SUBWAY TO SALLY „Kreuzfeuer”

Music: Folk Metal, Mittelalter Metal
Country: Germany
Web site: http://www.subwaytosally.de
Cool Songs: So fern, so nah, Einsam, Vater

SUBWAY TO SALLY has been there for a considerable time getting some reputation inside and beyond their country. Since 1990 they have amazed not few ears playing unusual instruments together with the traditional rock ones. Of course, they never had the attention of other bands mainly because they sing in German. However, bagpipes, shawms, violins, hurdy-gurdys and lutes helped them to inaugurate the so-called Mittelalter-Metal, though they're often considered in the Neue Deutsche Harte too.

Some people may ignore the fact that these guys where already recording before the famous Folk-band IN EXTREMO and the almost unknown ADARO. Anyway, at certain point of their career they decided to get more involved into the German industrial sound (Neue Deutsche Harte), something like what happened to LETZTE INSTANZ or the kind of stuff TANZWUT has been doing.

On “Kreuzfeuer” (Cross-fire) we can find again some good melodic Hard Rock supported by the original voice of Eric Fish and lots of medieval tunes, although this time a bit in the background. On this album is performed also the first duet of the band “Komm in meinen Schlaf” (Come into my sleep), a ballad in collaboration with the female singer Ria from the band EISBLUME.

Something I'd like to highlight is the especial work offered on their lyrics. For example on the ballad mentioned before, a song that becomes contradictory and evil due to the intervention of the band. Another great theme is “Vater”, an interesting approach to that shade called God. Once again a strong presence of failure, disbelief and bitterness. It doesn't matter if you don't speak German, you will lose much of the message these guys bring unless you make a little effort and get the English translation.

This is no Viking-Black metal, so don't get confused, it's German-style medieval rock/metal, slower and less epic than ENSIFERUM and AMON AMARTH. Maybe not as folk as in their origins, but reasonably good after all.

note: 8/10

Tracklist

1. Aufstieg
2. Judaskuss
3. Besser Du Rennst
4. So Fern So Nah
5. Die Jagd Beginnt
6. Einsam
7. Komm In Meinen Schlaf
8. Angelus
9. Krähenkönig
10. Niemals
11. Versteckt
12. Vater

Line-up

Michael “Bodenski” Boden – Guitar, vocals
Michael “Simon” Simon – Guitar, vocals
Eric Fish – Wind instruments, vocals
Ingo Hampf – Guitar, lute
Silke “Frau Schmitt” Volland – Violin
Silvio “Sugar Ray” Runge – Bass
Simon Michael Schmitt – Drums