Nuclear Blast

Paradise Lost: Ascension 2025 [Digipack / CD]

(Swedish/English Version)

Candlemass: Candlemass 2005 (Polar rough mix) [2 CD]

Nightwish: Yesterwynde 2024 [CD]

Sabaton: The war to end all wars 2022 [CD]

If you have any doubts, please update your books now: our favourite Swedish war machine SABATON are on their way to the absolute top of the heavy metal world.<br/><br/>Need some evidence? As we speak, these platinum selling, Falun-based heavy metal heroes are headlining some of the biggest European festivals through fires and flames and playing massive stadium concerts in front of tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans with legendary comrades, such as IRON MAIDEN and SCORPIONS. In August, SABATON will once again command the troops on the holy grounds of Rockstad Falun Festival - aka Sabaton Open Air - when the band hosts their own three day festival - closing the last day with an explosive performance. Then, later this year, SABATON's sight will be directed at the USA, where the band is a doing huge tour and also performing at Ozzfest Meets Knotfest Festival in California, alongside BLACK SABBATH, SLIPKNOT and others.<br/><br/>However, this is just the beginning: when the winter arrives, SABATON will unleash their prestigious live power upon the whole of Europe. No mercy will be given and all guns will be blazing, when this tireless killing machine will blow out sold-out arenas to another dimension. During this tour, named »The Last Tour«, SABATON's support comes from German metal legend ACCEPT.<br/><br/>What? The last tour of SABATON? No, not really, as the band's worldwide war plans are already marching years ahead.<br/><br/>The title of this massive, to say the least, world tour comes from SABATON's latest masterpiece »The Last Stand«. The new record, which will be unleashed to the masses in August by the world's most powerful heavy metal label Nuclear Blast Records, is simply a perfect addition to SABATON's discography, which already contains some of the most heroic heavy metal known to man.<br/><br/>"We have done a majestic record and we couldn't be happier with it. Is »The Last Stand« SABATON's strongest album to date? Well, time will tell us that, but one thing is 100 % guaranteed: on the record, there are lots of songs that will go down in SABATON's own hall of fame,? says the band founder and bassist Pär Sundström.<br/><br/>"The Last Stand" contains all the elements that our fans could ask for,? adds the band's main composer and singer Joakim Brodén. "The new record tells a victorious tale of SABATON in 2016, and even further. Lots of fresh ideas and unprecedented magic can be heard on these new tunes - for example, check out bagpipe and Hammond driven major key song 'Blood Of Bannockburn'. We have never done anything like that before.?<br/><br/>"At the same time, our legions of diehard fans will be pleased to observe some echoes from our older works: such as relentless heavy metal of »Primo Victoria« (2005), catchy flavours of »The Art Of War« (2008) and deep epicness of »Carolux Rex« (2012). »The Last Stand« contains all of these elements - and lots more!?<br/><br/>If the previous record, straightforward heavy metal assault »Heroes«, showed the unstoppable power of SABATON's eloquent line-up, huge-sounding »The Last Stand« conquers whole new kingdoms. The band's apparent sixth member, HYPOCRISY / PAIN mastermind and renowned producer Peter Tägtgren (LINDEMANN, DIMMU BORGIR, CHILDREN OF BODOM among others), grasped everything out of Brodén, Sundström, drummer Hannes Van Dahl and guitarists Thobbe Englund and Chris Rörland. The result? Innovative guitar solos and razorsharp riffs, pounding drum patters, catchier than catchy choruses and haunting melodies - and the list goes on... Well, let's put it this way: if SABATON used to sound intense, bombastic and invincible, this time they sound absurdly intense, bombastic and invincible.

Tobias Sammet is not only an excellent musician, composer and songwriter - you can even call this ambitious mastermind a really outstanding artist who knows how to cast his love and emotion for music in beautiful, virtuos moulds. With AVANTASIA, the biggest and most important rock opera phenomenon of our times, the charismatic band leader is able to create fantastical, magic, parallel worlds with every new release since the band's foundation in 2000.<br/><br/>The Fulda, Germany-based vocalist - also mastermind of the power metal giants EDGUY, (founded in 1992) - is one of the most internationally successful musicians to come out of Germany during the last few decades. Tobias Sammet already wrote rock history by selling more than three million records and by playing thousands of shows in more than 40 countries all over the world. But creativity and inspiration need space, need air to breathe and the ideas are now bubbling... <br/><br/>The previous record, »The Mystery Of Time« (released March 2013), which entered #2 in the German charts and more top positions in many countries worldwide, is followed by the most multifaceted opus in AVANTASIA's history.<br/><br/>»Ghostlights«, does not only deliver exciting surprises, it presents a stellar array of guest musicians; they unite on this record to continue with the concept of the previous album (»The Mystery Of Time«) and impressively take the listener on a journey.<br/><br/>"A heavy, melodic, atmospheric and catchy journey - and lots of voice! Tobi has done it again."<br/>SOUNDI (FIN), Timo Isoaho<br/><br/>"Definitely people will love it! Amazing singers - best voices since Pt. I/II. Don't miss it!"<br/>SPARK (CZ), David Havlena<br/><br/>"It's epic, it's catchy - it's AVANTASIA. Metal the unique way. The best so far."<br/>SCREAM (N), Stig Odegaard<br/><br/>"On »Ghostlights«, Tobias Sammet uses all the cards of the deck, adding also new elements in AVANTASIA style as heavier guitars and darker melodies. The result is a masterpiece that confirms his natural ability of songwriter and performer."<br/>METAL MANIAC (IT), Romano Depolo<br/><br/>"This is probably Avantasia's most eclectic album so far"<br/>SWEDEN ROCK (S), Erik Thompsson<br/><br/>"Catchy, melancholic, heavy, full of melodies and anthems. Classic Avantasia! Also very promising for the powerful shows to come. A lot of great guitar solos and vocal lines"<br/>ROCK HARD (F), Guillaume Fleury<br/><br/>"Tobi is ruling again with an incredible cast!"<br/>ROCK TRIBUNE (B), Vera Matthijssens<br/><br/>"Easily the most diverse album of Tobias Sammet's career. Each and every guest singer leaves an impression on a mind of the listener. everything encompasses why Tobias Sammet is one of the best songwriters in power metal."<br/>METAL WANI (IND), Owais Nabi<br/><br/>"Many influences, many different approaches.. with touches of Meat Loaf, Queen and a Gothic note"<br/>METALITALIA (IT), Giovanni Mascherra<br/><br/>"Heavy Metal for the biggest stages of the world!<br/>CLASSIC ROCK (D), Jürgen Tschamler