UPDATE: Sabaton have released a music video for the English version of their latest song, "Royal Guard." Watch the video further down the page.

Swedish power metal battalion Sabaton are back with a stunning video for "Livgardet," their first new song since the release of 2019's The Great War album. It's sung entirely in Swedish and is a tribute to the 500th anniversary of the Swedish Royal Guard — Livgardet.

It's fitting that Sabaton follow-up The Great War with a song commemorating a historic anniversary as that last record was made to honor 100 years since the start of World War I. Here, they shed their more typical power metal assault in favor of a bombastic five-minutes that are, of course epic, but set to a militaristic drum beat with a rigid, chanting-like vocal cadence.

As for the video, seen below, Sabaton played the part and donned military uniforms that served as a nod to the half-millennium old era.

"Since 2012 and Carolus Rex, we have been looking forward to writing more songs in Swedish, and we felt that we were not done with the history of our fatherland," said bassist Pär Sundström.

Using this opportunity to serve up a history lesson, the bassist continued, "Over the past years, we have been discussing around topics until something obvious came up. One of the oldest military regiments in the world, the Swedish Royal Guard (Livgardet), was formed in the Sabaton home region in Sweden, Dalecarlia, in 1521 by the legendary Swedish king Gustav Vasa."

"For the past 500 years, they have evolved with the times and served under various kings and queens around the world and are still active today," Sundström added, furthering the education of Sabaton fans worldwide.

He added, "We felt that such an anniversary would be worth a song, and we aimed at writing a respectful tribute, an anthem for this Swedish regiment and its legacy. The rich 500 years of history is, needless to say, extremely hard to fit into one song, and that is why we mainly focused on the parts and battles that happened during the age of the Swedish Empire. We aimed to write a respectful tribute, a powerful anthem, for this Swedish regiment and its remarkable legacy."

Watch the "Livgardet" music video in all its splendor toward the bottom of the page and view the lyrics directly below.

Sabaton, "Livgardet" / "Royal Guard" Lyrics

From the frozen north they came
Fought for founding father's claim
It was then, their tale, began

Trace their roots from 16 strong
By the king where they belong
En tid
Av Krig

Wherever he goes, near or far, they are close
For the King of Sweden they lay down their lives
For the Swedish crown they stand
By the king, at his command
500 years for the fatherland
Marching across the belt
Crushing blow at Narva dealt
Livgardet our Royal Guard

Sworn protectors of the throne
Royal doctrine set in stone
For the crown, you shall give your life

By traditions from the past
Swedish soldiers stand steadfast
I frid
Och i strid

And if one should fall, yet another, heeds the call
For king and for country they lay down their lives
For the Swedish crown they stand
By the king, at his command
500 years for the fatherland
Marching across the belt
Crushing blow at Narva dealt
Livgardet our Royal Guard

För Sverige i tiden
Dit konungen går
De gör vad som synes omöjligt, vad än framtiden spår

Wherever he goes, near or far, they are close
For the King of Sweden they lay down their lives
Still for the crown they stand
By the king, at his command
500 years for the fatherland
Marching across the belt
Crushing blow at Narva dealt
Livgardet our Royal Guard

Sabaton, "The Royal Guard" Music Video

Sabaton, "Livgardet" Music Video

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