Sara Hammerzmith

And then comes the very last day. At this point I’m beyond exhausted I have not gotten more than 4-5 hours of sleep every night, and It wasn’t even consecutive hours, but rather one hour here and there. But, it’s the final day and it’s also Sabaton day so it’s just for me to suck it up and get it on with.

I started the day with burning myself, or more like, my feet off to Leaves’ Eyes. Pool deck set in the midst of the day with the bright sun shining made me not want to wear shoes because of heat, but upon taking them off I instead burn my feet on the exteremly warm floor. I was literally choosing between the plague and the black death, but I eventually put on the shoes again. I was set to stay in Miami for a week, might be good to NOT start that off with third degree burns on my feet of all places.

The rest of the day was spent trying to make the most of it. Taking one last swim in the pools, enjoying the sun deck for the last time. I have this thing where I tend to always want to make the most out of every moment, because you never know when is the last time. And oh, how do I feel that right now. Who knows when BOAT returns? Anyway.

Here comes another fond memory of mine. The day progressed and it was time for Sabaton. My company was already in the front, but I arrived a little later for some reason but as Dark Tranquility was playing there is no way to get to the front, so I took a seat in the theatre section and told myself to not fall asleep.

However, sometimes you are tired, and other times you are TIRED. You know, when you aren’t even in charge anymore. I just remember so vividly how my body was just changing itself into a more comfortable position and the next thing I know I’m startled awake by applauds. I look up and I see the band is leaving the stage. 

Thank the All-father for that happening, otherwise there is a big chance or should I say risk that I’d have slept through Sabaton as I am convinced my company wouldn’t have woken me up if they’d seen me asleep (and I wouldn’t with them either, so no harsh feelings). But, I woke up in time, made my way to the now relatively empty front row and waited for Sabaton.

So, make that the second show I slept through?

The Sabaton show was a different one from before, not that I minded at all actually. Opening up with “Lion From The North” and in general not having to suffer through yet another show with “Ghost Division” as an opener (I have a complicated relationship to this song, okay?) and having them play more and more songs off “Carolus Rex” was pretty damn great. You always get so happy from seeing them regardless so.

And what a perfect cruise it was. I remember being so overwhelmed, and probably missed out on doing loads and loads of things and I did for sure not see all the bands I had hoped to see because of the same overwhelming feeling. What I did know, when seated in the Windjammer for the last time gazing out over Port Everglades in the same combat wear I had been wearing since the show last night, was that I’m definitely returning next year.

And the year after that.

And again.

But alas.. Not in 2021… 

// Sara

The next morning we made it to port and got checked in, had our picture taken – you know the full drill. Waited patiently in the waiting hall to be allowed boarding and then went on the boat. I quickly located my cabin which held the perfect spot – just one or two rooms down from the hallway with the elevators. Perfection! I was in one of those lovely shared cabins together with three other lovely ladies, one actually just came to collect a pillow to stay in her friends cabin, but the other two were lovely. 

After this, I headed off to the buffet called Windjammer and they legit had anything you could ever ask for. I was even reluctant at first, is all this TRULY for free? The only cruise I had really been on prior to this was Sabaton Cruise, and NOTHING comes for free at that one, on the contrary, please sell us your kidneys and first borns and then maybe you’ll get some food. Maybe. And when you do, it’ll give you stomach issues (my first Sabaton cruise…)

In a little bit we were asked to partake in a security drill and once it was over I head up to the top deck to watch the views. And it was.. Surreal. You know that feeling you have when something feels so extremely out of reach but yet, somehow, out of nowhere, you are simply THERE? All of a sudden you are just standing there on deck 12 looking over the ocean as the ship sets sail from Port Everglades, the sun warming your face and you are just being overtaken by gratitude and instant happiness. How did I even end up here? Sure, I know how – enter a waitlist, book a room, get on a flight, but how on the Earth did the universe grant me this?

Before I get way too ahead of myself in the mysteries of the Universe, let’s just continue onwards shall we?

After this I headed down to the Alhambra theatre and got myself a comfortable seat a bit up – to tell you the truth – something I do a lot is traveling and making decisions without an actual budget. So in all honesty – I was rather burnt out when getting on this boat so it was nice getting to spend the first show just sunk down in a comfortable theatre chair, and for the first time ever, get to witness Leaves’ Eyes live! It was an extremely enjoyable show and I’m so happy I finally got to see them.

After the show I went off to explore the ship a bit. It’s a huge ship, and it felt even more huge than it probably is. Walking down the Royal Promenade, I sometimes purely forgot we were on a cruise. It felt like I was walking in that high end shopping mall we visited in Milano all the way back in 2013. Strange how resemblances just catch on like that, huh? 

Rest of the evening was in fact spent exploring a bit more. Independence of the Seas is, as most cruise ships, massive as hell. I’ve already mentioned the Royal Promenade to you, but there’s also a deck dedicated to more active activities like wall climbing, and my own personal weakness – an arcade hall. And an entire casino. So much to do, so little time. Eventually we went to bed and got up again at 3 am to watch another band…

…And that was the second punch in the gut. I was absolutely not prepared for this being a 24/7 (sort of) cruise. Upon reviewing the time schedule I looked at in disbelief, took a deep breathe and pretty much accepted that I might die now. But if I do, at least I’ll die happy right? 

Relatively early I went off to bed and then up again to catch Amberian Dawn at the dashing hour of 3.00. But I wasn’t really having it, I went there in my pyjamas and took one of those comfortable seats, only to discover that the schedule was running late. And I was already practically sleepwalking, and I found myself going between sleeping and being awake all the way until they started.

But I wasn’t really awake then either, haha! I know I heard ”Cherish My Memory” which is at the time my favorite song by them, but I also remember sleeping every other song, or such. So, make that a first – sleeping partially through a show.

After that, I headed back to bed for a few hours of sleep. Next show I had planned wasn’t until 13 the next day, Alestorm, but obviously one goes up a little earlier for breakfast and more exploring. 

// Sara

2020 was a funny year. To say the least. If anything, an odd year.

2020 was the first year in a ten year time period I didn’t get myself a renewed passport. It’s the first time in about four years I did not have my US visa renewed. And to make it worse, no actual plans at the moment to even have them renewed.

However, I consider myself one of the lucky ones. Early in the year I headed off to the US to attend a festival, 70.000 Tons of Metal, and returned home for a complete Sabaton tour stretching through eight countries with 13 different shows. A few more weeks after returning home I got to go back to my favorite city of Paris and check off a bucket list venue in La Machine du Mouline Rouge where I got to see two bands perform – Lordi and Night Flight Orchestra.

After that, the virus knocked out any tour or festivalplan I had. I kept having my hopes up, but due to the spread and general people inability to think further than themselves, the virus kept spreading and event after event was cancelled. I’ve been patient. I’ve stayed home, besides going to work. I haven’t even attended the few “corona friendly” gigs that has been offered, because in my own personal opinion it’s not worth risking the spread or getting the virus myself. Although I am not personally afraid of, you never know what long term consequenses you could get from a virus like that. Still remember how ill I was from BOAT SARS back in 2018. That was a bitch.

Because of this, my blog has been suffering. In the beginning it was simply a lot of work (I second as a healthcare worker these days) and later on actual denial. When you’ve been living the touring life since you were 16, spent all your time in school surrounding touring and just having it all taken away from you without an actual by-date, it kind of turns your world.. upside down, if I may say so. I didn’t speak of music or touring in the longest of time, people even wondered if I was sick until I sat down with my boss at the casino and simply told her that “Today I was supposed to be on a Texas tour with Amaranthe, Hammerfall, Battle Beast, Beast in Black, Judas Priest, Sabaton and KISS. And to be honest it just hurts a little too much to even think about right now”

I did vow something to myself with this. To take this time to get back on track, with the blogging. I may not have a lot of new things to write about (besides new album releases) but I do have a golden back library. And it’s time to start do something with it, isn’t it?

It’s time to make use of all those years.

Welcome back, my friends.

// Sara

[Most of the pictures from these shows aren’t correct chronologically. During the tour my camera broke down, and I stopped taking a lot of pictures. This is why you’ll be seeing Swedish Empire song pictures as an example earlier than you should – figured these visuals are better than nothing]

And so it begins. The heavier schedule of the tour. In the beginning, after the cruise it was quite a few dead days at home in Antwerpen back and forth, but from today we were set to do quite a few shows. Having the luxury to actually live in Antwerp, we slept in and we headed over to the venue around noon only to find a rather small queue – so no major issue! Cyril and Mathieu, a guy I got to meet in Frankfurt, later joined us and our shenangians throughout the day. Befriending random people in the queue and then we were in… and seriously… this venue.

While queueing, we had gotten the impression we’d just need to run straight ahead to get to the stage. Nopety nope. We had to run around the venue, and upon entering the hall itself you had to run down, or not run, but walk, down tilted floor in a dark room. I wondered for a moment, if I had tried running it would have been a case of “They see me rollin and they hatin”. But no issue. Ivan is fast as hell and went in to claim spots for all of us in the front.

After securing our spot I headed out to the merch to pick up on the special city shirt for Ivan and then some water. I had some plans for today, some I had planned for months and months, and it was just about to become a reality. And it’d require water.

And then, Amaranthe started.

Amaranthe

The intro to “Helix” echoed out once again, and the band opened with “Maximise”. Heading straight into “Digital World” I had the feeling that the energy might just be a little bit better tonight. “Hunger” followed suit before “Amaranthine”, and at this point we’ve learned the drill enough to have Nils even pointing us out saying “Take out your mobilephones just like the people over here”. Haha! Why not?

“GG6” comes next, and a stunning performance as always and then “Helix”. I sincerely hope they never drop this song. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it 100 times again – I hope they never drop this.

Clapping time again with “That Song”. Something I forgot to mention before, is the addition of a part from “We will Rock you” later on in the song. I love the homage! It’s hard to not think about Queen when doing the routine, and paying some open tribute like this is amazing!

“Call Out My Name”, always a thrill and then wrapping up with “The Nexus” and “Drop Dead Cynical”. I have never been a major fan of “Drop Dead Cynical”, but the way it transforms live has made it quite a favorite. I hope Amaranthe one day releases a live album, just so we can have THAT version to listen to.

After this, I headed out to go to the bathroom and pick up some candies and took the time to catch up with an old friend of mine, Antoine. Been years since I last saw and talked to him, it was nice!

Apocalyptica

And then the three gentlemen with the Cellos and their drummer walked on stage starting rather doomy and with a tint of agression with “Ashes of the Modern World”. They swiftly moved into “Path” and then “En Route to Mayhem”.

After this beginning of the show they invited Elize back on stage with them to perform the Rammstein cover “Seeman” and “I Don’t Care” before going back to be instrumental in “Grace”.

They kicked off one of their all famous Metallica covers “Seek & Destroy” before playing some “real Black Metal from Norway” in “Hall of the Mountain King” with various little pranks during the song, adding a few nippets here and there.

They wrapped up their show with “Nothing Else Matters” and I swear, the entire venue (except myself) was singing with this. Or at leat it felt like it.

The band paid their thanks and then left the stage.

The soundtrack version once again started to play as the crew covered the stage in preparations. With a bit of time, the lights went out once again and “In Flanders Fields”, followed by the intro started.

Sabaton

The cover got down, explosions galore and “Ghost Division” opened the set. Quickly they moved on to “Great War” and once again pretty much setting fire to us poor creatures in the crowd. And then the history edition started… and I got ready. Bottoms up with the little soy bottle that actually didn’t contain soy, but fake blood, and on with the facecover.

“Attack of the Dead Men” started and I was ready. I have been planning this since the album came out in July, and I’ve gone over it many times in my head how it should be executed. My initial trial was supposed to be on Sabaton Cruise, but due to money I had to push it forward. And now, three shows in the tour and in Antwerpen is finally time for me to carve myself into history as “The Dead Girl”. As the chorus approached, I spat out the blood from my mouth, getting it in the facemask, bringing life to the illustrations of the song.

And needless to say, it was a success. I wasn’t sure how it’d turn out since I didn’t do a trial run whatsoever, but the security guard loved it, and the people around it said it looked great. Lets call it a success, shall we?

Oh, the song was executed great by the band too.

For the start of “Seven Pillars of Wisdom” I sat down to clean up the mess as good as I could and clean out my mouth, resulting in the now infamous images of blood stained pants. The song was all the rage once I was back in business and then they continued on with “Diary of an Unknown Soldier” and “The Lost Battalion”.

“The Red Baron” and his airplane followed and then “The Last Stand”. Joakim went to collect his own guitar, and we all who has seen Sabaton live a few times are well aware on what this means – “Resist And Bite”, which wasn’t exactly a surprise – we are in Belgium after all – Glad to see they still keep up with country assiged songs. Shows and setlist previously has been surprisingly thin with that.

On a sadder note, this meant we did not get “82nd All The Way” which is a bummer, but you can’t have it all right? “Night Witches” followed, and then it was time for the cello boys to come back.

The Apocalyptica part went on smoothly with “Angels Calling”, “Fields of Verdun”, Swedish Empire part and then it was thanks and good night.

The storming of Normandie once again aired, “Primo Victoria” started and I… jumped through the whole song again. I know I said I was not gonna do it. Whatsoever again. But here I was, doing it again. It’s like an addiction, it’s an adrenaline rush for sure.

“Bismarck” was next, and we kept on with out rowing tradition that we initiated in Zürich already and then the show was wrapped up with “Swedish Pagans” and “To Hell and Back”. The propaganda flyer frenzy continued, and I have started to collect my own little tribe on people helping with this. How amazing?

After the show we caught up with some friends before heading home earlier than we would have liked, but once the metro stops going it just stops going, you know?

Thank you Sabaton for yet an unforgettable show, and let the tourmadness begin.

// Sara