Sabaton is history power metal at its best, and “Templars” is another example of why they continue to set the standard for the genre.
Originally released in 2025 on Legends, “Templars” has been given a new version featuring Pop Evil vocalist Leigh Kakaty. Joakim Brodén’s unmistakable voice is as powerful as always, while Kakaty brings a different vocal flavor to the track without taking away from what makes it sound like Sabaton. I love this song, and this version gives fans another way to experience it.
Musically, it has everything you want from Sabaton: huge riffs, pounding drums, massive orchestration, and a chorus built to sound like an army marching into battle. There is an epic quality to the music that perfectly matches the story being told.
The lyrics dive into the history of the Knights Templar, beginning with their role as a Christian military order protecting pilgrims and sacred sites in the Holy Land. The opening establishes their mission before the song erupts into its battle cry centered around the Templars marching from the Temple Mount.
But the song doesn’t just celebrate their rise. The second half turns toward their downfall. The lyrics move from the glory of the order to accusations, betrayal, condemnation, and ultimately destruction. King Philip IV of France ordered the mass arrest of the Templars in 1307, beginning the events that eventually led to the order being dissolved. That dramatic change in history gives the song its darker second act.
That is where Sabaton continues to excel. They don’t simply write songs that sound like battles. They take historical events and turn them into metal songs that can make you want to learn more about the people and events behind them.
“Templars” is exactly what I want from Sabaton: heavy, epic, memorable, and rooted in a fascinating piece of history. Add the vocals of Leigh Kakaty, and this new version gives an already great song a fresh twist without losing its identity.
History power metal at its best. Sabaton continues to set the standard.
Atom Splitter PR
