Some bands know exactly what they want to be. Lynx has no qualms about paying tribute to the past, but in doing so, they end up feeling fresh. Their new album Trinity of Suns released on April 24th and I’m really enjoying it.
Lynx comes to us from Germany. They’ve had some lineup changes, introducing a new singer, so this is quite different from their debut. The current lineup is Amy Zine on vocals and synth, Tim Künz on guitar and synth, Ioannis Athanasiadis on guitar, Phil Helm on bass, and Franz Fesel on drums.
The music here is meant to emulate the rock of the 70s, from the proto-heavy metal of the era to the golden progressive rock. Thus, the band has haze and a bit of psychedelia in their sound, lots of bass and energetic drumming, and some deeply nostalgic guitar work. The overall sound is pretty magical, being one of those albums you might dismiss in the first few seconds, but then find yourself listening to more and more and getting sucked into the vibrancy of it all.
At times, honestly, I’d say the guitar feels a little too familiar, sounding like Deep Purple and Blue Oyster Cult, among others, to the point where you might be able to name the classic tracks that sound similar. But it still sounds great and is a lot of fun. Amy’s vocals carry the album to greater heights, adding such a layer of personality and power to the music.
Trinity of Suns is an album of bangers, pure and simple. My favorites open and close the album. So, the opener “Voyager” was an immediate hit for me; there’s just something about the breathy intro, the haunting voiceover, and the sparring vocals that sounds so damn good. Yet “Oppressive Season” hits next with a catchy tempo and even catchier chorus. It’s such an earworm. Next is another favorite, the title track; I absolutely adore the hazy classic sound and colorful synth on this one, and I think some of Amy’s best vocals might be found here. Such a great tune.
I love a well-structured album, and Trinity of Suns is one of those. It gives us three fantastic tunes, an interlude, then three more fantastic songs. So, “Parhelia” is the spacey, guitar-laden interlude, and it’s so cool. But it leads into the meaty “Stranger Sign in the Sky” with its bold guitars and bassy energy. It feels rich and authentic.
The last two tracks are absolute winners. “Seven Days of Darkness” is creeping up my list of favorites here, being a reserved, almost ambient piece of shadowy beauty and vivid color. It reminds of songs like “House of the Rising Sun”, with plucky acoustic guitar and keys and flute hovering in mist. I adore Amy’s vocals on this one. The closer “Island Universe” has such a golden character, such a clear groove, such a confident tempo. At almost nine minutes long, it features plenty of exploration and sweaty energy, and I just love it.
Lynx isn’t the first band, not by a long shot, to revisit the 70s, but they have done it better than most. Trinity of Suns feels like the real deal, like a passage back in time that somehow bends forward into the future, too. The album is courageous, entertaining, and full of mystical moments that will stay with you.
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