Carolus Rex (album)

Last updated

Carolus Rex
Sabaton Carolus Rex.jpg
Studio album by
Released25 May 2012
RecordedOctober 2011 – January 2012
Studio The Abyss (Pärlby, Sweden)
Genre Power metal [1]
Length45:09
Label Nuclear Blast
Producer Sabaton, Peter Tägtgren
Sabaton chronology
Coat of Arms
(2010)
Carolus Rex
(2012)
Heroes
(2014)
Singles from Carolus Rex
  1. "Carolus Rex"
    Released: 8 April 2012
  2. "The Lion from the North"
    Released: 2012
No.TitleLyricsMusicThemeLength
1."Dominium Maris Baltici" ("Dominion of the Baltic Sea")   0:29
2."The Lion from the North"Brodén, SundströmBrodén Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden 4:42
3."Gott mit uns" ("God with Us")Brodén, SundströmBrodénThe 1631 battle of Breitenfeld 3:15
4."A Lifetime of War"Brodén, SundströmBrodénThe misery caused by the Thirty Years' War 5:45
5."1648"Brodén, SundströmBrodénThe 1648 battle of Prague 3:54
6."The Carolean's Prayer"BrodénBrodénThe Caroleans 6:14
7."Carolus Rex" ("King Charles")Brodén, SundströmBrodén, Ken KängströmThe crowning of Charles XII of Sweden, his belief in the Divine Right of Kings and the Great Northern War.4:53
8."Killing Ground"Brodén, SundströmBrodén, Ken KängströmThe battle of Fraustadt 4:24
9."Poltava"SundströmBrodénThe defeat in the battle of Poltava 4:03
10."Long Live the King"Brodén, SundströmBrodénThe death and funeral procession of Charles XII4:09
11."Ruina Imperii" ("Downfall of the Empire")Brodén, SundströmBrodénThe Carolean Death March and the fall of the Swedish Empire 3:21
Total length:45:09
Bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Twilight of the Thunder God" (Amon Amarth cover, limited edition and platinum edition only)3:59
13."In the Army Now" (Bolland & Bolland cover)3:59
14."Feuer frei!" (Rammstein cover)3:12
15."Harley from Hell" (Originally an exclusive on the compilation album Metalus Hammerus Rex, re-released on the platinum edition)3:50
Total length:60:09

A Swedish edition of the album, with Swedish lyrics, is also available.

Swedish edition track list
No.TitleLength
1."Dominium Maris Baltici"0:29
2."Lejonet från Norden" ("The Lion from the North")4:42
3."Gott mit uns"3:15
4."En Livstid i krig" ("A Lifetime at War")5:44
5."1648"3:55
6."Karolinens bön" ("The Carolean's Prayer")6:14
7."Carolus Rex"4:54
8."Ett slag färgat rött" ("A Battle Coloured Red")4:24
9."Poltava"4:03
10."Konungens likfärd" ("The King's Funeral Procession")4:09
11."Ruina Imperii"3:21
Total length:45:10

The limited 2-CD mail order edition of the album includes the English version with all of the bonus tracks and the Swedish version, as well as alternate artwork.

Covers

Personnel

Band members

Guest musicians

Charts

Chart (2012)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [12] 23
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [13] 67
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [14] 99
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [15] 90
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [16] 9
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [17] 7
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [18] 21
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [19] 2
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [20] 19
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [21] 8
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [22] 30
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [23] 30

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Poland (ZPAV) [24] Gold10,000*
Sweden (GLF) [25] 4× Platinum120,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Break the Cycle</i> 2001 studio album by Staind

Break the Cycle is the third studio album by American rock band Staind, released through Elektra Entertainment and Flip Records in 2001. It is Staind's most successful album to date and was the album that broke them into the mainstream. It was a huge international success for the band, as it spent three weeks at number-one position in the U.S. album charts and many weeks in the top-10 album charts of the Billboard 200, the UK and New Zealand. It sold at least 4 million copies in 2001. The album was certified 5× platinum by the RIAA for sales of over five million units in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Tägtgren</span> Swedish musician and record producer

Alf Peter Tägtgren is a Swedish musician and record producer. He is the founder, main songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist of death metal band Hypocrisy as well as the industrial metal band Pain in which he is the only member. He is also the owner of The Abyss recording studio and the co-founder of Lindemann, a music project between Tägtgren and Rammstein vocalist Till Lindemann. Tägtgren left Lindemann in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabaton (band)</span> Swedish power metal band

Sabaton is a Swedish power metal band from Falun. The vast majority of their albums are written about historical events, mainly wars and significant battles. Sabaton has been referred to as one of the "big four" power metal bands, along with Helloween, Blind Guardian, and DragonForce.

<i>Primo Victoria</i> 2005 studio album by Sabaton

Primo Victoria is the debut studio album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton.

<i>Attero Dominatus</i> 2006 studio album by Sabaton

Attero Dominatus is the second studio album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton, as well as the first to feature keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr. The album reached 16th place on the Swedish album charts, remaining in the listings for seven weeks.

<i>Metalizer</i> 2007 studio album by Sabaton

Metalizer is the third full-length release by Swedish power metal band Sabaton, but was actually recorded as their professional debut album in 2002. The band's first record company, Underground Symphony, withheld the recordings for several years before arranging to release the rights to the band's new label Black Lodge Records.

<i>Dark Passion Play</i> 2007 studio album by Nightwish

Dark Passion Play is the sixth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was released on 26 September 2007 by Spinefarm Records in Finland, 28 September by Nuclear Blast in Europe and 2 October 2007 by Roadrunner Records in the US. It is the first album without original vocalist Tarja Turunen, who was dismissed in 2005, as well as the first album involving future member Troy Donockley on uilleann pipes and tin whistle. It is the first of only two albums with vocalist Anette Olzon, who was eventually dismissed in 2012 after the release of the band's subsequent album, Imaginaerum. Tuomas Holopainen has referred to this album as the "album that saved his life".

<i>The Art of War</i> (Sabaton album) 2008 studio album by Sabaton

The Art of War is the fourth album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton.

<i>Coat of Arms</i> (Sabaton album) 2010 studio album by Sabaton

Coat of Arms is the fifth studio album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton.

<i>Beyond Hell/Above Heaven</i> 2010 studio album by Volbeat

Beyond Hell/Above Heaven is the fourth studio album by Danish rock band Volbeat. The album was released on 10 September 2010 on EMI in Denmark, on Vertigo in the rest of Europe, and on Republic in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabaton discography</span>

Sabaton is a power metal band from Falun, Sweden. As of 2022, they have released ten studio albums, including Carolus Rex, which was recorded in separate Swedish and English versions, certified gold in Poland and platinum in Sweden with 40,000 album sales, making it the "most successful Swedish heavy metal album ever" according to the band.

<i>End of Disclosure</i> 2013 studio album by Hypocrisy

End of Disclosure is the twelfth studio album by Swedish death metal band Hypocrisy. It was released on 22 March 2013. To promote the album, Nuclear Blast released the music video "Tales of Thy Spineless" on 4 April.

<i>Heroes</i> (Sabaton album) 2014 studio album by Sabaton

Heroes is the seventh studio album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton. It was released on 6 May 2014. It is the first album to feature the new Sabaton line-up with guitarists Chris Rörland and Thobbe Englund, as well as new drummer Hannes van Dahl. It was produced by Peter Tägtgren in Abyss Studios. The artwork was made by Péter Sallai and the photos were created by Ryan Garrison. The first single To Hell and Back from their album was released digitally on 14 March 2014 and available on iTunes, Nuclear Blast, Amazon and Google Play. The second single Resist And Bite was also released digitally on 2 May 2014, available on iTunes, Nuclear Blast and Amazon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joakim Brodén</span> Swedish singer

Joakim "Jocke" Brodén is a Swedish musician who is the lead vocalist, keyboardist and occasional third guitarist of the power metal band Sabaton. He and bassist Pär Sundström formed the band in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civil War (band)</span> Swedish power metal band

Civil War is a Swedish power metal band from Falun, formed in 2012 by several former members of Sabaton. The band adopted the same lyrical themes of war and historical battles that were characteristic of Sabaton. However, unlike Sabaton, many of Civil War's songs focus on American history and conflicts, whereas Sabaton's songs are primarily about European history and conflicts.

<i>The Last Stand</i> (Sabaton album) 2016 studio album by Sabaton

The Last Stand is the eighth studio album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton. It was produced by Peter Tägtgren in the Abyss Studios in Sweden and released on 19 August 2016. Like Sabaton's previous album Heroes, The Last Stand is a concept album and takes inspiration from "last stand" military battles. On 10 June 2016 the first single "The Lost Battalion" was released, followed by "Blood of Bannockburn" on 15 July and "Shiroyama" on 12 August. A lyric video for the title track was released on 25 January 2018.

<i>The Last Full Measure</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Civil War

The Last Full Measure is the third studio album by Swedish power metal band Civil War, released in 2016.

<i>Gods and Generals</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Civil War

Gods and Generals is the second studio album by Swedish power metal band Civil War, released in 2015.

<i>The Great War</i> (Sabaton album) 2019 studio album by Sabaton

The Great War is the ninth studio album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton. It was released on 19 July 2019. It is the first studio album to feature guitarist Tommy Johansson. Like many of Sabaton's albums, it is a concept album, this time about World War I, often known as the Great War. The songs cover multiple stories from the war, including those of Manfred von Richthofen, T.E. Lawrence, Alvin York, the Attack of the Dead Men, the Battle of Verdun, and others.

<i>The War to End All Wars</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Sabaton

The War to End All Wars is the tenth studio album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton, released on 4 March 2022. It is the last album to feature guitarist Tommy Johansson.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sabaton – Carolus Rex Review". heavymetal.about.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.[ dead link ]
  2. "Sabaton - Carolus Rex". Encyclopaedia Metallum. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  3. "Sabaton - Carolus Rex (guest review)". Metal Storm. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  4. Pain interview - Peter Tägtgren (part 3). YouTube. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  5. "Europa Universalis IV: Sabaton Soundtrack on Steam". Steam. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. "Sabaton – Official Headquarters Carolus Rex sells gold in Sweden - Sabaton - Official Headquarters". Sabaton - Official Headquarters. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  7. "Sabaton: 'Carolus Rex' Certified Gold In Poland - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  8. "Sabaton – Official Headquarters Carolus Rex Sells Platinum! - Sabaton - Official Headquarters". Sabaton - Official Headquarters. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  9. "Sabaton To Release 'Carolus Rex (Platinum Edition)' In November". Blabbermouth.net . 28 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  10. Chantler, Chris (14 November 2019). "The 25 greatest power metal albums". Metal Hammer . Future plc . Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  11. Price, Aaron (1 June 2018). "Album Review: FOLLOW THE CIPHER - Follow The Cipher". Metal Injection. Retrieved 30 September 2018. While the original has more power behind the vocals—this version is more haunting. Grahn adds a different level of depth to the song. The original gave the impression of a song for a destructive ruler; you can hear the power and terror behind that. Yet, Follow The Cipher's version sounds more like a history lesson. This is a ruler who lived in the past, these are the horrible things he did—feel for his victims. It's interesting how giving the same song to a vocalist with a much different style can shift the tone massively.
  12. "Austriancharts.at – Sabaton – Carolus Rex" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  13. "Ultratop.be – Sabaton – Carolus Rex" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  14. "Ultratop.be – Sabaton – Carolus Rex" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sabaton – Carolus Rex" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  16. "Sabaton: Carolus Rex" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sabaton – Carolus Rex" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  18. "Norwegiancharts.com – Sabaton – Carolus Rex". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  19. "Swedishcharts.com – Sabaton – Carolus Rex". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  20. "Swisscharts.com – Sabaton – Carolus Rex". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  21. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  22. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  23. "{{{artist}}} Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  24. "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2013 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  25. "Veckolista Album, vecka 8, 2020 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan.Scroll to position 45 to view certification.