Sabaton brought their massive live show to a sold out Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg on October 1st, turning the historic venue into a full on metal battlefield. With Wings of Steel opening the night before Pop Evil took the stage, the crowd was already warmed up with both bands bringing the energy and ready for a night of heavy riffs and big anthems.
When Sabaton finally took the stage with “Ghost Division,” the energy in the room immediately went through the roof. The band kept that momentum going with “Yamato,” “The Red Baron,” “The Last Stand” and “Stormtroopers,” giving fans plenty of opportunities to sing along from the very beginning.
The set continued with a strong mix of Sabaton classics and newer material, including “Christmas Truce,” “Soldier of Heaven,” “Night Witches,” “The Attack of the Dead Men,” “Bismarck,” “Fields of Verdun” and “Hordes of Khan.” “Christmas Truce” brought the lights down at the burt with everyone shining their cell phones all throughout the sold out venue.
As the show moved toward its final stretch, the energy only continued to build. “Templars” led into “Primo Victoria,” one of the biggest singalongs of the night, followed by “Swedish Pagans” and “To Hell and Back” to close things out. By the final notes, the entire theatre was still completely locked in.
Sabaton have mastered the ability to make a theatre show feel like an arena production, especially with fire production in their set and the Winnipeg stop was no different. With a sold out crowd, huge choruses, powerful performances and a set packed with fan favourites, Sabaton delivered exactly what their fans came for, a loud, energetic and memorable night of metal.
Words and photos by Mikey Jablonski