Artist: Sintage
Country: Germany
Label: High Roller Records
Formats: LP / Cassette Tape / CD
Year: 2025
Even more than Sintage’s debut, it was once again the glorious artwork of this new album that immediately caught my attention. One of the strongest assets of 80’s heavy metal, in general, is undoubtedly the marvellous cover designs. Sometimes a complete work of art in itself, sometimes beautiful in its ugliness. Sometimes I pick records at random from the bins if the cover is so hideous that it simply HAS to be good. This cover of ‘Unbound Triumph’ is a fantastic example of a design that renders all reviews and pre-release singles and such completely superfluous. Even Ray Charles could have seen that this is Heavy Metal of the purest steel. In case you still like to read a word or two about this second album of the East Germans, let’s dive a little deeper.
While clearly deeply rooted in the 80’s Heavy Metal traditions, Sintage is very much a product of today’s Heavy Metal scene. There’s lots of rather flashy guitar work, both choppy riffs and blazing leads, a very much into-your-face vocalist and above all a very clean and grand production. That aligns them well with such bands as Riot City, Enforcer, Vulture and Stallion. Although there’s Speed Metal riffs aplenty and even an occasional thrashy part, Sintage is not so much about epic song writing or rawer edges. Clearly they aim at a bit more well-behaved sort of Heavy Metal that bears resemblances with the Gods Of Old.
And that is exactly what it all is, it is a total homage to the more Hardrock/melodic inspired and guitar-oriented sort of Heavy Metal that harkens back to the heydays of bands like Virgin Steele, Dokken, Armored Saint, Chastain, Warlord, Vicious Rumors, Lizzy Borden or the heavier bits and pieces of bands like Scorpions and Kiss. Not very original, but that was clearly never the intention. Instead of putting energy into originality, Sintage has focused entirely on execution. The whole thing is even more convincing than the already impressive debut album ‘Paralyzing Chains’ (2023), and it’s more than a challenge to remain seated while listening and not fly into action with your air guitar.
One of the main aspects of Sintage is vocalist Randy’s voice. I understand that it is a bit of a love-it or hate-it sort of vocal style, but he has unmistakably taken a few steps up compared to the previous record and now, more than ever, sounds remarkably much like Stallion’s Pauly (even double-checked to see if they are not the same). Randy, in my humble opinion, has not only been on a personal progression but has taken the band to a higher level with his powerful vocals as well. Another much heard criticism is the mandatory semi-balled. This may not be to everyone’s taste or idea of Heavy Metal, but in this song both Randy and the entire band excel in impressive musical craftsmanship. That, as a whole, is what sticks with you most after listening to ‘Unbound Triumph’; the album is truly filled to the brim with earworms.
