Northtale returns to their roots at Sabaton Open Air 2019!

As reported earlier here at Stargazed Magazine, Sabaton Open Air 2019 will be held at Lugnet in Falun, Sweden on August 14-17, 2019. The festival has now added Northtale to their line-up!

In addition to Sabaton themselves, the line-up also features Riot V, U.D.O., Borknagar, War of Thrones, Nerved, Manimal, Elvenking, Apocalyptica, Visions of Atlantis, Brothers of Metal, Serenity, Grailknights, Gloryhammer, Lagerstein, Utmarken, Attick Demons, Arkona, Bloodbound, Ensiferum, Alestorm and Crystal Viper.

Northtale

Northtale (led by former members of Twilight Force, Dirkschneider and Circle II Circle) are a band that intends to bring back the same feeling they had as young fans of traditional Power Metal from the 80s and 90s. Catchy melodies, fast paced rhythm sections, virtuoso-style lead sections and lyrical themes that deal with self empowerment, self improvement and real world, day to day subjects.

Northtale was founded at Sabaton Open Air 2017 when Falun native and vocalist Christian Eriksson met American/Brazilian lead guitarist Bill Hudson. Both performed at the festival but then in different bands. Hudson – who has previously performed at Sabaton Open Air with Dirkschneider (2017) and Circle II Circle (2012) – was looking to start an original project of his own and felt that only a singer of Eriksson’s caliber could bring his music to life. As a member of Twilight Force at the time, Eriksson could only agree to sing on Hudson’s songs as a guest vocalist. When Eriksson became a free agent at the end of that same year, they both began making plans to start a band on which they could focus 100 percent. Something where both of them could express and create music they truly loved.

Both musicians had been in touch with another Falun native, former Yngwie Malmsteen drummer Patrick Johansson, who immediately agreed on becoming the band’s drummer after listening to the initial recordings. Johansson’s style and touring experience added a perfect groove and immediately took Northtale’s music to the next level. The line up is completed by Gothenburg based Mikael T. Planefeldt (Streamline) and American piano virtuoso Jimmy Pitts (Eternity’s End / Pitts-Minneman) on keyboards.