Sabaton and The Legendary Orchestra – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham – Saturday 6th December 2025

ARENA METAL

In the last few months, we have been blessed with some of metal’s biggest current names treading the boards of arenas across our shores, and it seems that just turning up and playing the songs doesn’t hit the mark any more with every conceivable configuration of stage, ramps and pyros constantly pushing the experience for fans. Sabaton clearly received the memo, and decided to take things to the next level with their Legends tour pushing the envelope even further with a show that was as much theatre as concert, but more about that in a bit. 

THE LEGENDARY ORCHESTRA

Instead of bringing a traditional support band, the Swedes brought The Legendary Orchestra with them. This collective features the talents of some of the finest musicians around, coming together to recreate and reinvent Sabaton classics. An hour after the doors opened, the choir and orchestra took to the stage, taking up their positions on the stage, the back of which was a large castle, completed by large turrets around the front on the stage. Mia Asano (electric violin), Patty Gurdy (hurdy-gurdy) and Noa Gruman (vocals) followed and took up their positions at the front as the entourage launched into ‘Ghost Division’ and jaws around the arena collectively dropped. 

Right from the outset, this was something special. It was powerful, emotive and bombastic, taking Sabaton favourites such as Bismarck and Sarajevo, and giving them a complete makeover. The songs were easily recognisable but were far more than just cover versions. These were reworked masterpieces, focussing on the music and musical arrangements with the choir and Noa providing vocals where they would add further depth.

The Final Solution saw the arena light up with mobile phones whereas Resist and Bite had the crowd singing along loudly. The set was pulled to a reluctant close with a triumphant Swedish Pagan with the stage bathed in blue and yellow light, giving the crowd another opportunity to warm up their vocal cords. The orchestra’s hour flew by and every single person I spoke to had been blown away, all saying that they would like to see the band again, perhaps even extending their repertoire to include other bands’ material. Fingers crossed.

SABATON

After a short turnaround, it was the turn of Sabaton. At other shows on this tour, there has been a second stage at the mixing desk linked to the main stage by a 29m bridge which lifts into the air, high above the crowd when not in use, but the (relatively!) intimate confines of Nottingham arena would not allow this and so all of the action took place on the main stage.

This began with an appearance from Napoleon who was soon bantering and winding up the crowd, before Genghis Khan joined him, arguing about who was the best leader and who the most powerful empire. They were rudely interrupted by an appearance from Julius Caesar, who argued that he and the Roman Empire trumped all, culminating in Napoleon and Khan stabbing Caesar, followed by the Templar Knights making an appearance…..Twenty minutes in, and not a single note had been played!

DRAMA AND THEATRE

As the theatre came to a close (for now!), the knights took off their helmets, and it was the Sabaton! They were given their instruments and launched into Templars opening a set which saw as much drama and theatre as it did metal. Hordes of Khan saw Genghis Khan reappear, while I, Emperor and Crossing The Rubicon saw Napoleon and Caesar back on stage respectively before a mammoth Carolus Rex saw the band in blue and yellow jackets, promoting their homeland and, of course, a shout out to Ikea!

The pyros had been relentless including flames shooting from the dragon heads supporting the drum kit, but The Red Baron gave some respite  from the flames for those at the front. As the set progressed, Prussian soldiers took to the stage, cannons were fired and dynamite was detonated. The band were in good spirits, taking time to chat with the crowd throughout the set, including a reflection of the band’s early days and tours, and a reflection of how far the band have come, and how grateful they are for that. 

LEGENDS

A drum solo brought a change of pace before the haunting Carol of the Bells-esque intro to Christmas Truce had the arena lit up by mobile phones once again. Attack Of The Dead Men saw the band walking through the crowd, led by Joakim wearing a gas mask and armed with a gas gun. Perhaps the highlight of the set for me though was the one-two of Night Witches (opened by cackling in the darkness) followed by Primo Victoria which saw the pyros and crowd volume both ramp up in intensity.

The evening was drawn to a close by The Art Of War, To Hell And Back and an epic Masters Of The World. All had the crowd singing and bouncing along, proving yet again that metal, and live music, is not only alive and well in the UK, but is thriving. This tour was part theatre, part concert but all spectacle and had been a triumphant success with the crowd lapping up every single second.

Legends indeed!

All photography by Andy Pountney (Event Photography Awards Winner 2024 and 2025). You can check out more of his work on shot_in_the_dark_photography2 on Instagram.

Sabaton: Website

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