White Subway – White Subway

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Helvete And Hate
Produced by Janne Jarvis

When was the last time a new, young band made an album of genuine rock music worthy of the term “rock”? No, I can’t remember either. At a time when bands like Kaiser Chiefs are comedically being placed in the “rock” genre finally someone is showing them how it’s really done.

White Subway, formally Hate Gallery, are Janne Jarvis (vocals and bass) and Petja Lepola (guitars). Until recently their number also included drummer Alex Cummings, who played on the album, but he left the band in September after breaking his hand at a gig supporting InMe for a second time in a month; a replacement is being sought.

Opener The Idiots is very reminiscent of Slave To The System, both musically and vocally with an echo effect on Jarvis’ vocals throughout, and since they are a serious rock band, this is a good sign. Punk influences take over for Truth About You, You Don’t Know and Good Things Come To Those Who Hate and hints of several other no-nonsense rock bands all contribute to an album full of pure rock ‘n’ roll feeling. Elements of Jane’s Addiction (New God/Exit Wounds), Velvet Revolver (Outsiders – ‘Hit You Like A Rocket’) and Stone Temple Pilots (Slave New World) can be heard, while other tracks like Shedding Skin stamp a more unique authority on things.

Have It Your Own Way feels a bit like a Foo Fighters song with an aggressive riff giving way to a sing-a-long chorus, and closer We’re No Receiving takes the albums only more laid-back approach with a melodic chorus from the Manic Street Preachers book. Personally I feel it would have been better placed in the middle of the album, such that the disc could end on a harder note, given that the other ten tracks are hard rockers or punk-influenced numbers. As it is, it makes the end of an otherwise adrenaline-fueled album run out with a bit of a whimper.

At a mere 37 minutes it’s a little concise, and there are perhaps too many similarities to other bands, for a debut that’s probably acceptable but there are plenty of others doing the same, so it’s unlikely to stand out. With plenty of attitude there’s a lot of scope to progress and evolve their own sound on a follow-up, should there be one.

“ adrenaline-fueled ”

Tracklist: The Idiots / Truth About You / Good Things Come To Those Who Hate / New God / Outsiders – ‘Hit You Like A Rocket’ / Slave New World / Exit Wound / Have It Your Own Way / Shedding Skin / You Don’t Know / We’re No Receiving

Photos(s): Chiaki Nozu | www.chiakinozu.com

Written by Andy Lye
More: Albums, Rock, White Subway