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'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.
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