Sabaton / Motorpoint Arena / Nottingham

Dec 10

Dec 10 Sabaton / Motorpoint Arena / Nottingham

Tonight we headed into Nottingham and to the Motorpoint Arena, as Swedish metal maestros Sabaton take to the stage on the final UK date of their Legendary Tour 2025.

On heading into the arena bowl, one can’t help be impressed. I’ll mention the stage design now, as it is relevant to both acts. So many headliners have an impressive set design, but most of the time, the support performs with a lesser set up or simply with a large curtain behind them hiding the main set.

Not so here – Not only Sabaton, but The Legendary Orchestra use the impressive stage to its full extent.

Well I say stage ……. There’s a giant medieval castle looming up in front of us !

The design is impressive. The front edge of the stage is decorated like the battlements on top of a castle wall. Behind this platform, the castle walls rise again to a second platform again with battlements, and then behind these, towers at the back (inflatable?) give it a great sense of depth. The ramparts are lined with torches and the overall effect is very impressive…. And believable.

At the larger arenas, there is also a secondary stage, with a walkway that links to the main stage, but because of the size of the Motorpoint, this element is missing, but to be honest – it doesn’t make any difference to the experience.

The Motorpoint is impressively packed for the support act The Legendary Orchestra. The brainchild of Sabaton’s bassist, Pär Sundström, The orchestra is not just a support act, but a musical entity in it’s own right.

It’s a genre-bending collective where the raw intensity of heavy metal converges with symphonic sound. The result is a musical juggernaut – somically massive, cinematic and entirely unlike anything audiences have seen or heard before.

The Legendary Orchestra is a collective of hand-picked musicians – a mix of virtuosos, composers, vocalists and performers. Alongside these musicians are Mia Asano, a violinist who has toured with 2 Steps From Hell and performed a groundbreaking headline show at Wacken Open Air; Patty Gurdy, a singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and a hurdy-gurdy powerhouse; and acclaimed singer Noa Gruman, who is the frontwoman and founder of progressive metal band “Scardust” as well as the visionary behind Hellscore, an a capela metal choir.

The orchestra come out onto the stage to loud cheers from the Nottingham crowd and they dive into their set with Ghost Division. The set comprises of covers of a se3lection of some of the best known Sabaton tracks, but performed by an orchestra, not an electric guitar in sight. The tracks are reimagined arrangements crafted by award-winning producer Joost van den Broek.

And the result ?

Simply mesmerising ! There have been a number of cross overs between metal and orchestras in the past, but there is something about this….. something extraordinary. The selected Sabaton songs work brilliantly, Noa’s vocals soar across the performance and the violin performance from Mia, and the Hurdy Gurdy from Patty Gurdy add a different, more historic flavour to the tracks. All three are impressive, as they move freely round the stage, delivering a virtuoso performance.

The audience love the orchestral versions of classics such as Bismark and Sarajevo and cheer and clap loudly after each song.

Maybe what makes it stand out too is the set, all the elements, set design, lighting, performance and personality combined to deliver something impressive.

As I moved around the arena, I got the same reaction everywhere I went “Wow” was the most common word, frequently followed by ‘this is incredible ! A headline performance in itself’. Praise indeed.

And I have to agree. This is no mere support, this is a impressive theatrical performance in itself, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Sabaton have a lot to live up to !

Setlist

Ghost Division

Bismarck

Maid of Steel

Hearts of Iron

The Final Solution

Sarajevo

Angels Calling

The Unkillable Soldier

Resist and Bite

A Lifetime of War

Sparta

Winged Hussars

Swedish Pagans

Sabaton is a Swedish power metal band formed in Falun back in 1999 by lead singer Joakim Brodén, bassist Pär Sundström, guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, and drummer Richard Larsson. There have been a number of changes over the years with Brodén and Sundström remaining the only consistent members. The majority of Sabaton’s songs are about historical events, mainly military and significant battles. The band’s current line up is Joakim Brodén (vocals & guitar), Pär Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Hannes Van Dahl (drums) and Thobbe Englund (guitar).

They released their debut album “Primo Victoria” in 2005 and have released eleven in total so far, the latest being 2025’s offering “Legends”. They have also released four live albums, five live DVDs and twenty-nine music videos.

The arena is packed, and it’s the fullest I’ve seen it for a metal show for some time. The lights dim and out onto the stage steps Napoleon Bonepart. The show is part gig / part theatrical performance, and Napoleon (and others re-appear throughout). Napoleon delivers a humorous monologue, and is joined by Julius Ceaser, and finally by Genghis Khan. Then from the side of the stage, a procession of Templar Knights, holding torches aloft, walk slowly round in front of the stage and up. The Templars stand facing the crowd, with shields emblazoned with the iconic red Templar cross. They hand the shields to their squire. Slowly they reach up and remove their helmets, revealing themselves to the crowd to roars ! Guitars are donned, and mics grasped and they rush headlong into the opening track Templars.

The set focuses on the new “Legends” album, with opener Templars alongside A Tiger Among Dragons and Hordes of Khan showing a renewed power and ferocity. Sabaton deliver a stunning performance, assisted by Napoleon, Julius and Ghengis, along with WWI German soldiers and Swedish guards.

At multiple points Joakim changes costume, to fit the theme of the song, returning to his iconic, metal panelled tactical vest and shades in between. On I, Emperor, the villain of the night Napoleon returns to the stage, popping up behind Joakim on. The battlements, before pointing to cannons stage left and right, almost conducting them as they roar to the delight of the crowd.

For another new song Crossing the Rubicon, Ceasar returns as Sabaton deliver a thumping hard rock performance and adding historical elements that mesh together perfectly. Stormtrooper is a relentless metal assault on the senses and a show stopper, for which Joakim dons a long brown leather coat with rifle strapped to his back. As the song reaches its literally explosive conclusion, Joakim presses a comically large TNT plunger to set off a loud BANG and flashing light. Throughout the set, pyrotechnics are used to maximum effect, creating some impressive visual displays, and sheets of flames reach for the rafters and the heat can be felt far back into the crowd.

For Carolus Rex another costume change as Joakim appears in a military tunic in navy blue and yellow, the colours of their homeland. Two Swedish guards stand to attention and the Swedish Tre Kroner are proudly displayed as Joakim jokes about their duty under new Swedish cultural law, to promote their homeland, announcing this number is sponsored by Ikea, before performing this stunner in his native tongue.

During one break (and costume change) bass player Pär Sundström takes to the spotlight, standing proud in a beam of white light as he addresses the crowd. He talks of his visit to Nottingham and how he got to go to Warhammer World, and reflects on Sabaton’s history, and growth from small stages, and the journey they and their fans have been on. So many have knocked them and told them they wouldn’t make it, but here we are…… here you are, a tribute not just to their success but a middle finger salute to all those that doubt us all. The crowd roar and cheer in approval.

There are so many stand out moments in the set, it’s hard to pick out one or two, but the performance of Christmas Truce is a real highlight. Joined on stage by The Legendary Orchestra (who remain for the rest of the set). A stunning, and emotional portrayal of the legendary first world war Christmas Truce it’s a truly impressive experience.

The lights dim, and the smoke swirls eerily round the stage, low, hugging the stage around the ankles as everything is eerily lit in green. From stage left Sabaton emerge in uniform, wearing gas masks, as they parade around the stage during Attack of the Dead Man a sombre reflection on the use of poison gas in WWI. Visually impressive and thoughtfully delivered.

And through it all, Joakim and the band maintain a wonderful rapport with the crowd, and most of all have fun. Later in the set Joakim collapses in fits of laughter and messes up the start to a song, and the whole band are laughing at him, the joy of what they do, just shines through.

The set ends with a triumphant performance of the classic Masters Of The World at the end of which the confetti cannons explode covering the crowd in ticker tape.

Time has simply flown by. An hour long set from The Legendary Orchestra, and a 2 hour plus set from Sabaton. Sabaton show once again they are the masters of Power Metal.

Was this the best metal show of 2025 ? Well from comments from many around me, it was the best show of 2025 full stop !

Impressive visuals, pyros, theatre, metal and classical orchestra – maybe the perfect night.

Setlist

Templars

The Last Stand

Hordes of Khan

I, Emperor

Crossing the Rubicon

Carolus Rex

Red Baron

Stormtroopers

A Tiger Amongst Dragons