Subway To Sally

Subway to Sally is a German folk metal band credited with being the pioneer of folk power metal (often erroneously called "medieval metal"). In addition to guitars and drums, STS bountifully utilize bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, shawm, violin, lute, mandolin, and flutes. They add depth to their medieval metal sound by threading it with prog, chamber improv, and liturgical music. In more recent years they've woven in Gothic grooves and anthemic power metal. Their first three albums -- Album 1994, MCMXCV in 1995, and Foppt den Dämon! in 1996 -- were released independently before they signed with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22BMG+Ariola%22">BMG Ariola</a> for 1997's Bannkreis, 1999's Hochzei, and the live Schrei! in 2000. Since 2001's Herzblut, they've continued releasing new titles approximately every two years and tour Europe regularly (more than 100 dates per year). In 2004 they signed a multi-album deal with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Nuclear+Blast%22">Nuclear Blast</a>, and released globally acclaimed sets such as Nord Nord Ost (2005), Bastard (2007), and Kreuzfeuer in 2009. They moved to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22SIS+Entertainment%22">SIS Entertainment</a> for 2010's Schwarz in Schwarz and 2019's Hey! In 2023 they issued Himmelfahrt, followed by 2024's Post Mortem.

STS began life as a quartet in 1990, and played primarily folk-rock inspired by the Irish and Scottish song traditions. By 1992 they were a septet that included one woman and six men. Given the varied musical backgrounds of its members, hard rock dynamics, and textures entwined with traditional folk instrumentation in a fresh way. Its members included guitarists Ingo Hampf (also lute and mandolin), Bodenski, and Michael "Bodenski" Boden, drummer Thomas Warneke, violinist Frau Schmidt (Silke Volland), bassist Silvio Runge, and vocalist, wind and bagpipe player <a href="spotify:artist:0iVQl5b9aqP8LMvDrfSRRy">Eric Fish</a>.

The band's debut, Album 1994, consisted of their sometimes radical reinterpretations of traditional and recent folk songs. It is their only album to contain primarily English lyrics; the rest have all been in German. They flipped the script the following year with MCMXCV, containing mostly originals, though they did interpret and translate poet François Villon's "Elbermund" into English.

<a href="spotify:artist:0iVQl5b9aqP8LMvDrfSRRy">Fish</a>, who played most of the traditional instruments, served as one of rock's most unusual (and often stigmatized) vocalists.Theyytouredd Germany and won a smallish but fanatical fan base who spread the word of the band's compelling sound and intense stage shows.

A gradual shift away from traditional songs was noticeable from album to album. Warneke left, and David Patsch took over the drum chair on 1999's Hochzeit revealing a more aggressive sound, without sacrificing their formative influences. The live Schrei! appeared in 2000, it songs were drawn from shows across 1999.

2001's Herzblut included a guest cellist, a harpist, and mezzo-soprano Sigrid Hausen). Issued by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Ariola%22">Ariola</a>, the album won airplay across Europe and served as the engine for a sold out tour. 2003's Engelskrieger found the collective leaning toward metal for the first time. Following its promotional tour, Patsch left the band and was replaced by Martin "Dog" Kessler, and Simon Michael on 2005's international breakthrough Nord Nord Ost as theirdebutt for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Nuclear+Blast%22">Nuclear Blast</a>. The tour took them to countries they'd never played before, including England, France and Spain.

Simon remained the drum chair for 2006's Nackt, a live acoustic album and DVD. It contained songs from across their catalogue rearranged for acoustic instrumentation and fresh vocals. With <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Nuclear+Blast%22">Nuclear Blast</a>'s PR machine behind the recording, it won very favorable notice in North America as well. 2007's Bastard and offered modern production standards, and walked the gauzy line between folk and hard rock<a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22.+STS%22">. STS</a> again brought in a cellist, and <a href="spotify:artist:0OYGCGCoSYtGsQIxTqMqfY">Milan Polak</a> as a fourth guitarist; he also played sitar. The band's final outing for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Nuclear+Blast%22">Nuclear Blast</a> was 2009's Kreuzfeuer. It was produced by Fabio Trentini who also helmed the bass chair and played lyre as well. They self-released the live Nackt II the following year as an audio and video package. It marked the beginning of a season of <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22STS+Entertainment%22">STS Entertainment</a>releasess; six to be exact.

In 2012 they released XX Eisheilige Nacht. Sold exclusively at their own Eisheilige Nacht festival. It included ten covers by bands they admired and a pair of studio originals at the end. They followed with the conceptual CD/DVD release Mitgift in 2014. In addition to the two discs, the set also included a pair of booklets: One with credits and lyrics, the other with commentary on individual songs. The double live Neon appeared in 2017, showcasingmoreerecentt material with full electricity.

Violinist Frau Schmitt left the band after the tour and replaced by veteran Ally Storch (<a href="spotify:artist:5c8Cw62ZYj9XO6iDLRDEsi">Therion</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3OpqU68JpZlzvjAJj3B2Da">Alestorm</a>). She made her recorded debut with STS on 2019's Hey, playing nykelharpa and viola in addition to her violin. The album was a near perfect meld of global folk styles and hard rock on an all-original program. In 2021, STS signed with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Napalm+Records%22">Napalm Records</a> and issued their seventh live set, the multi-disc Eisheilige Nacht: Back To Lindenpark. It included a truckload of guests including German medieval metallers Saltatio Mortis, folk rockers <a href="spotify:artist:388Jc5WX2TxTOgGwXidDM7">Schandmaul</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2Ct54gNxKnYLnXk9HhviMI">Feuerschwanz</a>, as well as singers <a href="spotify:artist:4LmjMMv69tN9V7ggJpva6r">Patty Gurdy</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6oBT7BaxDA9UakaNepYMCY">MajorVoice</a>, and Chris Harms.

The advance gossip surrounding 2023's Himmelfahrt was this would mark STS's final album. Released by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Napalm%22">Napalm</a>, the band shifted focus lyrically and musically. Focusing on hope, they unflinchingly looked at the world's war, starvation, strife, and horror in the world and encouraged listeners to join played as an entire string quartet. the band did nothing to discourage the rumours of their imminent dissolve, they did nothing to discourage them either. Reviews all over the globe were laudatory. In December 2024, STS released Post Mortem their 15th album. It offered a collection 12 new tracks and put the rumors the band were quitting to rest. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi