There's a Swedish power metal band called Sabaton who teach history through their music, including multiple albums devoted to World War II battles and heroes.
The Metal Band Teaching History Through Song
Somewhere in the unlikely intersection of heavy metal and history class, you'll find Sabaton—a Swedish power metal band that's been teaching millions of fans about warfare, heroism, and historical events since 1999.
While most metal bands stick to themes of darkness, fantasy, or personal angst, Sabaton went a different direction entirely. They write songs about actual battles, real soldiers, and genuine historical events. And somehow, they've made it work spectacularly.
A Discography That Doubles as a History Syllabus
Sabaton's catalog reads like a military history course. Their 2019 album The Great War is entirely devoted to World War I, covering everything from the Christmas Truce to the Red Baron. Heroes (2014) tells the stories of individual soldiers and resistance fighters from World War II.
Their WWII coverage is particularly extensive:
- "Primo Victoria" - The D-Day landings at Normandy
- "Resist and Bite" - Belgian resistance fighters
- "The Final Solution" - The Holocaust (yes, they went there, with appropriate solemnity)
- "Attero Dominatus" - The fall of Berlin
- "White Death" - Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä
Why It Actually Works
The band does their research. They consult historians, visit battlefields, and dig into primary sources. Frontman Joakim Brodén has said in interviews that they spend as much time researching as they do writing music.
The result? Songs that are historically accurate enough that teachers have started using them in classrooms. There are countless stories online of students discovering history through Sabaton, then diving deeper into the subjects on their own.
The Sabaton History Channel
Taking their educational mission even further, the band launched the Sabaton History Channel on YouTube in 2019. Hosted by historian Indy Neidell (of The Great War documentary series), each episode breaks down the real history behind their songs.
Episodes cover everything from the technical details of tank warfare to the personal stories of the soldiers they've immortalized in song. It's proper history content, just with a metal soundtrack.
Not Without Controversy
Writing about war—especially World War II—means walking a tightrope. Sabaton has faced accusations of glorifying war and questions about songs that cover German military actions. The band has consistently pushed back, noting they write about all sides of conflicts and focus on individual human stories rather than political ideologies.
Their song "The Final Solution" about the Holocaust drew particular scrutiny, but the band defended it as a necessary acknowledgment of history's darkest chapter. "We can't only write about the glorious parts," Brodén explained.
A Global Phenomenon
What started as a niche concept has grown into something remarkable. Sabaton regularly headlines major festivals, has over 3 million monthly Spotify listeners, and has introduced countless young people to historical events they might never have learned about otherwise.
They've proven that education doesn't have to be boring—sometimes it just needs more guitar solos and pyrotechnics.