CONCERT REVIEW: Sabaton with Kreator at The Wiltern in Los Angeles

Frontman Joakim Brodén of Sweden's heavy metal Sabaton, with drummer Hannes van Dahl in the background, at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. Photo by Maurice Nunez

This past Friday, February 9, 2018 brought Sabaton and Kreator to the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. This was the first time I’d seen either of these bands. I was able to catch the tail end of the Exmortus set which was the opener. I had never seen them either, but they seemed to get the LA crowd started.

Next, it was time for Kreator. German trash metal who have been around since the 80’s. The crowd really got into these guys as they powered through songs like “Phantom Antichrist,” “Enemy of God,” “Satan Is Real,” “Phobia,” and “Pleasure to Kill.” The German outfit had an uncompromising sonic assault that had everyone at the Wiltern wanting more. No wonder these guys have stood the test of time.

Next it was time for Sabaton who is another band I have never seen live. These guys also hail from overseas. The Swedish power metal band was welcomed by the loud LA crowd. They came out on stage and started the night with “Ghost Division.” It felt like they were there to find new recruits into the Sabaton Army. They blasted through songs like “Uprising,” “Blood of Bannockburn,” “Swedish Pagans,” “Night Witches,” and more. See full set list below and photos from that night.


Kreator setlist:
Phantom Antichrist | Hail to the Hordes | Enemy of God | Satan Is Real | Civilization Collapse | People of the Lie | Flag of Hate | Phobia | Gods of Violence | From Flood into Fire | Hordes of Chaos (A Necrologue for the Elite) | Totalitarian Terror | Violent Revolution | Pleasure to Kill


Sabaton setlist:
Ghost Division | Uprising | Blood of Bannockburn | Cliffs of Gallipoli | The Lion From the North | Swedish Pagans | Gott mit uns | The Final Solution | Resist and Bite | Night Witches | Winged Hussars | The Last Stand | Carolus Rex | Sparta | Primo Victoria | Shiroyama | To Hell and Back


Sabaton Gallery
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Kreator Gallery
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Maurice Nunez, Photojournalist for Go Venue Magazine (All photos are copyrighted of Maurice Nunez)