Live Review: Amaranthe & Sabaton – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane – 07/09/2025 Summary: “SO, FUCKING GOOD”
That’s it. That’s the review.
Okay fine, here’s the extended version—but those three words still stand.
Amaranthe – Genre-Bending Brilliance with Scandinavian Swagger
Year two of Amaranthe’s Aussie conquest and Brisbane got the full blast. From the moment the lights dropped and “Fearless” kicked in, it was clear this wasn’t just a warm-up act it was a masterclass in modern metal.
Elize Ryd was transcendent. Her soprano soared with laser-like precision, hitting high notes with vibrato that shimmered across the hall. Sustain for days. Control like a studio take. She’s not just a vocalist she’s a damn siren.
Flanking her were the ever-smooth Nils Molin, whose clean vocals were so pitch-perfect they could teach a tuning fork a thing or two, and Mikael Sehlin, whose growls were so guttural and textured they felt like they were crawling up from the earth’s core. The trio’s vocal interplay is what sets Amaranthe apart like a metal opera with EDM drops and death metal breakdowns.
The setlist was stacked: “Strong,” “PvP,” “Digital World,” “Re-Vision,” and the absolute banger “Drop Dead Cynical” (still my favourite fight me). “The Nexus” was pure class, with Elize and Nils delivering a vocal duet that could melt steel. “Archangel” brought the drama, and “That Song” had the whole venue stomping like it was a Viking rave.
Olof Mörck on guitar? A wizard. A villain. A virtuoso. His solos were melodic, fierce, and theatrical like he was casting spells with every note. Morten Løwe Sørensen and Johan Andreassen laid down a rhythm section so tight it could hold a submarine together.
And yes, Nils declared Brisbane the loudest city of the tour. I’m 90% sure he says that everywhere, but when “Queenslander!!” echoed through the venue like a war cry, we believed it.
Sabaton – Metal’s War Machine Rolls into Brisbane
Then came the second wave. Sabaton. The Swedish warlords. The historians of heavy metal.
The stage looked like a battlefield drum kit like a tank turret, lights like search beams, and Joakim Brodén marching out like a general ready to lead the charge. Camo pants, armoured vest, and that gravel-toned voice that could command an army.
“Ghost Division,” “The Last Stand,” and “Red Baron” hit like artillery fire. The crowd was instantly in formation fists up, voices raised, synchronized headbanging like a battalion in full swing.
Sabaton’s live show isn’t just music, it’s a history lesson with distortion. Every song is a tribute to real battles, real heroes, and real sacrifice. “Soldiers of Heaven” brought chills. “Attack of the Dead Men” had the crowd chanting like trench warriors. “Carolus Rex” turned the venue into a Swedish stronghold.
Joakim’s vocals were flawless growls with grit, cleans with clarity. He’s not just a frontman, he’s a storyteller. And the band? Tight as a military drill. Hannes Van Dahl on drums was a beast, his kit thundered like cannon fire with his comrade Pär Sundström who held the low end tight and like a fortress wall. Chris Rörland and Thobbe Englund traded solos like swordplay melodic, fierce, and cinematic.
“Cliffs of Gallipoli” was a standout, poignant, powerful, and deeply resonant for the Aussie crowd. “To Hell and Back” closed the night with a bang, reminding us that Sabaton doesn’t just play metal they embody it.
Amaranthe brought the groove, the glam, and the genre-defying brilliance. Sabaton brought the firepower, the history, and the heart.
Together, they delivered a night that was loud, proud, and absolutely unforgettable.
So yeah, after chatting with the legends on the barrier post-Amaranthe, I said my review would be three words. And after Sabaton?
Still stands.
“SO, FUCKING GOOD”
Raise your horns, Brisbane. You earned it.
Mert
My dude. Your review is spot on, Words cannot express how much I loved that concert!