Sabaton

We are Sabaton. We play heavy metal. And this is......an introduction to one of the most unique, exciting and beloved bands in modern metal. It was a familiar enough beginning: a group of teenage friends in a small Swedish town decided one day to start a band. But in the 19 years since then, Sabaton has carved out a reputation as one of the hardest working bands in the business – gaining a legion of loyal fans across the globe, delivering eight highly-rated studio albums (two of which –Carolus Rex, 2012, and Heroes, 2014– are certified platinum-sellers), and scoring multiple industry award wins and nominations... not to mention launching their own annual festival and cruise. Combining soaring power riffs with vocalist Joakim Brodén’s instantly-recognisable gruff baritone, the band refuses to be simply slotted into a genre. Fans need only know them as Sabaton: the heavy metal band that sings of real life wars and the people who played a part in them – of gruelling campaigns and dazzling acts of bravery, of magnificent victories and touching personal struggles – true stories more fantastic than any fiction. The band’s name – a piece of medieval armour – is a happy coincidence, because war was only chosen as a lyrical theme after the music for 2005’s Primo Victoria (a solid fan favourite in the band’s live sets to this day) was written. Bass player Pär Sundström explains: “Up to that point we were pretty much just having fun and writing about typical ‘metal’ stuff, but with Primo Victoria we knew we had something special, and lyrics about drinking beer or riding motorcycles would not do it justice. We needed to pay tribute to something serious, and at that point Sabaton as we know it was born.”Each new album continues the theme of war, and has a strong central concept, ranging from Sun Tsu’s iconic 2,000-year-old book on warfare (The Art of War, 2008)to bringing thestory of Sweden’s little-known empire to the metal world (Carolus Rex, 2012). Chief songwriters Brodén and Sundström take the process of researching each set of lyrics very seriously, often inspired by fans asking them to write about a military story from their own country. Anthems such as 40:1 and Cliffs of Gallipoli, celebrating specific moments in history, have won Sabaton a dedicated fan-base in countries from Poland to Australia, and beyond. Sabaton are perhaps best known for their electrifying live concerts, combining accomplished musical performances and a finely-crafted stage show – usually with full-sized tank drum-riser and as many pyrotechnics as the venue will legally allow – with unlimited energy and laughter. The band is rarely off the touring circuit – headlining as far afield as North America, Australia and Japan, and filling arenas and taking top-billed slots at festivals across Europe. They are also a favourite support act for metal titans including Iron Maiden and Scorpions. Sabaton’s live show has won top industry accolades in Germany (Metal Hammer Awards: Best Live Band) and their native Sweden (Bandit Rock Awards: Best Swedish Live band – won twice), as well as being nominated for two Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards in the UK. The band recently finished The Last Tour, which was named for their latest album The Last Stand. The tour lasted three years and took the band all over the world. They show no signs of slowing down, but have cooled down their touring slightly this Autumn to work on their next studio project.

Black Label Society

Camila

Founded by multiple award-winning composer and producer Mario Domm (Torreón Coahuila), Camila was born one day while recording Reyli's first album when Samo (Veracruz) was called in to do the back-ups. When tested, his timbre, power and tuning impressed Mario so much that he invited him to work in a new ensemble where their voices would compliment each other. Having just one piano, they decided to add a guitar. The first to come to auditions was Pablo Hurtado (San Luis Potosí). The rest of the story would write itself live, backing up compositions for a first album that would go on to win multiple awards, Todo Cambió. Parallel to this and in a curious way, Camila's name would fortunately come up to be filled with meaning, thanks to its alliance to Sony Music and Westwood Talent. As such, with the thought of doing 30 concerts in the Mexican Republic during 2007, Camila did not imagine that the success of its singles Abrázame, Coleccionista de Canciones and Todo Cambió would take them to more than 300 performances over the course of two years. Without a doubt, the formula to this trio is how well they compliment each other. Having experiences in the Nokia theaters in New York and Los Angeles, and the Coliseo in Puerto Rico, all over Central America and at the Barquisimeto, in Venezuela (where they packed 100 thousand people), in multiple forums in Colombia, at the Ferro and the Gran Rex in Argentina, and finally at the Viña del Mar Festival in Chile, Camila never dreamed of a better closing to their cycle. Keeping in line with the title of their song, Todo Cambió, life changed for Camila during their inaugural tour.Camila Band MembersMario DommHaving total consciousness of his mission in life, this composer and producer knows how to always invite reflection on love from innovative points of view. This is what Kalimba, Reyli, Alejandra Guzmán, Paulina Rubio, Alejandro Fernández and Thalia believe, having contracted him as musical creative on numerous recordings. In the same way, working on these and other projects, like Sin Bandera, Domm has become one of the most prominent producers in Mexico, something that he particularly highlights in Camila. Having the philosophy of not abusing technological resources for the sake of believing that a song pretty much births itself, and that being a good producer means being able to tell that fine line between both worlds. This idea has made him winner of the following awards: Six SACM (Song Most Played on the Radio) Awards for different compositions written for Alejandra Guzmán, Kalimba and Camila; two Billboard awards; three Lo Nuestro awards; five GRAMMY nominations in four different categories (engineer, producer, composer, and musician); four MTV awards and five ASCAP awards for the Most Played Latin Pop Song on US Radio.SamoChoir member at a church from the time he was five-years-old, Samo saw how each Sunday that space of Veracruz transformed into his very own Auditorio Nacional. Pushed by his parents and siblings, he later aimed to become an opera singer, and finally was recognized as one of the 100 Best Voices of Mexico in a talent contest. As such he arrived in DF. He was back-up singer for artists like Reyli, which he met Mario Domm through. Presently he is vocal figure and he is evolving as a composer:Pablo HurtadoA graduated producer and audio engineer from the Fermatta School of Music, Pablo was born in San Luis Potosí, at the heart of a musical family. He started playing the piano at age five. His father introduced him to the guitar during adolescence and thanks to The Beatles, Brahms and Andrés Segovia, he learned the love for sound quality. He went on to have cover bands and play in musical theater. At age 21, in dire circumstances, he arrived at DF to study his bachelor degree, which he finished with a scholarship for his high achievements.