ALBUM REVIEW: Eisheilige Nachte (Back to Lindenpark) – Subway To Sally

SUBWAY TO SALLY might be a new name for most of you out there, but in their native Germany they’re a folk metal institution. Formed in the early 90s, they’ve released 13 studio albums and continued to remain somewhere near the top of the alternative scene. For many years, the band would hold a hometown show at Lindenpark on December 30th to round off the year, which became the Eisheilige Nacht when they moved to a bigger venue in 2009. With the pandemic curtailing 2020’s edition, SUBWAY TO SALLY decided to return to Lindenpark once more for their customary live appearance, one which is now immortalised on this new live album and DVD out on June 18th via Napalm Records.

Many countries in mainland Europe are known for their abundance of talent combining folk music with rock and metal, which may explain why SUBWAY TO SALLY have gone under the radar for so long outside of their motherland; a second reason could be that they’re singing in their native tongue as opposed to English. In fact, one of the few moments of dialogue that isn’t in German comes in the opening intro, where a deep voice denounces COVID-19 and casts it out from the celebration about to happen.

From here on in, SUBWAY TO SALLY produce nearly two hours of raucous, high-energy tunes stuffed with enough violins and hurdy-gurdies to evoke images of long benches, steins of beer and a big-time party atmosphere. Musically, the first half of the record twists and turns from the classic metal in Unsterblich to industrial guitars in Kleid Aus Rosen and the catchiest ‘na na na’ this side of Berlin in Imperator Rex Graecorum.

The second half begins with somewhat of a curveball – LORD OF THE LOST vocalist Chris Harms turns up to provide his voice to a move-throwing rendition of his band’s classic track Drag Me To Hell. From here, SUBWAY TO SALLY continue to maintain the energy that they so brilliantly generated before; whether it’s the guest spot of Saltatio Mortis on Sie Tanzt Allein or the sonorous, live staple that is Grausame Schwester, nothing is going to stop them from providing the best show possible in such extraordinary circumstances for their army of fans. As the album closes with the jovial Julia Und Die Räuber, it’s actually a bit of a shame it couldn’t have gone on for longer – despite its sizeable length, the infectious nature of the music and the band’s delivery make you wish the party could go on long into the night – mind you, that is what repeated plays of a record are for…

For those not familiar with SUBWAY TO SALLY, beginning your journey with a two-hour, double live album might be a bit of a stretch, but if you’ve ever wanted to know what slamming RAMMSTEIN and ELUVEITIE together sounded like, this band fit that billing completely. For those in the know about them already, this will be a welcome addition to any collection; a musical celebration of a band going back to their roots in order to keep pushing forwards.

Rating: 8/10

Eisheilige Nachte (Back to Lindenpark) is out now via Napalm Records.

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