Sabaton Premieres Cinematic Video For New Single ‘Templars’

Swedish metal historians Sabaton have unveiled “Templars,” a brand new single accompanied by a strikingly cinematic music video. This track offers the first taste of the band’s highly anticipated eleventh studio album, due later this year, and marks their debut release via their new label partner, Better Noise Music.

Filmed on location at the historic Belgrade and Smederevo Fortresses in Serbia, the “Templars” video delivers a dramatic, fictionalized narrative depicting a potential final stand of the legendary Knights Templar. The members of Sabaton themselves step into the roles of the last warriors desperately protecting their order’s secrets from the forces of King Philip IV of France.

Bassist and manager Pär Sundström emphasized how the song itself inspired the grand visuals. “‘Templars’ is the first song we wrote for our forthcoming album and it truly brings out the theatrical side of Sabaton,” he stated. “From the moment we started working on it, we were overflowing with ideas on how to bring it to life on stage. We didn’t just want to play it — we wanted to show it!”

To achieve the desired realism for the intense battle sequences, the production enlisted a large group of experienced historical reenactors. The filming took place over two arduous days under the sweltering Serbian summer heat, which, while challenging, contributed to the raw energy captured on screen.

The video also serves as a unique welcome back for guitarist Thobbe Englund, who recently rejoined the band after an absence of nearly eight years. Englund portrays the last Templar standing and impressively performed the demanding final fight scene himself. Despite initial plans for a stunt double, the stunt coordinator decided to engage in the choreographed battle directly with Englund, who powered through the scene wearing 40 kilos of armor and battling a fever at the time.

Alongside the digital release and video premiere, Sabaton is offering fans a special, limited-edition one-sided 12-inch vinyl single of “Templars.” Only 1,000 copies will be available worldwide, set for release on June 27th.

This single release signals a new era for Sabaton, who continue their signature focus on historical battles and acts of heroism. Regarding the move to Better Noise Music, Sundström commented, “After exploring various record labels worldwide, we found Better Noise to be the perfect fit… We’re excited to see how this partnership develops, confident that they’re ready to embrace the challenge of working with a band that brings a unique sound to their roster.”