Sabaton headlined Hellfest 2019 last night as a replacement of Manowar. Not without difficulties, the Swedish band delivered a great set full of surprises.
Earlier on Friday, the festival organisation announced that headliners Manowar would not take the stage that day. A little later, Sabaton were announced as replacements, having performed at Knotfest meets Hellfest the day before. Although the surprise performance knew some difficulties, this only added to the unique atmosphere.
Vocal problems
Only a day before, Sabaton performed at Knotfest. This made Joakim Brodén, the singer, lose his voice after only three songs. But it was not enough to make the Swedish power metal band interrupt their concert: the two guitarists, Tommy and Chris, stepped in and sang as lead vocalists, using lyric sheets. This made the fans very passionate and gave a special energy to the show.
Special setlist
To celebrate the mid-summer, the band also gave the opportunity to a few fans to be on the side of the stage. Other fans were sitting on tables close by. Yet, the surprises did not stop: just before the encore, Sabaton added a song to the setlist which they hadn’t perform at Knotfest, for the pleasure of all Hellfest attendees: ’40:1′, with Tommy on vocals.
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Sabaton
Sabaton are a well-known power metal band within the metal community, and what makes them special is that their main lyrical themes are inspired by history: wars, battles and heroes to remember. Being active since 1999, they have released eight studio albums, while their latest album The Last Stand came out in 2016. Moreover, Sabaton have been nominated as Best Live Band at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards in 2018. Besides having performed at many festivals around the world, the band even have their own festival. Sabaton Open Air takes place every year during summer in their hometown.
Hellfest 2019
Hellfest is a hard rock and metal festival in France. It is one of the best and largest metal festivals in Europe. The festival was organized for the first time in 2006, and takes place annually in Clisson. Every year more than 50,000 visitors attend the festival, which is often sold out. This year, KISS and Tool headline the Main Stage, while Slipknot organised their own Knotfest on the day before the festival.
For more information, visit the official website.
Hellfest 2025
