In the annals of metal history, 2023 stands out as the time when the ultimate spectacle hit the stage: The Tour to End All Tours. This bold proclamation may have raised eyebrows, but the lineup spoke for itself. Featuring Finnish Eurovision metal titans Lordi, Japanese trailblazers Babymetal, and the colossal Swedish power metal band Sabaton, this tour was destined to be etched into the memories of metalheads across the UK and Europe.
Kicking off in Leeds last week, the tour thundered into London on Saturday night, unleashing Sabaton’s massive and spectacular show at the iconic Wembley Arena. As one of the big four of power metal and among Sweden’s most successful metal bands, Sabaton has earned their place at the helm for a night of over-the-top metal theatrics and storytelling.
Formed in 1999, Sabaton has undergone several lineup changes, but the current roster is firing on all cylinders and finds the band at their absolute peak. Joakim Brodén (vocals and keyboards), Pär Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Tommy Johansson (guitar), and Hannes Van Dahl (drums) bring the simple but powerful metal arrangements to life, and they look to be having quite a lot of fun in doing so.
The band is renowned for lyrics centered on historical events, particularly military history and warfare, drawing inspiration from legendary battles and heroic acts of soldiers throughout the ages. With acclaimed albums such as Carolus Rex, Heroes, The Last Stand, and The Great War, Sabaton has garnered a fiercely loyal fanbase and performed on countless stages and festivals around the globe.
Opening the evening was Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band LORDI, known for their elaborate monster costumes and arena-sized anthems. The band was formed in 1992 by lead vocalist and songwriter Mr. Lordi (real name Tomi Petteri Putaansuu), and they released their debut album Get Heavy in 2002. But it was when winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 that they exploded on the scene and achieved international fame. They blasted through an 8-song set including their “hits”—”Hard Rock Hallelujah,” “Would You Love a Monsterman?,” and, of course, “Blood Red Sandman.”
Next up was a band that I’d been trying to catch for years, and I was excited to see if the hype was real, and holy hell, it was. Unless you’ve been living under a heavy metal rock for the last ten years, Babymetal is a Japanese metal band that blends heavy metal music with elements of J-pop and idol culture. (I know, it sounds like this would never work as a concept, but it does.) The band was formed in 2010 by music producer Kobametal and features three female vocalists; Su-metal, Moametal, and Momometal.
Babymetal gained international attention with their 2014 self-titled debut album, which featured the hit single “Gimme Chocolate!!.” Their music often incorporates fast-paced guitar riffs, heavy drums, and high-pitched vocals, and their live shows are known for their insanely perfect choreography. Babymetal has become a global phenomenon releasing several other successful albums, including Metal Resistance, Metal Galaxy, and their latest, 2023’s The Other One. Not sold yet? Listen to their latest single “Divine Attack” and tell me I’m wrong.
The arena was brimming with metal enthusiasts spanning various generations. Old-school fans and the younger crowd melded seamlessly, forming a united sea of metal aficionados. Finally, it was time for the mighty Sabaton to smash the stage.
While I consider myself more of a casual Sabaton fan, I made sure to listen to their latest extended EP, “Stories from the Western Front,” before the gig. This EP marks the third part of a trilogy, and its timing feels rather eerie, given the current events looming over us. Interestingly, only one song from their latest release made it into the set—a fiery rendition of the Motörhead classic, “1916.”
True to their word, Sabaton’s 18-song set on The Tour to End All Tours elevated storytelling and theatrics to unprecedented heights. The performance was an onslaught of raw energy, bursting with smoke, pyrotechnics, flamethrowers, apocalyptic masks, snow, villains, bazookas, and an imposing tank dominating the stage. The atmosphere was electrified, fueled by pure, unadulterated heavy metal anthems that left audiences craving more.
The Tour to End All Tours will forever be remembered as a monumental event that brought metalheads together worldwide. For those lucky enough to witness, it was a celebration of heavy metal’s power, passion, and unyielding spirit.
SABATON
BABYMETAL
LORDI
