Lovers of the genre know – or think they do: progressive metal is dominated by massive guitar riffs and thundering drums. The North German sextet Ally the Fiddle celebrates both splendidly to the delight of its fans. But if you don’t know the band yet and are listening to their new album “UP”, you might be surprised.
The classically trained violinist Ally Storch founded Ally the Fiddle in 2008. On their debut album “The One”, financed by a successful crowdfunding campaign and released in 2013, Ally and her band turned to metal. Ally the Fiddle quickly gained a wide audience live on tours as well as at numerous folk and rock festivals. They are now making their debut with the new label with a changed line-up and stylistically newly adjusted.
Ally Storch explains: “For me, being progressive means to spin around thoughts and to further develop music. I actually don’t like to commit myself to one genre, so my music has many facets. In addition to prog and metal, it also contains characteristics of film scores as well as classic rock and, more recently, jazz rock”. What is special about her music is that as a matter of principle she doesn’t use artificial sounds from keyboards or synthesizers.
Among her idols is the American rock violinist Jerry Goodman, who achieved fame in the 1970s with the fusion bands The Flock and Mahavishnu Orchestra. That the now 69-year-old joins her as a guest musician is emphasized by Storch with obvious joy. Goodman can be heard on “Try to stop me”. The recording was directed by Knorkator producer Henning Westland.
“Up” is set for a September 14 release through German label Gentle Art of Music.
Track list
01 Sisyphos
02 Aphotic Zone
03 The Bass Thing
04 The Path
05 Tree
06 Try to stop me
07 Living in a Bubble
08 Entering Stratosphere
09 Center Su(o)n
10 Surfing with the Alien
Line-up
Ally Storch (strings, vocals)
Robert Klawonn (guitars)
Eric Langbecker (guitars)
Rouven Haliti (Chapman stick)
Simon Tumielewicz (bass)
Stefan Hukriede (drums)
with:
Marco Minnemann (drums)
Sebastian Baur (vocals)
Alf Ator (vocals)
Benni Cellini (cello)
Jen Majura (guitars)
Felix Wiegand (bass)
For more information:
https://www.ally-fiddle.de
https://www.facebook.com/AllyTheFiddleBand/
