“Carolus Rex”, the new album from Swedish metallers SABATON, 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 was forced to cancel the first three shows of its current U.S. tour — which was scheduled to start on April 10 in Tampa, Florida — due to delays in obtaining visas over the Easter weekend for the band’s four new members.

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):

Source : Blabbermouth.net

SABATON have uploaded series of live clips from their current US tour on YouTube below:

To make their record release party in Hollywood a memorable one, Sabaton are inviting all their Southern California fans to attend their May 23rd show at the Key Club dressed in World War I or World War II period regalia to celebrate the release of their sixth studio album, Carolus Rex.

Any female or male in period dress can pick up their FREE Nuclear Blast grab bag at Sabaton’s merch table after the show. Those interested in putting an outfit together can visit The Supply Sergeant on Hollywood Boulevard or California Surplus Mart on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Carolus Rex – due out May 25th via Nuclear Blast – will be available for purchase on single Swedish CD (Sweden only) and single English CD plus a limited edition which features a double CD with both language versions. The double CD will also feature a different cover artwork. The album is produced by Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN).

Carolus Rex features the following tracklisting:

English version:
‘Dominium Maris Baltici’
‘The Lion From the North’
‘Gott Mit Uns’ (featuring Peter Tägtgren on vocals)
‘A Lifetime of War’
‘1 6 4 8’
‘The Carolean’s Prayer’
‘Carolus Rex’
‘Killing Ground’
‘Poltava’
‘Long Live the King’
‘Ruina Imperii’

Swedish version:
‘Dominium Maris Baltici’
‘Lejonet från Norden’
‘Gott Mit Uns’ (featuring Peter Tägtgren on vocals)
‘En Livstid i Krig’
‘1 6 4 8’
‘Karolinens bon’
‘Carolus Rex’
‘Ett Slag Färgat Rött’
‘Poltava’
‘Konungens Likfärd’
‘Ruina Imperii’

Audio samples from Carolus Rex, are now available on iTunes here.

Sabaton recently confirmed the departure of guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, drummer Daniel Mulback and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr, with vocalist Joakim Bróden and bassist Pär Sundström vowing to continue the band with new members.

New Sabaton line-up:
Joakim Brodén – vocals
Pär Sundström – bass
Chris Rörland – guitars
Thobbe Englund – guitars
Robban Bäck – drums
 

Source : Bravewords.com