'Nord Nord Ost' (North North East) is the new release by German metallers Subway To Sally, another band who have just recently been snatched up by Nuclear Blast Records.

Formed back in 1992, the band have seen some success with their own unique brand of metal. However, they have been somewhat living in the shadows of fellow German metallers Rammstein, who have taken this style of heavy industrial metal to the masses.

The similarities between the two are obvious, but if you analyze both bands carefully, then you will soon realize that Subway To Sally have a lot more to offer with the melody and structure to their songs. The vast variety of different musical instruments utilized in the creation of their music is quiet outstanding. Instruments such as bagpipes, flutes, hurdy-gurdy, mandolin and lute, oboe, violin, and mandola, as well as the more familiar guitar and drums!

Even the fact that the band do all their vocals in German doesn’t distract from the quality of the music they perform, but serves only to enhance it further.

The album twist and turns with each track making each one unique by itself, but at the same time they seems to complete the jigsaw in the big picture of the entire album.

Right from the early track 'Schneekonigin' you can define the differences between them and Rammstein.  For a start the vocals of Eric Fish aren’t as harsh as those of Till Lindermann.  The added medieval feel also helps to give the track an added atmosphere and airiness.

The next track 'Feuerland' is a killer track that just takes you breath away with its complex mood changes and eastern feel.  The choral section is just superb.  The band's mood completely changes direction with 'Sieben', the single from the album, and my favourite track off the album.  A magnificent track that ebbs and flows from guitar to wind section throughout. Things are slowed right down with the instrumental '74' and the almost atmospheric 'Feuerkind' , before picking up again with the thunderous 'Das Ratsel II' and 'S.O.S'.

A band well worth checking out if you're a lover of medieval rock and metal.