Sabaton have been in the business for over twenty years, but only with their last disc “The Great War” they managed to jump to the top of the German album charts. And even though the shows planned for March as part of “The Tour To End All Tours” had to be canceled, the new album “The War To End All Wars”, which will be released on 04.03.2022, is awaited with excitement. We had the opportunity to ask drummer Hannes van Dahl a few questions in the run-up to the release. So to say the interview to end all interviews \ud83d\ude09<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HF: Since your new album will be released in a few weeks, how would you describe the evolution from “The Great War” to “The war to end all wars” to your fans? Did you possibly consciously approach certain things differently than on your previous discs? <\/strong><\/p>\nHannes: As a constant \u201cself critic\u201d when it comes to writing songs there will always be things you want to change or improve from previous releases. To me, The War To End All Wars is such a musical journey to listen to, the stories we couldn\u2019t fit on The Great War, but felt needed their songs are there and from start to finish it feels like a real heavy metal rollercoaster. To me it\u2019s one of the most diverse and dynamic albums we\u2019ve done, from the heaviest most brutal song we\u2019ve done to the most cheerful one.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HF: Both albums deal with the First World War. Did you plan from the beginning to make two albums about this historical event – and if so, was a double album not an option – or did this come up later?<\/strong><\/p>\nHannes: We simply felt that there were to many stories untold, there\u2019s only that much you can fit on one album and still keep it interesting to the listener, so the natural step was to write the big brother.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HF: How should one imagine the selection of themes for your songs? Do you decide together which stories will be included in your songs or does one band member have the last word? Are there any topics that you would like to deal with, but whose realisation has not been possible so far?<\/strong><\/p>\nHannes:<\/em> There are so many ideas flowing in this band, and we\u00b4re also so thankful to our fans that keeps sending in stories, ideas and historical events that we\u2019ve haven\u2019t heard about or know very little about. Many of which has ended up being a song on an album. The everlasting balance of making sure the music or the song does the Story justice. There are a ton of stories we haven\u2019t done yet, that are in the box of ideas for the future.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HF: Are there any ideas\/songs that you worked on during the making of “The war to end all wars” that didn’t make it onto the album in the end? If so, will they be taken up again at a later date?<\/strong><\/p>\nHannes:<\/em> The process of writing songs is a constant, Usually the music comes first, we write throughout the year, all the time a little bit, Even on tour. Everybody brings a \u201ctouring\u201d studio in case ideas pops up. And then the puzzle of choosing the topic and making sure that the music does the story or theme justice.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HF: In your songs you only deal with historical events. What made you convey history in such a way and make it transparent (cue Sabaton History Chanel)?<\/strong><\/p>\nHannes: I\u2019d say this comes from the beginning from Joakim and P\u00e4r, with a genuine interest in history and all that comes with it, if you\u2019re truly passionate about something it\u2019s going to be easier to be inspired and write. For me coming in to this band as a novice, I wasn\u2019t all that very interested in History, though I always found it to be very important not to forget, I got totally inspired hearing the stories, and as passion works, it rubs off, and now I\u2019m a lot more into it and find it very interesting.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HF: Aren’t you afraid of being denounced as a “radical band” because of the prevailing war topic? Have you already had negative experiences in this respect? And how do you deal with the contrast between the war theme on the one hand and the “still-beer” party atmosphere at your concerts on the other?<\/strong><\/p>\nHannes: I can understand people seeing it as a paradox, but the lyrics speaks for themselves. History is history, whether you like it or not. And Also, not everyone is in to the history part of the band, some people just want to drink beer and watch a heavy metal show, and thats possible as well. If you want to dig deeper into the stories, you can just go ahead, lyrics, Sabaton History channel etc.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HF: What would you say to critics who think that all your albums sound basically the same and don’t show any development? Do you (still) take notice of (negative) critics?<\/strong><\/p>\nHannes: Id say their critic basically sounds all the same and don\u00b4t show any development, but hey, if thats what they think that\u2019s totally fine. One beautiful thing to remember, you dont have to listen to it and Everyone is entitled to their own opinion \ud83d\ude42<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HF: During your tour in 2008 Joakim asked the audience if they knew what the track “Rise of Evil” was about. Do you think your fans pay more attention to the music than to the lyrics? Are there themes\/fates in your songs that are particularly close to you?<\/strong><\/p>\nHannes: To me personally I think it\u2019s fine either way, some people just want to drink beer and see a heavy metal concert, some people are more interested in the stories & history behind the song. And then you can totally dig deeper if you want to, in the age of wikipedia & Sabaton History channel it\u2019s all there!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HF: Last year you released three non-album tracks: “Livgardet”, “Steel Commanders” and “Defence Over Moscow”. What can you tell us about the genesis of these songs? Was it not an option to put these songs on the album as bonus tracks?<\/strong><\/p>\nHannes: This was the perfect timing to work on songs we\u2019ve been wanting to do for a long time, but necessarily didn\u2019t have time to fully do, with videos, artwork etc. If there\u2019s one positive thing with a pandemic, it\u2019s perhaps that, a little more time to produce videos and stand alone tracks. Usually with our 100-180 shows a year its a delicate balance of what to do, and when. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\nHF: Thank you for taking the time and all the best for the future.<\/strong><\/p>\n