Sabaton is a Swedish heavy metal band formed in December 1999 in Falun. The band's lyrical themes center on historical events and military conflicts, drawing from wars spanning centuries and continents. Originally called Aeon, the group adopted the name Sabaton, a reference to medieval armor, in 2000. The band experienced significant lineup changes in 2012, when four members departed to form the band Civil War, leaving vocalist Joakim Brodén and bassist Pär Sundström to rebuild with new musicians. Their 2012 concept album Carolus Rex, which examines Sweden's 17th and 18th century empire, achieved quadruple platinum certification in Sweden and was released in both English and Swedish versions. Sabaton maintains an active touring schedule internationally and hosts an annual festival and cruise in their hometown.