Hello freeloading ladies & gents, I’ll be taking over Freeloader Friday for the last couple of weeks of summer. In the spirit of the Summer Olympics, I’ve selected only pure gold to share with you this week. Bring out the free tunes!

I tend to shy away from the use of the word “epic,” but when you come across a band like Sabaton, there is no other word. Sabaton is five-piece Swedish metal band decked out in camo and seemingly bulletproof armor. The band’s sound is explosive, with synth and guitar compositions elaborate enough to make the Trans-Siberian Orchestra reconsider their line of work. Not only is the musicianship unreal, but get this: every song is about a famous historic battle. For example, the band’s new track “Shiroyama” tells of a Japanese civil war standoff where heavily outnumbered samurai took down the Imperial Japanese Army. Not only is your face being melted, but your brain is exploding. I am convinced that all high school history classes should ditch the text books and pick up Sabaton’s new album The Last Stand.

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