German folk metal masters Subway To Sally celebrate their return with their 15th studio album, Post Mortem!
Opening the album is Introitus, the embodiment of eerie with a choir of children singing in a lullaby-esque style. Phӧnix is heavy from the get-go, full of classic folk metal energy with heavy pounding drums perfect to get your head nodding and foot tapping to the beat. The title track is fiery, the harmonies of the violins and chanting lyrics truly reinforcing the message of the song, defying death and living life to the fullest, along with a mega backing track.
Wunder has pirate energy, reminiscent of an Alestorm track, it wouldn’t be out of place if heard in a tavern amongst friends, the choruses soaring and catchy. At the forefront of Nero is the chugging guitars, creating a darker energy, the lute towards the end providing a small respite before giving way to the heaviness once more. Unter dem Banner is where I really start to hear the hurdy-gurdy, it’s an incredibly strong track, the energy is that of the greats, classic and almost nostalgic despite it being new.
Herz in der Rinde features a more symphonic approach, slow and powerful, the contrast of the acoustic guitars and simple drum beats plays well off the increased tempo in the end. Lumpensammler is where we see the rise of the distorted guitar, classic and heavy. Stahl auf Stahl, featuring Warkings, is the first and only appearance of English lyrics in the entire album, it’s catchy and sure to get your head following the rhythm. Atlas is cinematic to all hell, the combination of the eerie violins with the deep thrumming bass creates an almost melancholic feel putting this as one of my favourite tracks of the album.
Kummerkind once again returns to the more melodic side of things, still in keeping with the darker elements of the previous track, the repetitive melody is incredibly catchy and definitely one that will stick around for a while after the track has ended. Eisheilige Nacht is an atmospheric soaring track that I just know would be incredible to experience live. Closing out the album is Die Erbe bebt, which returns to the band’s signature soundscape, the combination of soft acoustic and squealing electric guitars creating an explosive yet emotional track.
Overall, Post Mortem is a powerful album that truly shows Subway To Sally are more alive than they’ve ever been and doing great things musically!
Tracklist:
- Introitus
- Phӧnix
- Post Mortem
- Wunder
- Nero
- Unter dem Banner
- Herz in der Rinde
- Lumpensammler
- Stahl auf Stahl
- Atlas
- Kummerkind
- Eisheilige Nacht
- Die Erbe bebt
Subway To Sally: Facebook
Release Year: 2024
Label: Napalm Records
Category: Album
Country: Germany
Reviewed by Jodie Louise
