Dark Symphonies from the Black Metal heart of Romania.
Roughly translated the band’s name means,“I’m with triple 6”. After some brief thought and armed with the knowledge that Syn Ze Sase Tri create Symphonic Black Metal you’d be forgiven for thinking that this refers to the oh-so-common personality of that movement, Lucifer. Although you would be incorrect in this most obvious assumption because according to the band’s press release;
It actually refers to the supreme number, a limit between the human world and the world of the Gods, in ancient mythology.
This description seems a bit vague, which is probably due to the multiple language barriers that have needed to be crossed in order to arrive at an English description. Syn Ze Sase Tri themselves are Romanian and their label (Code666) are Italian. Either way this marks Syn Ze Sase Tri out immediately as being something different to the regular Satanic Black Metal band. In fact taking the description of their name and ascribing the “human world” to be the Black Metal genre, and the “world of the Gods” to be the Classical genre, this album does a very good job at straddling the two. Indeed, the direct translation of the album title is in fact;
Between Two Worlds.
Syn Ze Sase Tri were originally formed in 2007 by Corb with this debut album being recorded in 2008. It was at this time that Corb and bandmate Spin joined countrymen and fellow Black Metallers Negura Bunget to record and tour the album ‘Virstele Pamintului’. Then in late Summer 2010 the pair left Negura Bunget to return to their own band with Intre Doua Lumi now seeing the light of day.
The band ply their trade in the Black Metal genre, that is, the modern symphonic version of the genre favoured by Dimmu Borgir and Emperor. The buzz saw guitars sound big and well produced with big symphonic string sounds frequently backing the band up. The songs are eminently listenable and provide an all-encompassing sonic experience such are the numerous types of instrumentation utilised. Album opener proper ‘Ziua Din Urma’ contains a meaty driving riff backed with lush strings while Corb spews lyrical vitriol a la Shagrath, albeit in Romanian. Third track ‘Fauritorul Lumii’ opts for a more straight forward approach with minimal orchestration, encouraging straight-up headbanging Most of the remaining tracks run the gamut of sounds between these two to varying amounts, but without simply repeating the same ground over and again.
The listener is kept interested at all times with time-changes and shifting moods with the orchestration utilised to the maximum when every possible. ‘Maretia Intruparii’ is a sparse arpeggiatted piano driven instrumental grandiose in its vision. ‘Calea Fara De Sfirsit’ raises the tempo and propels the listener through a highly symphonic choral backing towards a powerful closing guitar motif.
There is a typical shortness to the songs on offer here, with barely any of them lasting upwards of the six minute mark. I get the impression the band have exercised a great deal of restraint in this respect, or it could be a lack of confidence in their own song writing. Syn Ze Sase Tri seemingly have the skills to craft some longer, epic songs and could take their listeners on a journey with them and occasionally (and that is a very important occasionally) such a feat should be attempted. Imagine how exciting that could be? A Symphonic Black Metal version of ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ or ‘Ghost Love Score’ nudging up alongside their shorter, balls-out, riff until you drop tunes. It might not be something the average Black Metal fan might want to hear, but for the casual observer it could be wonderfully thrilling.
For fans of the Symphonic Black Metal genre this album is a worthwhile addition due to the obvious care that has gone into crafting it with a high quality production and thoughtful song writing. There are plenty of opportunities to simply rock out along with those to get in lost in with the headphones on. The album cover portrays a mounted armoured black knight trampling over a pile of skulls, presumably post battle. Sitting back and closing your eyes, the music within provides the perfect soundtrack for this, allowing your imagination to follow this anti-hero on some long forgotten quest.
