SABATON — Primo Victoria (review)

SABATON — Primo Victoria album cover Album · 2005 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
Stephen
The sophomore release by the Swedish war-drummers, Sabaton, contained nine power/heavy metal songs which was based on war stories covering from D-Day landings, Stalingrad battle, Vietnam war, and Iraq War. Released in 2005, "Primo Victoria" or First Victory, was the first album under their new label, Black Lodge Records. Looking at Sabaton probably will reminds you of the mighty warrior of Manowar or the pirate lords of Running Wild, a very thick war theme sticks on their musical and lyrical characteristic.

"Through the gates of hell, as we make our way to heaven" and that's the opening cries of Joakim Broden when he blows "Primo Victoria". He has a very unique voice that sounded like Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead but kinda heavier, like a Supreme Commander rallying his troops at the battlefield, too bad his accent can be irritating at times. "Reign of Terror" displayed a thunderous drummings of Daniel Mullback, but judging from the songwriting aspect, it lacks of something impressive, and unfortunately that also goes for the next song, "Panzer Battalion".

"Wolfpack" tries a slower tempo in the veins of Rhapsody style with their epic symphonic chant but still can't elevate my mood until "Counterstrike" blasted me off with an energetic riffs and explosive drummings. Battle of "Stalingrad" always fascinates me but not with their song here, probably their worst. Luckily, "Into The Fire" quickly suffocates me with the overwhelming and muscular rhythm, and though lacks of the necessary killer solos, this song's composition is enough to stand out as the best tune of the album.

"Purple Heart" is a good metallic ballad that slowly build upwards in tempo and faded out elegantly with an enchanting choir. Sabaton closed the book with "Metal Machine" - an intense heavy metal with an amusing lyric that's comprised of song-titles from bands like Iron Maiden, Manowar, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, and many other bands. And another fun fact is the main riffs of the song borrowed from Bon Jovi's "You Give Love A Bad Name".

Bottomline, "Primo Victoria" is not a breakthrough inventive album of the power metal scene but not a bad one as well. Worth to try especially if you like a deep war theme but just remember that I've warned you about the vocal.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

A Sonication Technical Death Metal
OBSCURA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed