Swedish powerhouse BLOODBOUND will release its upcoming album, Field of Swords, on November 21, 2025 via Napalm Records.
Recently teaming up with Napalm Records, BLOODBOUND stands taller than ever on the front line of epic power metal, delivering their most modern work yet. Most recently drawn to the Viking era, the latest concept album Field of Swords turns the page to another chapter in history, moving past the year 1066 and into the Middle Ages. As warfare evolves and the significance of forging iron with carbon leads to superior swordsmen, the bloodstained battlefields show new, grim faces, leaving room for more of BLOODBOUND’s vivid storytelling that continues to thrill audiences at countless live shows around the globe
Artist: Iron Maiden
Album: Powerslave
Song: Aces High
Chosen by: Tomas Olsson
Reason: This song is about the Battle of Britain in 1940 during the Second World War. The German Airforce, Luftwaffe, launched a major offensive to invade England. We follow a British RAF Spitfire pilot bravely defending his country. The emotional speech by Winston Churchill in the intro of the song makes it perfect as a live-set opener. A very fast and energetic song with insanely good high-pitched vocals, one of Maiden’s finest tracks in my opinion.
Artist: Sabaton
Album: Carolus Rex
Song: Carolus Rex
Chosen by: Tomas Olsson
Reason: This song is about the Great Northern War in 1700. After a century of war and expansion, Sweden is under heavy attack from three directions. Eighteen-year-old King Charles XII (Latin: Carolus Rex), with exceptionally good tactical skills, managed to defend the kingdom, but on November 30, 1718, King Charles XII was mortally wounded during the siege of Fredriksten Fortress. This is a powerful track with a cool marching drum rhythm and great lyrics. A great live song.
Artist: Grave Digger
Album: Tunes of War
Song: Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)
Chosen by: Tomas Olsson
Reason: This song is about the Scottish struggles for independence from England. This period stretched from the medieval conflicts between its clans in the 11th century through to the Jacobite rebellion of the 18th century. It has a very “Braveheart” feeling and is a very epic song, especially when performed live with bagpipes, kilts, and all.
Artist: Slayer
Album: Reign in Blood
Song: Angel of Death
Chosen by: Tomas Olsson
Reason: This song is very dark and does not shy away from humanity’s worst sides. It’s about Nazi physician Josef Mengele’s human experiments at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. A thrash metal classic with a very cool asymmetric breakdown riff in the middle section of the song, very typical of Slayer. Also, world-class drumming by Dave Lombardo.
Artist: Judas Priest
Album: Sad Wings of Destiny
Song: The Ripper
Chosen by: Tomas Olsson
Reason: This song is about the serial killer Jack the Ripper, who prowled the streets in London in 1888. The series of vicious and grotesque murders attributed to “Jack the Ripper” received unprecedented coverage in the media, people locked their doors, and streets were not safe anymore. Combined with great chilling lyrics, Rob Halford’s amazing range, and classic Priest twin-guitar harmonies, it’s a very cool song.
Artist: Iron Maiden
Album: Somewhere In Time
Song: Alexander The Great
Chosen by: Patrik J Selleby
Reason: “Somewhere in Time” is my favourite Maiden album and “Alexander The Great” is the last song on the album. It tells the story of the famous Macedonian king and conqueror, Alexander III of Macedon. The song follows his life from birth in 356 BC to his death in 323 BC. It describes his military campaigns, how he created one of the largest empires in history by conquering Persia, Egypt, and parts of India, and how his ambition made him a legendary figure.
Artist: Amon Amarth
Album: Once Sent from the Golden Hall
Song: S/T
Chosen by: Patrik J Selleby
Reason: Not a historical event per se, but is based on Norse mythology, and specifically the story of Thor battling the Midgard serpent, Jörmungandr, during Ragnarök—the apocalyptic end of the world. A cool story, though.
Artist: Metallica
Album: …And Justice For All
Song: One
Chosen by: Patrik J Selleby
Reason: The song is inspired by WWI and the novel Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo. It’s about a soldier who is severely injured in war and is mainly about the horrors and hopelessness of war. The lyrics just make the song stronger and give it even more of an epic feel.
Artist: Sabaton
Album: Stand alone single
Song: Bismarck
Chosen by: Patrik J Selleby
Reason: “Bismarck” is about the German battleship Bismarck during World War II and its dramatic final battle in May 1941. A cool song which they made a very cool video of as well.
Artist: Iron Maiden
Album: Virtual XI
Song: The Clansman
Chosen by: Patrik J Selleby
Reason: I love the movie “Braveheart” and the backstory about William Wallace and the Scottish struggle for independence is pretty epic.
