Band:	Subway To Sally
Album:	Nord Nord Ost
Style:	Medieval folk metal
Release date:	August 2005

01. Sarabande de noir
02. Schneekönigin
03. Feuerland
04. Sieben
05. Lacrimae '74
06. Feuerkind
07. Das Rätsel II
08. S.O.S.
09. Eisblumen
10. Seemannslied

For about two years ago, I got acquaintance with a German Industrial band named Subway to Sally, and I know the first thing I thought when I received that promo was; "How in hell can they name a band Subway to Sally?" and believe me, I didn't expect anything except pure rubbish out of that album.
But after listening to the album, "Engelskrieger", I really was really convinced that this band could deliver great music even if they have one of the worst band names ever.

I remember that I saw the latest album as a very heavy one, and that might be just true. "Nord Nord Ost" s a bit softer here and there, and even a bit poppy, just listen to the single-track "Sieben" (Seven), which is the most catchy and poppy song I every heard been sung in German.
And I also feel that the "fairytale-theme" is on the way back, at least in a few parts on the album you'll get this feeling that the music refers to a time and place that only exists in books, movies and imaginations.

Since I became so "in love" with "Engelskrieger" I was really looking forward to this release, and I was really hoping that it could compete with "Engelskrieger" in a fair way.
But after the first listening I was actually a bit disappointed, mostly because it's not as heavy as "Engelskrieger", the softer and more mellow parts has got a much larger space in this record.
Don't get me wrong here, Eric Fish and the guys really knows how to do fantastic "ballads", and Eric's voice is just not from this world, but the great and pure heaviness they gave us on the "Engelskrieger" is still the way Subway to Sally makes most justice.

As I said, "Nord Nord Ost" is much more mellow album, the emotional parts has got a much larger space and that has pushed the heaviness aside.
But here and there you'll even get heavy parts, the opener "Schneekönigin" is a great example on that, this piece is the heaviest track on the album and it starts the album perfectly.
It's mostly because of the opener I was so disappointed the first time I heard the album, since I was expecting much more in the same veins.

Following "Feuerland" is another great track, not as heavy as the first, but it is a bit faster and has a better chorus, one of these Subway to Sally-sing-a-long-on-German choruses.
Then we have the single, "Sieben", this poppy song is just what I single should be today, made for the masses, for radio and everyone that's not into Metal that much. Don't be surprised if you'll hear this song in radio, that's just what it's made for.

"Feuerkind" is the longest track with it's 6:06, but it's also on of the slowest and most emotional tracks I every heard with Subway to Sally. So if you want fast and heavy tracks, this is nothing for you.
"Das Rätsel II" the first song I fell for on the album, it has a wonderful and heavy beginning with a few riffs that just perfect (that returns then and then in the song), and the chorus is great too.

The final three tracks "S.O.S.", "Eisblumen" and "Seemannslied" are all good, but it just "Eiseblumen" that's really a bit better than the others. I can't call them fillers; since Subway to Sally doesn't have fillers, but they are just typical Subway to Sally songs that I guess you'll fit any of their albums.

In overall I have to say that "Nord Nord Ost" is an album that grows on you, even if it's missing the heaviness "Engelskrieger" had.
All songs are great and quite divided; you'll not get two songs on this album that sounds like each other.
I strongly recommend Subway to Sally, because this band really knows how to deliver great albums. So if you liked "Engelskrieger" and don't have any problems with a little less heaviness you could easily buy "Nord Nord Ost" without blinking.

Check Out: "Scheekönigin", "Sieben" & "Das Rätsel II".