One band emerges from the Canadian landscape with a roar that echoes the glory days of 80s hard rock. Enter Lÿnx, Calgary’s ferocious four piece of Blade, Fangs, Flash, and Ja6ur that was born from the ashes of the pandemic in 2020. Fuelled by a collective love for the iconic sounds of yesteryears, particularly hard rock and hair metal, the band’s third album, Claws Out is due to be released on May 9th.
With a blend of raw authenticity and contemporary polish, Lÿnx is redefining the boundaries of the genre and giving one a dynamic concoction of nostalgia.
The first glimpse into the nostalgic adventure is the sultry video single, “Shake It Up.” A quintessential anthem for the rock aficionados, this track embodies everything that defines Lÿnx’s love for past sounds. From catchy riffs to furious guitar solos to pulsating basslines to thunderous drums, “Shake It Up” is a symphony of energy that ignites the soul and commands the body to move. It is quintessential glam metal from video to song to high pitched wails.
On the song, the band says,
“Every band needs that one fast-paced shake your ass kind of song, something to get the ladies moving and the men groovin’. Shake It Up has all the feels from the catchy riffs to the furious guitar solo. Strong bass to keep the beat, banging drums you’ll feel in your chest, and a screeching vocal tune that may just have you coming back for more!!!”
Lÿnx is not just about superficial thrills and fleeting pleasures. With the title track, “Claws Out,” the band dives into darker territories and explores primal instincts and untamed desires. Inspired by the mythos of werewolves, the track takes one on a journey through the shadows of the human psyche, with Ja6ur‘s visceral lyrics adding a layer of raw intensity to the mix.
The band says this of the title track,
“With this one, we wanted to hit hard and fast. So one thing led to another and well…Werewolf! In honesty, we wanted this one to have a different theme than other songs and it went through about 3 different versions before we decided to get Ja6ur to write some bloodthirsty werewolf shit and it just worked out.”
The third single, “Hell in High Heels” sees the band channelling everything I adored about 80s glam metal – wailing guitars, driving rhythms, and vocals that are tinged with grit and a kick to the nuts.
On the song, the band adds,
“This song was Ja6ur’s Ex. We wanted to express in words the feeling of ‘Forbidden Fruit’ in a sense. When you know it’s gonna hurt but you still need it. Every person has that one volatile relationship, we’ve just given it lyrics.”
With their unapologetic embrace of classic rock aesthetics and modern sensibilities, Lÿnx proves that the spirit of hard rock is alive and kicking.
Photo by Igor Dragic
