Just released today, I had it pre-ordered from Amazon.
I'm really digging it. Another great album from Sabaton.
The Last Stand is a concept album, the concept being historical final battles and heroic stands.
Let's check it out.
Track 1: Sparta
Song title is self explanatory, if you're a history buff or have seen 300, you know what it's about. Moderately paced with a solo I've come to expect from Sabaton. Decent song to start the album.
6/10
Track 2: Last Dying Breath
This song is about the Serbian army in WWI.
8/10
Track 3: Blood Of Bannockburn
This song is about the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 during the first war of Scottish independence.
7/10
Track 4: Diary Of An Unknown Soldier
Short spoken word track from the diary of a US soldier in the Argonne during WWI, leads into the next track.
Track 5: The Lost Battalion
Great song! It's about the US 77th Division (Liberty Division) in WWI.
10/10
Track 6: Rorke's Drift
This is another great song. It's about The Battle Of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War. As seen in the movie Zulu.
Starting out, the guitar work is awesome, lyrics are great. "Zulus attack, fight back to back, show them no mercy and fire at will."
10/10
Track 7: The Last Stand
The title track is a good one, very good. It's about the stand of the Swiss Guard against Habsburg troops in 1527 during the Sack of Rome.
10/10
Track 8: Hill 3234
Good song about the defense of Hill 3234 by handful of Soviet airborne troops against 200+ Mujahideen in Afghanistan in 1987.
8/10
Track 9: Shiroyama
This is song is pretty good. About one of the last stands of the Samurai during the Battle Of Shiroyama which was the final battle of the Satsuma Rebellion in Japan, 1877.
8/10
Track 10: Winged Hussars
Love this song. It's about the Polish Winged Hussars cavalry and their breaking of the Siege Of Vienna in 1683.
10/10
Track 11: The Last Battle
This song is about the Battle For Castle Itter in WWII May 1945, where German and American troops joined forces to defend the castle against the 77th Panzergrenadier Division.
8/10
(Bonus) Track 12: Camouflage
Sabaton almost always does a song or two per album that aren't exactly based on historical stuff, this is one of them. It's a good song that tells an interesting story. 8/10
(Bonus) Track 13: All Guns Blazing
And the almost obligatory cover song from Sabaton, this one is a cover of Judas Priest's: All Guns Blazing and it's pretty good.8/10
Overall, The Last Stand is a damn good album, I wouldn't call it the best Sabaton album, but it's up there.