Swedish bashers SABATON have issued the following update:

"We can now present the first dates of the Swedish Empire Tour, and of course we start with presenting Sweden. The tour will be extended over time to other countries, so stay updated through our website and Facebook site. This is the biggest tour we have done in Sweden so far."

Dates include:

October

21 - Stockholm, Sweden - Arenan

November

27 - Malmö, Sweden - KB
28 - Kalmar, Sweden - Palace
29 - Karlskrona, Sweden - Idrottshallen
30 - Huskvarna, Sweden - Folkets Park

December

1 - Norrköping, Sweden - Flygeln
4 - Uppsala, Sweden - Konserthuset
5 - Sundsvall, Sweden - Stadshuset
7 - Piteå, Sweden - Norrmalmia
12 - Linköping, Sweden - Garden
13 - Lund, Sweden - Mejeriet
14 - Ekebo, Sweden - Nöjeskällan
15 - Örebro, Sweden - Conventum Arena

Tickets will be released on January 11th.

Sabaton recently announced a North American release party for their upcoming sixth studio album, Carolus Rex. Their Swedish Empire Tour launches on April 10th in Tampa, Florida; their new album will be out in May; and the official album release party will be held on Wednesday, May 23rd in Hollywood, CA, at the famous Key Club.

”It feels great to do something special and unique in America for once,” states bassist / founding member Pär Sundström. ”In the past we have had all our release parties in Europe, but this time we’re happy to say that we will be celebrating this new chapter in Sabaton's history with all you American fans.”

Sabaton's Swedish Empire Tour 2012 dates include:

April

10 - Tampa, FL - Brass Mug
12 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
13 - Dallas, TX - Trees
15 - San Antonio, TX - Backstage Live
17 - Lubbock, TX - Wreckers
18 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
19 - Kansas City, MO - The Beaumont Club
20 - Waterloo, IA - Spicoli's Grill and the Reverb Rock
22 - St Louis , MO - The Firebird
23 - Milwaukee, WI - Rave
25 - Charlotte, NC - The Casbah
27 - Albany, NY - Bogie's
28 - Buffalo, NY - Broadway Joe's
29 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
30 - Pittsburgh, PA - Altar Bar

May

2 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Loft
3 - Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero
4 - New York City, NY - The Gramercy Theatre
5 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
7 - Montreal, QC - Petit Campus
8 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial de Quebec
10 - Toronto, ON - Wreck Room
11 - London, ON - Music Hall
12 - Columbus, OH - Al Rosa Villa
13 - Detroit, MI - Blondie's
15 - St Paul, MN - Station 4
16 - Chicago, IL - Reggie Rock Club
18 - Louisville, KY - Vernon Club
19 - Richmond, VA - Kingdom
20 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
21 - West Springfield, VA - Jaxx
23 - Hollywood, CA - Key Club (CD release show)
25 - Mexico City, MX - Circo Volador

Tickets at this location.

Sabaton have issued the following cryptic New Year's message:

"We can now confirm the rumors, the new Sabaton album will be called Carolus Rex and in a few days we will start recording. At the moment we cannot reveal any information about it, other than that it will be available at the end of May this year. We felt it was time for America to get something of a special show and this time the release party will be in Los Angeles, California. This show will be the only US West Coast show and it will be the world premiere of new songs."

They have since released the first in a series of behind-the-scenes webisodes from the making of Carolus Rex. Check it out below: