SINTAGE – Unbound Triumph

A relatively new five-piece band hailing from Leipzig, Germany, Sintage serves a very strong offering with their third release Unbound Triumph.

Who They Are

The band first appeared in the German metal scene in 2021, when their EP The Sign showed an early, albeit raw, promise of the heavy things to come. With Paralyzing Chains two years later, they extended their brand of classic metal to full album length. With seven of the eight songs being up-tempo but not yet fully speed metal, one could expect the new release to be more of the same—but instead, Sintage chose to surprise us.

What They Do

The biggest change between their debut album and this sophomore effort is the addition of a second guitarist. Suddenly, the songs show another layer of musical depth and offer more finesse than before. While the band states that they did not want to deliver just another aggressive album like Paralyzing Chains, the step they took is unexpectedly large. The first two songs, “Ramming Speed”—nomen est omen—and “Cutting The Stars” pick up the tempo shown on their previous releases, but the strong midtempo hard rocker “Electric Walls” is a first sign of change.

The ballad “Silent Tears” definitely shows development not only on the instrumental side but in their compositional skills as well. The fans they gained with their EP and debut album will find more fast fodder with “Blood Upon The Stage” and “Prisoned By The Dark,” while another midtempo rocker called “Beyond The Thunderdome” adds some variety. The final song, “One With The Wind,” then shows another side of Sintage, where they even tap into epic metal.

What is New, What is Not

With the arrival of guitarist Chris, Sintage has incorporated twin guitars very prominently into their sound and left the beaten path for some hard-rocking riffs and simpler songs. Paired with a much better sound—which still retains the serrated edge of metal—Unbound Triumph is without a doubt their finest release to date and definitely a step in the right direction.

At the same time the whole affair is far from new or very original; Sintage dips into the same well that countless bands have drawn their musical ingredients from for more than four decades, incorporating classical styles, good riffing and strong, yet typical vocals that drive the songs but nod visibly back to the early days of heavy metal. That recipe does work today as well when executed this skillfully.

Positive and Enjoyable

It is a sound that is positively timeless and should enable the band to grow their following significantly. Their classic, powerful metal with a fresh injection of Accept and Thin Lizzy influences is a welcome course on every metal fan’s menu. The 36 minutes of Unbound Triumph sound like an album that is quintessentially mainstream metal, does not overstay its welcome, and is a great addition to the collection. An album that will put a smile on every headbanger’s face.