SABATON Taps DRAGONFORCE's LECLERCQ For European Tour

January 10, 2011

Swedish metallers SABATON have recruited DRAGONFORCE bassist Frédéric Leclercq to play guitar on their upcoming European tour. He will be filling in for regular SABATON guitarist Rikard Sundén, who "has decided to multiply himself and will have his first kid at this time," according to a statement released by the band.

The group adds, "Of course, it's the highest wish of SABATON to tour with all six members, but this time Rikard wanted to pass and to ensure that the fans that come to these shows will get a good show we wanted to bring in a person with both great musical talent as well as a great stage act together with a chemistry that we know fits in SABATON. We are sure that Frédéric is that person. This is, of course, a temporary situation, Frédéric is still a full member of DRAGONFORCE and Rikard is still the guitar player of SABATON. For the American tour that starts in April, Rikard will be on stage again, ready to rock and a hopefully a bit richer in life."

SABATON's "World War Tour 2011" of Europe is scheduled to kick off on March 3 in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.

"Uprising", the new video from SABATON, was filmed in Warsaw, Poland and is described as "a powerful and emotional tribute to those who lost their lives in the Warsaw uprising in 1944." The clip features an appearance by Swedish actor Peter Stormare ("Prison Break", "8MM", 'Fargo') as SS-Obergruppenführer von dem Bach and was directed by Jacek Raginis (who is related to decorated WWII hero Wladyslav Raginis).

"Uprising" comes off SABATON's fifth album, "Coat Of Arms", which sold around 450 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 124 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Coat Of Arms" was released in Europe on May 21, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

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