There are concerts where you walk in curious, and there are concerts where you walk in knowing you're about to be swept up whole.
Friday night in Melbourne (5 September) was definitely the second kind. This wasn't just a night of heavy riffs – it was something bigger, a cultural experience from Scandinavia, with two bands that are very different but work perfectly together: Amaranthe and Sabaton.
Amaranthe is a band that doesn't fit into one music style. They emerged from Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2008, founded by guitarist Olof Mörck and singer Elize Ryd, who wanted to push metal into new territory.
Instead of sticking to one singing style, they used three contrasting singers: Elize with her glass-clear soprano voice; Nils Molin, whose smooth, commanding tone adds balance, and Mikael Sehlin, who brings the growls and power.
This creates a sound that mixes futuristic pop with heavy metal, with electronic touches and big, powerful choruses. Mörck's guitar work meshes with Johan Andreassen's bass and Morten Løwe Sørensen's drums.
Amaranthe performed first and if you've never seen a band with three lead singers swapping lines like a relay race, it's something you won't forget. Elize's voice was clear, strong and every note sharp enough to slice through the density of guitars.
Amaranthe - image © Connor Mackinnon
Kicking off with 'Fearless', which hits like a burst of excitement – bold, punchy and impossible to ignore. Then 'Viral' kept the energy high, with a rhythm that feels like it's chasing you through a bright city.
'Digital World' took you into a futuristic world that's both fun and slightly chaotic. 'Call Out My Name' shifted to a softer sound, letting the music breathe a little. 'Archangel' ended things with big, epic energy – music that makes you feel like you're about to fly. It's wild, polished and oddly uplifting.
Amaranthe's sound is hard to describe. One moment it's polished Euro-pop with shiny synths; the next, it's a powerful metal track with double-kick drums and heavy riffs. They don't so much blend genres, as they smash them together and challenge you not to move and honestly, the gamble pays off.
The crowd moved with them, heads moving, shoulders relaxing, hands swaying in the air. It wasn't dancing or thrashing, just caught in the moment.
For me, the best part was the contrast: moving from sweet choruses into heavy metal breakdowns without missing a beat. It was clever, stylish and left everyone excited and ready to move, just like a great opening act should.
Amaranthe - image © Connor Mackinnon
Where Amaranthe look to the future, Sabaton are deeply rooted in history. Formed in Falun, Sweden, in 1999, Sabaton have made it their mission to turn history's greatest battles into powerful metal songs.
They're led by frontman Joakim Brodén, known for his powerful vocals and his signature military-style vest. The band also includes bassist and co-founder Pär Sundström, the steady backbone of the group and its main strategist behind the scenes.
Guitarists Chris Rörland and Thobbe Englund contribute intricate dual harmonies and precision-driven lead work, blending melodic phrasing with synchronised riff structures. Drummer Hannes Van Dahl delivers tightly executed, high-velocity patterns, utilising double-kick techniques and dynamic fills to propel the band's expansive, battle-themed sound.
Together, they've built a reputation for combining historical accuracy with heavy metal spectacle, proving that war stories don't belong just in dusty textbooks. When Brodén walked onstage in his trademark camo pants and mirrored aviators, it didn't feel like a rock entrance, but more like a general arriving at the front line.
Sabaton - image © Connor Mackinnon
The stage roared to life with smoke machines, blinding lights and a massive banner stretching across the backdrop proudly bearing the name of their upcoming album, 'Legends', like a battle standard announcing the next campaign.
They opened with 'Ghost Division', which hit like a full charge of soldiers. 'The Red Baron' turned the arena into a roaring fight in the sky. 'Bismarck' carried the weight of sea battle and 'Primo Victoria' sounded like a powerful call of arms.
What struck me wasn't just the volume or the riffs, but the storytelling. Each song felt like a chapter from a history book rewritten in lights and distortion. Despite the heavy themes, Sabaton never forgets the human side.
Brodén, with his sunglasses shining under the stage lights, joked with the crowd between songs. His Swedish humour – dry and self-deprecating – balanced the serious tone of the music. It was a unique mix: history approached with both respect and humour.
A standout moment came when Sabaton launched into 'Christmas Truce' – the first song they wrote for 2022 album 'The War To End All Wars'. Though never meant as a holiday tune, it captures a rare wartime ceasefire that happened to fall on Christmas Day, much like D-Day's lasting tie to June 6th.
Sabaton - image © Connor Mackinnon
The crowd, fuelled by beer and battlefield nostalgia, exploded into song, fists raised and elbows flying in a chaotic yet oddly fitting circle pit. Joakim's soaring vocals met a wave of crowd surfers and between tracks, Hannes teased: "You talk too much," earning laughs and cheers as Joakim fired back, "but they love it!"
Skipping the usual encore, the band tore through more anthems including a fierce new track from their upcoming album 'Legends' – before closing with 'Ballad Of The Bull'.
What I'll remember most wasn't just the songs, but the people around me. Melbourne came out in full force – wearing a mix of khaki gear, camo jackets and Sabaton shirts, ready for war – of the musical kind. The call-and-response during songs was almost ritualistic, everyone shouting the same battle cries.
Another element that made the night unforgettable was the striking contrast. Amaranthe served up a kaleidoscope of bright, genre-bending energy – part nightclub, part battlefield. While Sabaton grounded everything with grit, thunder and historical weight.
Together, it felt like two sides of the same coin: one dazzling and modern, the other heavy and timeless. If you ask me, Amaranthe and Sabaton go far beyond performing – they transform history and melody into living, breathing theatre.
I left with ringing ears, aching legs and a grin that wouldn't leave my face and this was because the night managed to be both spectacle and substance. I was entertained, but I also walked away having felt something – about music, about history, about the strange joy of screaming along to a story about sacrifice with a few thousand strangers.
I've been to my fair share of shows, but this one felt different. It wasn't just a night of heavy music; it was a night of stories. Stories told with melody, metal, humour and heart.
Anyone who skipped it lost the chance to witness two bands proving that heavy music can be both theatre and heartbeat and they know exactly how to make the past roar louder than ever.
More photos from the concert.
