Railway-Climax

Metal Mind
2009

While touring for their second album in 85-85 Germany's Railway seemed to be gaining some momentum as they had the chance to tour with the likes of Motorhead, Twisted Sister, Manowar and other acts. However changes were coming. Vocalist Walter Wicha left and the band brought in their first vocalist Armin Schuler. Then shortly before the recording session for the next album guitarist Hermann Janowitz would depart as well. They recruited Florian Allgayer for the spot and eventually got their third album out in 1987. Even with 2/5 of the line-up changed they still very much in line with the previous albums although not quite as heavy as on the second album. Schuler fits in well as his vocal style isn't that different and actually adds some to the slower songs. The topics didn't change much as it's still mainly about rock and roll, woman and a few other limited ideas. Still the music is strong and they know their limitations. They still sound quite a bit like Accept and AC/DC, but occasionally push into some heavier territory. Kind of shame they didn't push the limits more because they handle those sounds well. Although I like the music on Climax it could certainly be argued that they sound like they are stuck in 1984 as they show very little progress and times were changing around them. The band would soon part ways with their label and it would be three more years until the next release. This Metal Mind re-issue includes a lyric book with photos and a band biography.

Railway- 2

Metal Mind
2009



Just over a year after their self-titled debut came out this band returned with the follow-up. I am uncertain as to what overcame the band in between the previous album and this one, but something changed. The self-titled disc is a fine hard rock album, but the direction of the album is somewhat scattered. At some point Railway picked up the pace and hammered out a more more direct style. That is what we get on this release. Okay, they sound more like Accept than on the debut. A few of the songs sounding similar in style to Accept around the time of Breaker and Restless and wild and they also sound a little like early Warlock as well. Now with song titles like "Lick it, stick it" and "Stronger than rock" you know that they didn't try all that hard with the lyrics. Still the music and vocals more than make up for the lyrical shortcomings. Railway certainly upped the heaviness on this release going from more hard rock to metal. Although there is still a melodic edge here and there that was present in the self-titled album. They seemed to have come into their own on this album and they found a sound that worked well for them. This album was easy to like and it will certainly be getting repeated plays from me in the near future. Metal Mind's re-issue includes a lyric booklet with photos and a band biography.

Railway-s/t

Metal Mind
2009

I remember browsing the shelves of my local music stores back in the mid-1980's. As a metal fan it was time where there were lots of choices albums, but as a teenager I had limited funds so I never got to hear all the bands that I wanted to back then. There were lots of acts I heard of back then, but never got to hear. Yet I tucked a number of band names away in my mind and in more recent years have sought out some of these albums to see if I actually was missing out or not. One such name that I remembered was Railway, but now their first three full length discs have been re-issued.The origins of this German band stretch back to 1977 when they began as Cumulus. They soon changed the band name to Railway because their rehearsal room was located in the cellar of an abandoned railway station. The recorded a demo EP in 1981 and had some tracks on a compilation before nailing a record deal and knocking out this their debut in 1984. The opener "Heavy Metal Fever" rips on with a riff that recalls High -n- dry era Def Leppard with a strong groove flowing forward. However this songs isn't representative of most of the album. A number of the songs vary in pace and heaviness level, but they manage to pull upon parts of hard rock, classic metal and even early speed metal. Many of the songs remind me of either AC/DC or early 80's Accept. Although unlike a number other bands of the time they don't really have one sound running through most of the songs. I wonder if this has anything to do with the possibility some of the material was written over the course of a few years? I am unsure that, but despite the lack of a cohesive sound the album is easy to enjoy. The riffs are powerful and tight. The vocals are easy to enjoy and singer Walter Wicha has a enough of a range to give the band some freedom to expand their sound. Not exactly a classic, but definitely and album that I glad to get check out now even if it is a quarter of a decade after the fact. This Metal Mind re-issue includs a lyric booklet with photos and a band biography.