SABATON, POP EVIL, WINGS OF STEEL In Houston, TX With Photos!

Friday, November 13, 2026 at 12:19 PM

By Larry Petro @petrofyed

Swedish Legends Invade 713 Music Hall On November 7th

Live Photos By Larry Petro, Petrofyed Photography

Better late than never, as they say. Swedish metal icons SABATON originally scheduled their North American Legends Tour for February through April of this year, but were forced to postpone the invasion when bassist Pär Sundström suffered from arm inflammation that left him unable to perform. The tour was subsequently rescheduled for September and October in Canada and a couple of Northern U.S. cities, with the main U.S. leg kicking off in Dallas, TX, on November 6. Joining them once again were veteran rockers POP EVIL and relative Los Angeles newcomers WINGS OF STEEL. Having seen SABATON several times over the years, both as an opening act and as headliners, I was eagerly anticipating this show. Needless to say, the postponement was disappointing, but I was relieved when the band announced new dates so quickly. Houston's mid-sized 713 Music Hall, with a capacity of approximately 5,000, played host to the band's second night of their U.S. invasion.

WINGS OF STEEL

Although WINGS OF STEEL may be relative newcomers to the scene, the band has been around since 2019, building an impressive catalog that includes a self-titled debut EP (2022), the live album Live In France (2024), and two full-length releases, including last year's Winds of Time. That latter release was my introduction to the band, thanks to my position as Editor-in-Chief of KNAC.COM. Needless to say, I was more than excited to finally experience WINGS OF STEEL in a live setting, and they absolutely did not disappoint!

Their set was relatively brief, but the band made every second count. Opening with "Burning Sands" from Winds of Time, they immediately commanded the attention of the audience. Vocalist/frontman Leo Unnermark owned the stage with the look, presence, and swagger of a young Sebastian Bach, minus the attitude. The rest of the lineup, consisting of co-founder and guitarist Parker Halub, guitarist Stefan Bailet, bassist Mathieu Trobec, and drummer Mike Mahan, delivered a textbook lesson in traditional heavy metal.

This is the kind of classic metal we grew up on in the '80s: killer riffs, soaring vocals, infectious melodies, and songs that make you want to raise your fist in the air from beginning to end. Performances of "Liar In Love," "Saints And Sinners," "Winds of Time," and the set-closing, band-namesake anthem "Wings of Steel" left little doubt that this is a band worth keeping an eye on.

But hey, don't just take my word for it. Check them out for yourself! WINGS OF STEEL made one hell of an impression, and I can assure you that when they return to Houston, I'll be there.

Setlist:

"Burning Sands"
"Liar in Love"
"Saints and Sinners"
"Winds of Time"
"Wings of Steel"

https://wingsofsteelband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialWingsofSteel/
https://www.instagram.com/wingsofsteelband/?hl=en

POP EVIL

Michigan rock veterans POP EVIL took the stage next, and the lighting challenges for us photographers increased exponentially. While WINGS OF STEEL had been treated to excellent lighting, POP EVIL's performance was dominated by a combination of deep reds, blues, and purples. Fortunately, the lighting limitations did absolutely nothing to diminish the band's performance.

Having photographed and seen the band numerous times throughout their now 25-year career, I knew exactly what to expect: a solid, hard-hitting rock show. And that's precisely what we got. POP EVIL have certainly paid their dues over the years, building a catalog that now includes nine studio albums, most recently 2025's What Remains. While vocalist Leigh Kakaty and guitarist Dave Grahs remain the band's only original members, the group's signature sound and commitment to delivering powerful modern rock have remained remarkably consistent.

The band kicked things off with one of their biggest and most recognizable singles, "Trenches," immediately establishing the tone for the remainder of the set. As expected, What Remains received considerable attention, with the band delivering three consecutive tracks from the album: "Deathwalk," "Wishful Thinking," and "Criminal." All three were enthusiastically received by the crowd.

The remainder of the set was a collection of fan favorites that helped establish POP EVIL as the household name they are today. "Deal With The Devil," "Breathe Again," "Let Chaos Reign," and the closing number, "Waking Lions," each had their moment to shine.

POP EVIL continue to grind it out with the best of them, and they proved to be a more than worthy addition to this tour.

Setlist:

"Trenches"
"Deathwalk"
"Wishful Thinking"
"Criminal"
"Paranoid (Crash & Burn)"
"Deal with the Devil"
"Let the Chaos Reign"
"Breathe Again"
"Waking Lions"

https://popevil.com/
https://www.facebook.com/popevil/
https://www.instagram.com/popevil/?hl=en

SABATON

As a concert photographer, I make it a point to watch YouTube footage of the bands I'm preparing to cover. It's a great way to familiarize myself with stage positioning, potential interactions between band members, and, perhaps most importantly, when and where any pyro might come into play.

In preparing for SABATON, I watched footage of their Canadian performance of opening number "Ghost Division." One thing immediately stood out: this appeared to be the band's biggest and most elaborate stage production to date. Most impressive was the enormous tank occupying center stage, upon which drummer Hannes Van Dahl would perform. In every previous performance I'd witnessed, Van Dahl's drum kit had been positioned atop a tank turret, but nothing remotely approaching the size of the one featured in the Canadian footage.

I then watched video of the same song from the tour's opening night at Dallas' South Side Ballroom and was surprised to see a considerably smaller version of the tank, one more in line with what I'd seen from the band previously. My excitement was suddenly tempered. So, which version would Houston get? The smaller setup or the massive production I'd seen in Canada?

The answer became obvious as soon as the SABATON stage was revealed: it all depends on the size of the venue. South Side Ballroom is considerably smaller than 713 Music Hall, and with the latter offering a much larger stage, Houston was treated to the full production!

As the lights dimmed, the band members took their respective positions: vocalist Joakim Brodén, bassist Pär Sundström (who showed absolutely no lingering effects from the arm issue that had plagued him earlier in the year), guitarists Chris Rörland and Thobbe Englund, and drummer Hannes Van Dahl. Dressed in their trademark camouflage fatigues and battle vests, they were greeted by an explosive burst of pyro before launching into the blistering "Ghost Division" from the band's 2008 opus, The Art of War.

The response was immediate. Mosh pits erupted, crowdsurfers began making their way overhead, and the audience was fully engaged as SABATON seized control of the evening. From that opening salvo, the band never looked back, delivering a performance that would stretch well beyond the hour-and-a-half mark.

Typically, concert photographers are granted access to the photo pit or soundboard for the first three songs of a performance. SABATON, however, provided a somewhat different arrangement. We were allowed to photograph the first three songs from within the crowd, which offered some fantastic opportunities for full-stage shots, particularly with the impressive pyro displays accompanying "Ghost Division," "Yamamoto," and "The Red Baron." We were then moved behind the barricade for songs four, five, and six: "The Last Stand," "Stormtroopers," and the particularly poignant "Christmas Truce," during which the audience illuminated the venue with their cell phones in a spectacular display of crowd participation.

Much like their contemporaries IRON MAIDEN, SABATON have built their identity around storytelling. The difference is that SABATON's tales revolve around historical wars, battles, pivotal events, and the remarkable individuals whose actions shaped military history. These are stories rooted in actual events, brought to life through thought-provoking lyrics and delivered with heavy metal in its purest form.

The band was in absolutely top form, as they have been every time I've had the pleasure of seeing them. And, as expected, the pyro was plentiful throughout the evening. The setlist spanned the band's impressive 25-plus-year career, including a generous helping from their newest release, Legends. Four tracks from the album made the cut: "Crossing The Rubicon," "I, Emperor," "Hordes of Khan," and "Templars."

The remainder of the set was packed with the songs SABATON fans have come to know and love. "Soldier of Heaven," "Bismarck," and "Primo Victoria" were all represented, while "The Attack of The Dead Men" provided one of the evening's most visually striking moments.

For that number, the stage was bathed in green lighting to recreate the atmosphere surrounding the World War I battle that inspired the song, in which German forces deployed a deadly combination of chlorine and bromine gas against Russian troops. The members at the front of the stage donned gas masks for the first half of the song, while Brodén paced the stage wearing his own mask and carrying a chemical canister, theatrically spraying simulated gas across the stage. It was yet another example of how SABATON seamlessly combine historical storytelling with an elaborate theatrical production.

The stage itself was a spectacle, as one would expect from SABATON. The massive centerpiece tank dominated the setup, accompanied by a smaller tank positioned off to the side. Even the microphone stands, fashioned from rifles and military helmets, contributed to the overall battlefield atmosphere. Every detail reinforced the band's military-inspired identity and commitment to creating an immersive experience.

Unlike many concerts, where the headliner leaves the stage only to return for a customary encore, SABATON simply powered through their entire 18-song set without ever leaving the stage. There was no need for theatrics or the usual encore routine. They delivered the goods from beginning to end, bringing the evening to a rousing conclusion with "To Hell And Back."

Final Thoughts

Having attended and photographed some pretty impressive shows over the past year, including W.A.S.P., BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, HELLOWEEN, and IRON MAIDEN, I can confidently say that SABATON's performance ranks right up there with the very best of them.

From the musicianship and commanding stage presence to the elaborate set design, historical storytelling, and seemingly endless supply of pyro, this was an outstanding production from a band that clearly understands how to deliver a memorable live experience.

The stage production alone is worth the price of admission, but when you combine it with the band's incredible catalog and an audience that is fully invested from the opening note to the final song, you have all the ingredients for one hell of a concert.

So, if you've been saving your hard-earned shekels for a show truly worth seeing, look no further. SABATON's Legends Tour is one invasion you definitely don't want to miss!

Setlist:

"Ghost Division"
"Yamato"
"The Red Baron"
"The Last Stand"
"Stormtroopers"
"Christmas Truce"
"Soldier of Heaven"
"Crossing the Rubicon"
"Night Witches"
"I, Emperor"
"The Attack of the Dead Men"
"Bismarck"
"Berserker"
"Hordes of Khan"
"Templars"
"Primo Victoria"
"Swedish Pagans"
"To Hell and Back"

The SABATON 'Legends' campaign continues through the middle of December. Remaining dates are as follows:

Nov. 14 - Wheatland, CA - Hard Rock Live
Nov. 17 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Union Event Center
Nov. 18 - Loveland, CO - FCU Blue Arena
Nov. 20 - Omaha, NE - Steelhouse Omaha
Nov. 21 - Milwaukee, WI - Landmark Credit Union Live
Nov. 22 - Minneapolis, MN - The Armory
Nov. 24 - Chicago, IL - The Salt Shed
Nov. 25 - Des Moines, IA - Vibrant Music Hall
Nov. 27 - St. Louis, MO - The Factory
Nov. 28 - Cincinnati, OH - The Andrew J Brady Music Center
Nov. 29 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
Dec. 01 - Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Dec. 02 - Philadelphia, PA - The Met
Dec. 05 - Virginia Beach, VA - The Dome by Rutter Mills
Dec. 06 - National Harbor, MD - The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Dec. 08 - Atlanta, GA - Coca-Cola Roxy
Dec. 11 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
Dec. 12 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - War Memorial Auditorium