Civil War is a

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...

band from

Falun Falun () is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 37,291 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Dalarna County. Falun forms, together with Borlänge, a metropolitan area with just over 100,000 inhabita ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

formed in 2012 by several former members of

Sabaton A sabaton or solleret is part of a knight's body armor that covers the foot. History Fourteenth and fifteenth century sabatons typically end in a tapered point well past the actual toes of the wearer's foot, following fashionable shoe shapes o ...

. The band adopted the same lyrical themes of war and historical battles that were characteristic of Sabaton. However, unlike Sabaton, many of Civil War's songs focus on American history and conflicts, whereas Sabaton's songs are primarily about European history and conflicts.

History

Formation and ''The Killer Angels'' (2012-2014)

In April 2012, guitarists Rikard Sundén and Oskar Montelius, drummer Daniel Mullback, and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr left the band

, of which they had been the founding members. They soon teamed up with

Astral Doors Astral Doors is a Swedish heavy metal band formed in 2002. They have released nine studio albums and an EP. Their latest work is ''Worship or Die'', released in 2019. History Nils Patrik Johansson, Joachim Nordlund and Martin Haglund al ...

vocalist

Nils Patrik Johansson Nils Patrik Johansson (born 14 October 1967) is a Swedish heavy metal singer who has been the lead singer of Astral Doors since 2002 and was the lead vocalist of Civil War from 2012 to 2016. He is also a member of the bands Lion's Share and Wuth ...

and soon bassist Stefan 'Pizza' Eriksson was recruited to form the band's lineup. Initially signed to

Despotz Records Despotz Records is an Independent record label based in Stockholm, Sweden. A wide variety of artists are currently affiliated with the label, including Nightrage, Titiyo, and The Deer Tracks The Deer Tracks are a Swedish electronic duo that com ...

, the band released a self-titled EP in October 2012, and then immediately began working on their full-length debut album. ''The Killer Angels'' was released in June 2013, and reached Gold status in Sweden only two months later. At the same time, the band began playing live shows at various festivals in Sweden, and went on their first tour of Europe in February 2014. Guitarist Petrus Granar was added to the lineup as a seventh full-time member.

''Gods and Generals'' (2015)

The band then signed a deal with

Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock. Originally, Napalm focused on black metal bands, such as Abigor and Summoning, and folk metal bands, such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg. The label later ...

and began working on their second studio album, titled '' Gods and Generals'', which was released in May 2015. Shortly before the release of the first single from the album, ''Bay of Pigs'', the band announced that Oskar Montelius and Stefan Eriksson had both left Civil War. Rather than search for replacements, the band decided to continue as a five-piece.

''The Last Full Measure'' and new vocalist (2016-2018)

The band later released their third album, titled '' The Last Full Measure'' which was released in November 2016. Vocalist Nils Patrik Johansson departed the band a month later. The rest of the band members held open auditions for a new vocalist, finally settling on Kelly Sundown Carpenter, who was announced as the band's new vocalist on February 9, 2017.

Sabaton 20th Anniversary Concert & Upcoming fourth studio album (2019-present)

On August 1, 2019, Mullback, Mÿhr, and Sundén rejoined Sabaton for the band's 20th anniversary show at

Wacken Open Air Wacken Open Air (, abbreviated as W:O:A) is a rock music, rock music festival, held annually since 1990 on the first weekend of August in the village of Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Almost all styles and su ...

. For the show, the band headlined both main stages at the same time, with the current Sabaton lineup taking the "Faster" stage, while Mullback, Mÿhr, and Sundén taking the "Harder" stage with Thobbe Englund. On August 2, 2019, the band released the first song with Carpenter on vocals, "Dead Man's Glory". The single featured fellow ex-Sabaton guitarist Thobbe Englund on lead guitar. They later announced on their website that they will soon start recording their fourth album. On 12 March 2021 the band announced that Thobbe Englund has replaced Rikard Sunden. On May 24, 2021. It is revealed in the band's Instagram page that Oskar Montelius will be making a guest appearance on backing vocals. This is Montelius' 1st recording with the band since leaving in 2015. On 7th April 2022, the band's fourth studio album ''Invaders'' was announced to be released on June 17th, with the title track released as a single on the same day.

Discography

Extended Plays *2012: ''Civil War'' (EP) Studio albums *2013: ''The Killer Angels'' *2015: '' Gods and Generals'' *2016: '' The Last Full Measure'' *2022: ''Invaders'' Singles * 2019: Dead Man's Glory

Personnel

;Current members *Daniel Mullback — drums, backing vocals (2012–present) *Daniel Mÿhr — keyboards, backing vocals (2012–present) *Petrus Granar — guitars, backing vocals (2014–present), bass (2015–present) *Kelly Sundown Carpenter — lead vocals (2017–present) *Thobbe Englund — guitars (2021–present) ;Former members *Rikard Sundén — guitars, backing vocals (2012–2021) *

— lead vocals (2012–2016) *Oskar Montelius — guitars, backing vocals (2012–2015) *Stefan 'Pizza' Eriksson — bass (2012–2015)

Timeline

References

External links

Official Website

Civil War on Encyclopedia Metallum
{{Authority control Swedish power metal musical groups Musical groups established in 2012