SABATON have released a new version of their 2025 single “Templars,” featuring POP EVIL frontman Leigh Kakaty. The collaboration arrives via Better Noise Music just days before the two bands head out together on a massive North American tour.
The new rendition gives “Templars,” originally released in connection with SABATON’s 11th studio album Legends, a different dimension by bringing Kakaty’s hard rock vocals into the Swedish band’s signature power metal sound.
Fans got their first taste of the collaboration live when SABATON welcomed Kakaty to the stage during their performance at Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky. The surprise appearance marked the live debut of the new version in front of tens of thousands of festivalgoers.
Speaking about the collaboration, SABATON vocalist Joakim Brodén explained:
“‘Templars’ was a hit with our fans when we dropped it last year to introduce our 11th studio album, Legends. This year, we wanted to do something a little different with it, and teaming up with our North American tourmates, Pop Evil, just made perfect sense.”
Brodén continued:
“Having a fantastic vocalist put his own stamp on the track adds a whole new layer and gives the song a fresh energy that we’re really excited for everyone to hear. It’s also a great way to get everyone fired up for our upcoming tour in North America.”
SABATON bassist Pär Sundström added that revisiting the track offered the band an opportunity to experiment with its music.
“We’ve always enjoyed finding new ways to revisit our music, and ‘Templars’ felt like the perfect song to experiment with. When the opportunity came to collaborate with Pop Evil due to them joining us on our upcoming North American tour, it was an easy decision.”
For Kakaty, the collaboration offered an opportunity to step inside SABATON’s history-driven approach to songwriting.
“When Sabaton approached me about contributing to ‘Templars,’ I was immediately intrigued. I’ve always appreciated the band’s ability to bring history to life and this song stood to that power.”
He added:
“‘Templars’ captures the triumph and diversity — the kind of energy and emotion that we all look for in music. Collaborating on a song with such strong storytelling was a real privilege. Heading out on tour together in the fall makes the track feel even more special for me.”
The new version of “Templars” is available now across digital platforms alongside an official music video.
SABATON Continue the Legends Era
The collaboration follows SABATON’s March release of “Yamato,” created in partnership with World of Warships and developer Wargaming. The partnership continued a relationship that previously produced “Bismarck” in 2019.
SABATON released Legends in October 2025 through Better Noise Music. The album marked a shift from the band’s recent focus on the First and Second World Wars, instead exploring historical figures and stories from a broader range of eras.
Formed in Falun, Sweden in 1999, SABATON have built their career around combining heavy and power metal with songs inspired by military history and historical events. Across more than 25 years, the band has released 11 studio albums and toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
SABATON and POP EVIL Launch North American Tour
SABATON will now bring Legends back to North American stages with POP EVIL and WINGS OF STEEL joining the run as support.
The tour begins September 23 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, before traveling throughout Canada and the United States. It concludes December 12 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
SABATON – Legends On Tour 2026
September 23 — Halifax, NS — Scotiabank Centre
September 25 — Laval, QC — Place Bell
September 26 — Ottawa, ON — History Ottawa
September 27 — Toronto, ON — Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto
September 29 — Thunder Bay, ON — Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
October 1 — Winnipeg, MB — Burton Cummings Theatre
October 2 — Winnipeg, MB — Burton Cummings Theatre
October 4 — Edmonton, AB — Edmonton Convention Centre
October 5 — Calgary, AB — Grey Eagle Event Centre
October 8 — Vancouver, BC — PNE Forum
November 6 — Dallas, TX — South Side Ballroom
November 7 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall
November 8 — San Antonio, TX — Boeing Center at Tech Port
November 11 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre
November 12 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Palladium
November 14 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live
November 17 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Union Event Center
November 18 — Loveland, CO — Blue FCU Arena
November 20 — Omaha, NE — Steelhouse Omaha
November 21 — Milwaukee, WI — Landmark Credit Union Live
November 22 — Minneapolis, MN — The Armory
November 24 — Chicago, IL — The Salt Shed
November 25 — Des Moines, IA — Vibrant Music Hall
November 27 — St. Louis, MO — The Factory
November 28 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J. Brady Music Center
November 29 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore Detroit
December 1 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway
December 2 — Philadelphia, PA — The Met
December 3 — Pittsburgh, PA — Citizens Live at the Wylie
December 5 — Virginia Beach, VA — The Dome by Rutter Mills
December 6 — National Harbor, MD — The Theater at MGM National Harbor
December 8 — Atlanta, GA — Coca-Cola Roxy
December 9 — Nashville, TN — The Truth
December 11 — Orlando, FL — Hard Rock Live
December 12 — Fort Lauderdale, FL — War Memorial Auditorium