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Sabaton Released New Templars Single With Pop Evil

The metal band teamed up with Pop Evil for a new version of their track Templars to support a joint North American tour.

Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Metal

Graphic illustration of a steel guitar pick surrounded by shards of purple light, in a high-contrast poster-style design.
Metal band Sabaton released a collaborative version of their track 'Templars' featuring Pop Evil’s Leigh Kakaty to promote their joint North American tour. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Sabaton has released a new version of their song Templars featuring vocals from Leigh Kakaty of Pop Evil. The collaboration was debuted live by the two bands at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky.

Why it matters

The release serves as a strategic promotional tool for Sabaton and Pop Evil as they embark on a joint North American concert tour. It allows the artists to experiment with existing material while building anticipation for their live performances.

The album Legends, which originally featured Templars, has accumulated 200 million total streams and earned a 4-out-of-5 star rating from Kerrang!. Additionally, the single Yamato has reached over 7.5 million streams on Spotify.

The players

Sabaton

This Swedish power metal band is widely recognized for historical themes and frequent large-scale international tours.

Pop Evil

This American rock band is known for its mainstream radio success and involvement in the hard rock festival circuit.

Leigh Kakaty

He is the lead vocalist and frontman for the band Pop Evil.

Wings of Steel

This heavy metal act is joining Sabaton and Pop Evil on their scheduled North American tour.

The details

Released through Better Noise Music, the updated track is now available across all digital service providers and download platforms. The collaboration aligns with the shared tour schedule of Sabaton, Pop Evil, and Wings of Steel.

Timeline

  1. The band released the song Bismarck in 2019.

  2. The album Legends was released in 2025.

  3. The single Yamato was released in March 2026.

  4. The new version of Templars debuted live on September 25, 2026.

  5. The North American tour runs from September 23, 2026, through December 12, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

This collaborative release follows the successful engagement pattern established by the band's previous high-streaming releases like Bismarck. By aligning studio projects with active touring cycles, the band maximizes reach across major streaming platforms.

Fans can now stream the new version of Templars on all major digital platforms including Spotify and Apple Music. Those planning to attend the North American tour can hear the track live during the tour dates running through December 12, 2026.

The takeaway

Collaborative singles are becoming a standard method for bands to cross-pollinate fan bases during intensive touring cycles. Listeners looking to engage with the band's broader catalog can compare these new tracks against the high streaming figures of previous hits like Bismarck.

Further reading

For more on the latest developments in the genre, visit the Metal section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by KNAC.

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Do you enjoy it when artists from different genres collaborate on new song versions?