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| Photo Credit: Steve Bright/Travis Shinn – L to R: Chris Rörland (guitar), Thobbe Englund (guitar), Jonny Hawkins (Nothing More, vocals), Joakim Brodén (vocals), Pär Sundström (bass), Mark Vollelunga (Nothing More, guitars), Hannes Van Dahl (drums) |
The global giants of Power Metal, SABATON, have today released their brand-new single “Crossing The Rubicon feat. NOTHING MORE”, featuring Jonny Hawkins (vocals) and Mark Vollelunga (guitar) from Nothing More. This special version of the song is now available worldwide, while the original non-featured version will appear on the upcoming album LEGENDS, which bridges rock music and history for fans of all ages. LEGENDS marks the band’s label debut with Better Noise Music and will be released on October 17.
“Working with our American brothers in NOTHING MORE on our new single ‘Crossing The Rubicon’ has been an absolute pleasure,” says frontman Joakim Brodén. “When we shared the song with the guys, they really liked it and were genuinely excited about collaborating, which got us really pumped. There’s something powerful about bringing two worlds together in music.”
“I’m really glad we had the chance to team up with our new labelmates NOTHING MORE for this one,” continues bassist Pär Sundström. “Collaborating with them added a cool touch. This one’s a special treat for both their fans and ours!”
NOTHING MORE frontman Jonny Hawkins adds: “This song awakens that old war spirit in me and makes me want to ride a horse straight into the gates of hell. I’m proud to be part of it with such an incredible band like Sabaton.”
“We are very honored and excited to release this collaboration with our newfound Swedish labelmates Sabaton,” says NOTHING MORE guitarist Mark Vollelunga. “It was fun to do something a little different than we were used to, and we’re stoked they wanted us to put our special NOTHING MORE sauce on their Scandinavian Metal.”
On their upcoming album LEGENDS, SABATON—Joakim Brodén (vocals), Pär Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Thobbe Englund (guitar), and Hannes Van Dahl (drums)—dive into the stories of some of history’s greatest and most iconic figures, including Joan of Arc, Napoleon Bonaparte, Julius Caesar, and the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.
“Crossing The Rubicon” focuses on Julius Caesar, who rose to fame as consul of the Roman Republic. He introduced reforms to reduce corruption and simplify taxation, while leading his legions to victories in Gaul, defeating tribes such as the Arverni, Helvetii, and Belgae, and expanding Roman territory to the Rhine and Danube. As his influence grew, his political rivals became increasingly hostile. Famously, he crossed the Rubicon, sparking a civil war. After defeating his enemies in Italy, Greece, and Egypt, Caesar returned to Rome with dictatorial powers, introduced the Julian calendar, and modernized public works. But on the “Ides of March” in 44 BC, he was assassinated in the Senate by a group of conspirators, ending his reign. His legacy endured—as a brilliant strategist and ambitious leader who reshaped Rome’s future.
“Everyone knows the phrase ‘Veni, vidi, vici’,” says bassist Pär Sundström. “It’s iconic, just like Caesar himself. He was a force of nature who reshaped an entire empire. And his story… well, it’s pure Sabaton material. When we did some internal trials of the new songs and shared them with close friends and colleagues, we quickly noticed this was one of the—if not the—standout tracks from the new album. Let’s see if the fans agree.”
“Julius Caesar is an incredibly intriguing figure,” continues singer Joakim Brodén. “And let’s be real, he’s known all around the world for a reason! His story is legendary. He was a brilliant general, a bold leader, and a trailblazer of ancient history. His story has war, ambition, betrayal… everything that fits right into the world of Sabaton. He didn’t just fight battles; he changed the course of history. That mix of strategy, drama, and raw power made him a go-to choice for LEGENDS.”
LEGENDS will be available in multiple physical formats and exclusive collector’s editions, including CD, 2-CD Digibook, 2-CD Earbook (both including the exclusive Storyteller Edition), 11 unique vinyl editions (each with a special vinyl color and exclusive artwork), and a limited box set (including another exclusive vinyl color, the 2-CD Earbook, and a colored cassette as an exclusive format). Among the 11 vinyl collector’s editions, each representing a legendary figure, is the “Julius Caesar Edition.”
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| “Julius Caesar Edition” Artwork |
LEGENDS is a rock odyssey that transcends time and borders, with melodic guitar riffs, spine-tingling choirs, and epic choruses. It marks a bold evolution in storytelling, diving deep into the lives of history’s most fascinating and enigmatic figures. These aren’t just rock songs—they are anthems forged from the blood and legacy of warriors, kings, strategists, and revolutionaries.
For the first time ever, all members of the band collaborated in the songwriting process. This is SABATON like you’ve never heard them before—unyielding and unbound. LEGENDS is a global journey through the annals of warfare, leadership, and unbreakable will.
SABATON have always focused on writing songs about historic battles, wars, and heroics, cementing their bond with their loyal fans. They’ve once again worked closely with their network of experts—established since the launch of the Sabaton History Channel on YouTube—to ensure that the new album is as historically accurate as possible.
The band continues their collaboration with artist Peter Sallai for the striking album artwork, and producer Jonas Kjellgren once again manned the Black Lounge Studios in Sweden to deliver the classic SABATON sound fans have come to love.
Four songs from LEGENDS have already been released: “Hordes of Khan” (June 6) and “Templars” (April 25). “Hordes of Khan” has been streamed over 6.3 million times, with the video surpassing 1.4 million views. “Templars” has reached over 19.1 million streams, with its official video and lyric video amassing more than 5.7 million views. “Lightning at the Gates” was released on July 25, already surpassing 2.6 million streams and over 1 million video views. “The Duelist,” also released July 25, has gained over 3 million streams and more than 1 million views.
In the more than two decades since their formation, SABATON have headlined the biggest festivals, sold out arenas worldwide, and built a loyal global fanbase, earning their reputation as one of the hardest working bands in the industry. Since their 2005 debut album, their 10 studio albums have garnered multiple gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards across the globe. Eight of their albums reached the international Top 10, six of them in the Top 5. SABATON have been nominated eight times for the Metal Hammer/Golden Gods Award, winning “Breakthrough Artist” in 2011, as well as “Best Live Band” across three different years. They have also been nominated for the Swedish Grammis Award for Best Heavy Metal Band. To date, they have achieved more than 3 billion global streams across all platforms and over 2 billion views on YouTube.
LEGENDS Track-Listing
1. Templars
2. Hordes of Khan
3. A Tiger Among Dragons
4. Crossing the Rubicon
5. I, Emperor
6. Maid Of Steel
7. Impaler
8. Lightning At The Gates
9. The Duelist
10. The Cycle Of Songs
11. Till Seger
SABATON 2025 EU / UK Tourdaten
14.11.2025 – (DE) Köln, Lanxess Arena
15.11.2025 – (DE) Berlin, Uber Arena
16.11.2025 – (CZ) Ostrava, Ostravar Arena
18.11.2025 – (CH) Zürich, Hallenstadion
20.11.2025 – (DE) München, Olympiahalle
21.11.2025 – (AT) Wien, Stadthalle
22.11.2025 – (PL) Krakau, Tauron Arena
24.11.2025 – (DE) Stuttgart, Schleyerhalle
25.11.2025 – (DE) Frankfurt, Festhalle
26.11.2025 – (LU) Esch an der Alzette, Rockhal
28.11.2025 – (FR) Paris, Accor Arena
29.11.2025 – (FR) Lyon, LDLC Arena
01.12.2025 – (NL) Amsterdam, Ziggo Dome
02.12.2025 – (BE) Antwerpen, Sportpaleis
04.12.2025 – (UK) London, The O2 Arena
05.12.2025 – (UK) Manchester, Co-op Live
06.12.2025 – (UK) Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
08.12.2025 – (DE) Hannover, ZAG Arena
09.12.2025 – (DK) Kopenhagen, Royal Arena
11.12.2025 – (NO) Oslo, Unity Arena
12.12.2025 – (SE) Göteborg, Scandinavium
13.12.2025 – (SE) Stockholm, 3Arena
