Lynx have emerged as one of the most distinctive new forces in Germany’s hard‑rock and proto‑metal landscape. Formed in 2020 and shaped by long‑standing friendships and a mix of musical backgrounds, they’ve developed a sound that moves between classic metal, melodic rock and the wider influences each member brings. With their new album “Trinity of Suns” on the horizon, the band are stepping into their next chapter with a renewed sense of scale and ambition.

Interview

TheNwothm: For anyone discovering you for the first time, could you introduce the members of Lynx and share a little about where each of you comes from?

Lynx: We are Lynx, a hard-rock proto-metal act originally from Giessen Germany, by now also based in the Ruhrpott-area. Our members are Amy Zine (vocals, synthesizer), Ioannis Athanasiadis (guitar, vocals), Tim Künz (guitar, synthesizer), Phil Helm (Bass) and Franz Fesel (drums). While our guitar and Bass section is deeply rooted in death metal and heavy metal, Franz comes from a hard rock and psychedelic-rock background. Amy’s vocal chops are heavily influenced by soul, R’n’B and pop-music.

TheNwothm: How did the idea of forming Lynx first come about in 2020, and what was happening in your lives at the time that pushed you towards starting a heavy metal and hard rock project?

Lynx: Back then everyone was already involved in different musical projects from folk- and hard rock, to death- and heavy metal. Back then Janni and Amy weren’t involved yet, but Marvin Kiefer of Blizzen was. In one way or another we were linked to each other by long term friendships or former musical-projects. We very much valued each other’s musicianship and when we first came together the heavy metal/hard rock thing seemed to be the common ground.

TheNwothm: The name Lynx has a strong, distinctive feel. What drew you to it, and what did you want it to signal about the band’s identity when you chose it?

Lynx: We wanted to have a protagonist for the stories we wanted to tell. One that’s not human but still relatable. The Lynx seemed to be a perfect fit. With its beard it seems old and wise, yet it’s a ferocious predator. It’s a lonesome traveler, yet closely connected to its territory and nature itself. There’s a mysticism about it. We all felt an emotional bond to its complex personality and what it represents. Plus, the word itself looks cool, haha.

TheNwothm: Your sound in my opinion, is this dazzling blend of the golden era of hard rock fused with heavy metal. How did you know this was the direction you wanted to take Lynx?

Lynx: We didn’t at first. We thought about heavy-metal as our common ground, but soon discovered, that we can’t write heavy-metal songs exclusively. We share broad influences old and new. So, a few songs in we started to experiment and explore and bring in all the different music that touch each one of us. It’s a journey, really. And we are not done experimenting, yet. The best thing is, that everyone in the band is open for that.

TheNwothm: Germany has a long history with hard rock and heavy metal, but each region has its own character. How has Hesse, and Giessen specifically, influenced your sound, work ethic or creative outlook?

Lynx: Well, Giessen is kind of rough and dirty but surrounded by beautiful nature, like a gray island in a green ocean. We are all very much drawn to nature, the peace and the quiet, but also the grandeur and vastness it brings. Yet we are these lonesome wanderers, native to this little gray island. Probably fits for a bunch of regions in the world. So, yeah, we don’t know, really.

TheNwothm: How connected do you feel to the wider German metal landscape, and what does being a band from Giessen mean to you when you play outside your home region?

Lynx: The german hevy metal scene is actually a pretty small cosmos. Everyone seems to know each other. That makes it easy to feel at home wherever you play.

TheNwothm: Germany continues to produce strong new metal acts. Which newer bands have caught your attention recently?

Lynx: The Night Eternal, Knife, Ritvs and Blizzen. And outside heavy metal Yanos, Eyemaster and Zerre. Most of them are not new, but they are strong acts that put out incredible music at the moment. They are all friends we’ve known for a long time or met along the way and we are always peeking over the fence to see what they are doing.

TheNwothm: Your first single in 2020 was “Grey Man”. What stands out most in your memory about writing or recording that track, and what did it represent for Lynx at the time?

Lynx: It was written in the very first rehearsal session. The first time the (then) four of us were in a room together, actually. So yeah, it was the moment we knew, that we would work well together as human beings, and as a band.

TheNwothm: The following year you released the full-length album “Watcher of Skies”. What was the biggest shift for you when moving from singles to a complete record

Lynx: We were stoked about diving into a deeper more complex story musically as well as lyrically. We strayed away from heavy metal to more adventurous rock and felt early on, that the album would only be a first chapter of a longer journey.

TheNwothm: And what are you favourite songs from that record and why?

Lynx: That’s a tough one. “Grey Man” of course, but apart from that “Beyond the Infinite” and “Savage Mountain,” probably. We are still playing them live for a reason. “Grey Man” shows where we came from and together with Beyond… it represents our melodic and dynamic approach to rock music, while Savage… breathes a more metallic and at times even doomy air.

TheNwothm: Your upcoming album “Trinity of Suns” is out later this month! What can you share about the themes or ideas that guided this new chapter?

Lynx: It really is the sequel to “Watcher of Skies”. The Lynx breaks the chains that bind it to earth and launches into an adventure through time and space in search for a new home. The story is as much an adventure in the classic sense, as it is a introspective journey of finding out who you are and what you value. The different stops and emotions of this journey are reflected in the musical framework. Every song is very different yet somehow interconnected.

TheNwothm: Is there a particular song that resonates or means something to each of you the most?

Lynx: Every one of us has a different favourite, I suppose. We are especially proud of the songs that step out of our comfort zone or what people expect from us. And the longer tracks came out pretty nice as well.

TheNwothm: The artwork is glorious: Who came up with the idea and who is the artist behind it?

Lynx: We shared album covers we liked and came up with the idea to depict the nature of a planet far away. We all liked  the works of Roger Dean, who did the covers for Yes for example. We approached Lena Richter with these ideas and some of the elements shown on the final artwork. We knew her paintings and her working process. Real paint on real canvas is a different animal. A lot of stuff is irreversible, in contrast to digital art.  So once we gave it to her, the album became as much hers, as it is ours. We feel like the trust really payed off.