Review & Full Album Premiere: Lynx, Trinity of Suns
Posted in audiObelisk, Reviews on April 22nd, 2026 by JJ Koczan
German power-five-piece (which is like a power trio, but with two guitars and, in this case, a keyboardist/vocalist) Lynx release their sophomore full-length, Trinity of Suns, this week through Dying Victims Productions, and if you caught wind of the band’s 2022 debut, Watcher of Skies, you’ll probably notice a few differences from the new seven-tracker. The shared vocals of Amy Zine (also synth) and Ioannis “Janni” Athanasiadis (also guitar) lend an immediate sense of dynamic on the somewhat-extended opener “Voyager” as the band make ready to tuck into the stage-ready hook of “Oppressive Season,” and since neither of them was in the band when they made their debut, yes, that’s a point of departure.
They take the place of guitarist/vocalist Marvin Kiefer, but in doing so are still only part of the shift in character in the band. Of course arrangements have fleshed out as well, as the guitars of Athanasiadis and Tim Künz, the bass of Phil Helm and Franz Fesel‘s drums find proggier modes of expression late in the fluid forward movement of the title-track, likewise thoughtful in melody and galloping in groove, residing somewhere near where Thin Lizzy gave over to traditional metal, the roots of the NWOBHM but with drama in the culmination of “Voyager” and penultimate acoustic-led “Seven Days of Darkness,” a bit of folkish twang in Zine‘s layers for the big chorus of “Stranger Sign in the Sky.” That song and “Oppressive Season” feel of a kin stylistically but aren’t repetitive, in a similar way that the bookending eight-minute closer “Island Universe” echoes the long lead-in of “Voyager” before finding its own way through songs-about-the-night-style keyboard-inclusive heavy rock, working into and through a long break before coming back with a bigger roll that makes the centerpiece interlude “Parhelia” feel prescient before 
stepping up the force of the boogie and toying some more with tempo to finish.
For the energy the band bring to the material — even the standalone guitar intro to “Trinity of Suns” feels vital — it feels fair for them to have recorded Trinity of Suns live, but the vocals are layered either way, so the album isn’t just a case of they-showed-up-and-hit-record, and that works in its favor across its 39 minutes. As that title-track expands on what “Oppressive Season” just before it was doing, and speaks to the broader reach of the opener and the finale, the presence in the vocals becomes all the more something to tie songs together, and one hopes that as Lynx move on from here and continue to develop their sound, they push forward in this regard as well, in terms of Zine self-harmonizing and sharing duties with Athanasiadis.
Lynx are not the first heavy rock band to take influence from early metal, and they’re not the first proto-metal band to play heavy rock. Thinking especially in terms of the lineup changes, Trinity of Suns gives an impression like a second debut, but for all the getting-their-feet-under-them and hookmaking going on throughout, Lynx want neither for perspective or ambition in terms of their craft. The songs come at you from multiple angles while feeling largely consistent in tone, and feel classically rooted despite being tough to pin down in terms of influence. “Island Universe” makes a fitting capstone, summarizing a lot of what works best on Trinity of Suns, and serving as an example of the nuance taking hold in their approach and the potential there for future progression.
As always, I hope you enjoy. PR wire info follows the album on the player below:
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present the highly anticipated second album of Germany’s LYNX, Trinity of Suns, on CD and vinyl LP formats.
Hailing from Gießen, Germany’s LYNX formed in 2020 and promptly released their first single, Grey Man, on 7” vinyl that same year. The following year, the band released their debut album, Watcher of Skies, on the well-regarded No Remorse Records. The record received due acclaim for its modern recasting of ‘70s hard rock in the orbit of Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, and Blue Öyster Cult.
Of especial note was the addition of Amy Zine in 2022 as vocalist and synth player, expanding LYNX to a quintet. In 2025, original vocalist & guitarist Marvin Kiefer left the band, and one Janni (Eyemaster, ex-Speedbreaker) joined as vocalist & guitarist. In November of that year, the band entered Fat & Holy Studio to record their second full-length.
Recorded live, Trinity of Suns is the “now” sound of LYNX – and one that’s still authentically, powerfully old. That addition of Zine has proven fruitful, for she takes on the majority of the vocals across the album, giving the record a tender-yet-tough touch that deepens the quintet’s already estimable dynamics. To that, LYNX focused on expanding their strengths – longer tracks, more varied songwriting, and nuanced arrangements – rendering Trinity of Suns a kaleidoscopic song cycle steeped in the ‘70s. For sure, they can still rock as hard as anyone, but with increasingly deft pacing – both in when to pull back (and push forward) as well more-emphatic folk embellishments – the moody emotion that’s been simmering in the LYNX sound all along truly takes flight. The shift from Marvin to Amy, coupled with the decision to record live, gives Trinity of Suns a remarkably fresh touch.
LYNX draw from a deep well – the golden era of rock and metal to early proto-metal acts, progressive rock legends such as Genesis and Pink Floyd to early blues- and folk-infused hard rock – and what they bring up is veritable gold. Bask in the glow of Trinity of Suns!
Artwork:
Lena Richter
Line-up:
Amy Zine – Vocals, Synthesizer
Tim Künz – Guitar, Synthesizer
Ioannis Athanasiadis – Guitar, Vocals
Phil Helm – Bass
Franz Fesel – Drums
Dying Victims Productions website
Dying Victims Productions on Bandcamp
