Talking with foreigners about history can sometimes be quite frustrating for Poles as the rich history of their country is often ill-known outside of Poland. One of the reasons for this is the fact that there are not so many popular movies telling the numerous heroic stories of the Polish nation throughout history. 

Nevertheless, there are some exceptions. One of them is the Swedish Heavy Metal band Sabaton, which became famous for its rhythmic history lessons. Indeed, Sabaton’s trademark is the composing of songs about historical wars and battles. 

https://twitter.com/sabaton/status/1093518164703543296?s=20

On the band’s official website, we read that Sabaton “the heavy metal band that sings of real life wars and the people who played a part in them – of gruelling campaigns and dazzling acts of bravery, of magnificent victories and touching personal struggles – true stories more fantastic than any fiction.”

Sabaton is a popular band among Poles not only for the quality of the music it produces. As a matter of fact, among the numerous historical songs they composed, several of them refer to key elements of Polish history. The Swedish band praises the formidable winged Hussars, the legendary Witold Pileck and also pay tribute to the bloody Warsaw Uprising of 1944 among others.

https://twitter.com/sabaton/status/1260495087185862665?s=20

Sabaton was created in 1999 in the Swedish city of Fulan and has become one of the most successful bands in Swedish history. Their latest album The Great War (2019) reached number 1 on Swedish and German music charts. What’s more, their album Carolus Rex (2012) is the best-selling Swedish heavy metal album of all time.

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen

Cover photo: Twitter @sabaton