SINTAGE - Unbound Triumph CD
SINTAGE - Unbound Triumph CD
SINTAGE - Unbound Triumph CD


HRR 1036CD, slipcase

Randy - Vocals
Julez - Guitars
Chili - Guitars
Marcus - Bass
Andre - Drums

01. Ramming Speed
02. Cutting the Stars
03. Electric Walls
04. Silent Tears
05. Blood upon the Stage
06. Beyond the Thunderdome
07. Prisoned by the Dark
08. One with the Wind


AVAILABLE


Following a self-financed EP named »The Sign« (2021) and the promising debut platter »Paralyzing Chains« for High Roller Records in 2023, Germany’s Sintage are ready to unleash their eagerly awaited new album. It is called »Unbound Triumph« and features second guitarist Chili as a new, additional member of the band.
Its predecessor »Paralyzing Chains« received good reviews in all important magazines, so expectations for the new album are quite high. After two years since its original release have passed, how satisfied are Sintage with how their full-length debut turned out? “Pretty satisfied for the most part,” says guitarist Julez. “The record stands for itself and has lost nothing of its power and appeal, the music was full-on all the way through. Looking back, we probably should have paid more attention to details. The album was recorded in a single week. It would have been better, I think now, if we had taken a breather, giving the album more time to mature.”
So how did Sintage approach the new album »Unbound Triumph«, any differences? “First of all, I must stress that it’s our third studio recording in a row featuring a new line-up. Our new guitarist, Chili, who has been with us for the last two years, has had a big impact on how our second album turned out. We didn’t set out to record another album as brutal as »Paralyzing Chains«. We rather wanted to combine the drive and emotion of »The Sign« with the aggression of »Paralyzing Chains«. We have two guitars now, so using more twin guitars and harmonies was definitely something we had on our list.” New guitarist Chil adds: “Exactly. It was our aim to combine the best parts of both studio records. To grow as a band and try out new things was an integral part of the creative process.”
The production of »Unbound Triumph« is definitely superior to »Paralyzing Chains«, and especially the vocals have improved a lot. “Good to hear,” says Julez. ”We as a band are also really satisfied with the vocals on the album. We took our time and as a result our singer Randy was able to feel the songs much better than on the first record. He was not going full-throttle all the time on the new one.” Julez’ new guitar partner Chili holds the same opinion: “Randy has improved a lot. This is evident when you listen to the quiet passages on the album, he shows a lot of feelings there. This makes the album sound a lot more diverse overall and gives it more depth.”
For Julez, the key song on »Unbound Triumph« is “One With The Wind”: “This is the last single of the album. This track has everything Sintage stands for: power and speed of the old school, twin guitars and harmonies, a quiet part in the middle, fantastic bass lines by Marcus and arguably Randy’s best vocal performance on the entire record. Even at the rehearsal stage, we already recognized that “One With The Wind” sums up everything what Sintage are about.”
Whereas »Paralyzing Chains« showed a lot of NWOBHM influences, »Unbound Triumph« breathes Euro Metal, especially from Sweden, with bands like Torch or Oz, at least that’s the impression I got. True or false? Guitarist Chilis comments: “We don’t limit ourselves or follow any rules. As already mentioned, we just set out to combine the best of our first two records.” Julez sees from a different angle: “Of course, bands from the NWOBHM and other obscure acts from Sweden and France have always been important to what we are doing. But saying that, it was never our aim to copy anybody. Sounding like Sintage, that’s what we are trying to achieve (and that’s hard enough because it has all been done before, hasn’t it?). On the other hand, I always like it when people compare us to different bands in reviews.”
How much Sintage have grown with the new album »Unbound Triumph« can be heard on a ballad like “Silent Tears”. “That was by far the biggest challenge of the record,” says Chili. “This was something completely new for the band. My brother Tim has helped us with the arrangement of the song. He brought the melody up to a new level.” “The idea for ‘Silent Tears’ came from our singer Randy,” adds Julez. “He had been toying around with the idea for this song for a long time. And now it was to time to finally realize it, to take the next step. I always liked the ballads by White Lion. And of course the Scorpions became extremely successful with their ballads.”
What expectations do Sintage have when it comes to the new album? “We hope that the public will like our new material as much as we have enjoyed creating it,” brings it Chili to the point, while his colleague Julez adds: “Doing better than with the last album should always be the motivation for every band. We think we achieved that. And if people think the same, all the better. That would really put a smile on our faces.”

MATTHIAS MADER