Single Slam – Fields of Verdun by Sabaton (The Great War)

Swedish power metallers, Sabaton, release the first single from their upcoming new album The Great War. This track is called Fields of Verdun.

The Great War will be released on the 19th of July via Nuclear Blast Records. As you can probably guess from the name, it is a concept album dealing with The Great War otherwise known as World War I. The Great War will be the band’s 9th studio album. It follows their 2016 release, The Last Stand. You can read our thoughts on that release here. We have been waiting excitedly for this first taste of new music, especially since hearing they will be a headliner at the 2019 edition of Bloodstock Festival.

Sabaton are fronted by Joakim Brodén, on vocals and keys with Pär Sundström on the bass. Chris Rörland is on guitars with Hannes van Dahl on drums and Tommy Johansson also on guitars. All members also provide backing vocals. Speaking about the new single, Fields of Verdum, the band state – “We chose ‘Fields of Verdun’ to be the first single since we felt it represented the album perfectly, a classic Sabaton metal song which we cannot wait to include in our future set-lists.”

So expect to hear this one at Bloodstock then! Let’s check it out.

Fields of Verdun is just over 3 minutes in length and in truth is a little disappointing. It isn’t a bad song at all but is predictable, boring and sounds like any other Sabaton song. Topic aside, it could easily have sat as a filler track on The Last Stand. Basically it is very safe. It starts well enough with a nice drum fill that leads into a decent riff. Vocals are delivered well, in Joakim’s familiar tone, pace and style. There is a little prechorus which is very keyboard dependant before heading into a typically simple but singable chorus. There is a nice guitar line in the chorus but man, doesn’t it all sound familiar.

The second chorus sees the song switch up to a gentler rhythm with tapped drums and backing before heading into a solo that doesn’t feel quite right. It’s first section doesn’t quite sit in right with the song though it moves into a second section which clicks back in and sounds great. After the solo we head back in to the chorus on repeat through to the close.

Damn I wanted to love this song but I don’t. It is a bit boring and a bit flat. Like I said up above, Fields of Verdun feels like Sabaton playing it very safe. I must reiterate, it isn’t a bad song. It has a wicked drum fill intro, the vocals are typically strong and it is fairly catchy. Maybe I expect too much. After decent success with The Last Stand, moving up to being a festival headliner – I guess I just got myself too excited to see what Sabaton do next. Well, it seems they just do the exact same thing again. Fields of Verdun lacks a bit of ambition from such a talented band. Still, it is only a first single. I am still excited enough about The Great War to see what we get next.

You can grab a copy of Fields of Verdun now on all the usual streaming platforms. You can preorder a copy of The Great War from Sabaton and Nuclear Blast here. Keep up to date with news on the band and the new album at their website, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.