code666 (2012)

“Sub Semnul Lupului” is the second full-length from Romanian symphonic black metallers Syn Ze Sase Tri. Should be a nice and easy name to remember when you’re down in your local Helvete searching the new CD’s pile. Or maybe not...

“Sub Semnul Lupului” is epic and layered, calling to mind the greats of the genre in terms of ambition and direction. Unfortunately, something is lacking. While there are some cracking riffs and the whole thing is very competently put together, the keyboards don’t have enough of an operatic quality to lift the band’s sound into the stratosphere. In recent times the bar in this regard has been hiked to ridiculous heights by the likes of Gromth and Carach Angren, and because the symphonic element of their sound is a little thin, Syn Ze Sase Tri have ended up sounding a bit too ‘second division’.

A pity really, since Syn Ze Sase Tri are a charismatic act and one who it is easy to feel deserve good things. Definitely one to watch out for, though not necessarily this time around.

www.myspace.com/synzesasetri
www.code666.net

Rating: 4 / 6

Composed by Peter Loftus