heavy metal album should sound like!”
Liljegren’s published works include acclaimed biographies of Adolf Hitler and Karl XII. He also appeared in the popular Swedish TV series “Boston Tea Party”.
“Carolus Rex” – English version track listing:
01. Dominium Maris Baltici
02. The Lion From The North
03. Gott Mit Uns
04. A Lifetime Of War
05. 1 6 4 8
06. The Carolean’s Prayer
07. Carolus Rex
08. Killing Ground
09. Poltava
10. Long Live The King
11. Ruina Imperii
“Carolus Rex” – Swedish version track listing:
01. Dominium Maris Baltici
02. Lejonet från Norden
03. Gott Mit Uns
04. En Livstid i Krig
05. 1 6 4 8
06. Karolinens bön
07. Carolus Rex
08. Ett Slag Färgat Rött
09. Poltava
10. Konungens Likfärd
11. Ruina Imperii
The lyric video for the English version of SABATON’s new single, “A Lifetime Of War” (Swedish: “En Livstid i Krig”), can be seen below.
SABATON recently parted ways with guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, drummer Daniel Mulback and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr. The band’s new touring lineup is as follows:
Joakim Brodén – Vocals
Pär Sundström – Bass
Chris Rörland (NOCTURNAL RITES) – Guitar
Thobbe Englund (WINTERLONG, RAUBTIER) – Guitar
Robban Bäck (BALTIMOORE, PREY) – Drums
“A Lifetime Of War” lyric video (English):
“Carolus Rex” lyric video (English):