Subway To Sally have released the moving ballad "Herz in der Rinde" today, taken from their 15th studio album, Post Mortem, which will be released tomorrow via Napalm Records.
The pioneers of German folk metal reveal a melancholic side, telling a story of love, loss, and memories. The poetic lyrics merge with the band's signature folk sound, accompanied by a stirring melody that explores the pain of a love that once seemed eternal but has since faded. The haunting imagery of the carved heart and the finality of loss make this song a deeply emotional highlight, building up with a powerful arrangement into an intense soundscape that culminates in a monumental conclusion.
Subway To Sally on their new single: "'Herz in der Rinde' is a song our fans will love – it’s quintessentially us. Grand melodies, folk and violin sounds, lutes, paired with Eric’s initially balladic vocals, collide with heavy metal guitars during the merciless finale of the story and the song. A piece like a great movie – that was our goal, and we are incredibly proud of the result!"
Watch the official music video below:
Not even two years have passed since the release of their previous record Himmelfahrt in 2023, and initially, the band had secretly planned for it to be their last album. With a symbolic title, the genre-defining force from Potsdam, Germany intended to close their over 30-year career with dignity. But things took a different turn. Subway To Sally undeniably struck a chord with the times, and the response to Himmelfahrt was overwhelmingly positive from both fans and critics alike. After a tour with many sold-out shows, it became abundantly clear that their 14th album was not the final chapter. The album’s release unleashed an unstoppable sense of lightness and energy that sparked their creativity to such an extent that Subway To Sally are now ready with their brand-new masterpiece, Post Mortem, following the fastest creative process in the band’s history.
The new masterpiece begins with the explosive track "Phönix", which celebrates the creative rebirth of the folk metal institution. On Post Mortem, Subway To Sally neither look back nor into the future, but rather deliver a sharp analysis of the present. Songs like "Wunder", "Nero", "Lumpensammler", and "Die Erde bebt" offer the band’s signature soundscape while exploring socially critical themes without moralizing. This serious side is contrasted by captivating tracks that celebrate life and the simple joy of music. The anthemic title track "Post Mortem", the rousing "Unter dem Banner", and the poetic ballad "Herz in der Rinde" unleash an uncanny joy of playing. All songs unite the band’s familiar trademarks of great melodies and profound lyrics but never feel redundant. The haunting "Atlas" melancholically draws on Greek mythology, while the folk metallers showcase a heavier yet melodic side on "Stahl auf Stahl". For this piece, they enlisted their labelmates Warkings as guest performers, whose power metal adds a unique flavor to the track. With English lyrics in the chorus, Subway To Sally return to their roots. With "Kummerkind", the septet tackles mental struggles that many people cannot escape, once again proving their precise grasp of the zeitgeist.
Subway To Sally comment: "In this world of contradictions and changes, finding a voice seems difficult. But upon closer inspection, one finds parallels in history and art. What do Putin and Nero, Oppenheimer and Prometheus have in common? What rises from the ashes of Rome? Does history truly repeat itself – once as tragedy, the other time as farce?"
Subway To Sally skillfully explore this tension between past, future, and present, art and political reality with their music, making it clear with Post Mortem that they are more alive than ever before.
Post Mortem will be available in the following formats:
- 1 LP Gatefold Liquid Black (Napalm Records mail order only - strictly limited)
- 1 LP Gatefold Splatter (Napalm Records mail order only - strictly limited)
- 2 CD with 24 pages mediabook + goblet (Napalm Records mail order only - limited)
- 1 CD Jewel Case + goblet (Napalm Records mail order only - limited)
- 1 LP Gatefold Black + goblet (Napalm Records mail order only - limited)
- 1 LP Gatefold Black
- 2 CD with 24 pages mediabook
- 1 CD Jewel Case
- Digital Deluxe Album
- Digital Album
Pre-order here.
Post Mortem tracklisting:
"Introitus"
"Phönix"
"Post mortem"
"Wunder"
"Nero"
"Unter dem Banner"
"Herz in der Rinde"
"Lumpensammler"
"Stahl auf Stahl"
"Atlas"
"Kummerkind"
"Eisheilige Nacht"
"Die Erde bebt"
"Stahl auf Stahl" video:
“Post Mortem” video:
Subway To Sally are:
Eric Fish - Vocals, Flutes, Bagpipe
Ally Storch - Violin
Bodenski - Hurdy Gurdy, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Simon - Acoustic Guitars, Trumsheit, Vocals
Ingo Hampf - Guitar, Lute
Simon Michael - Drums, Percussion
Sugar Ray - Bass
(Photo - Heilemania / Pedro Stoehr)
