Cynic (band)
Encyclopedia
Cynic is an American progressive rock
band, incorporating experimental music
, alternative
, metal
and jazz fusion
elements, founded in Miami, Florida
and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993
, is widely regarded as a landmark release of the progressive metal genre. The band released their second album
on November 17, 2008. Traced in Air
was released through French label
Season of Mist
, followed up by an EP titled Re-Traced
on May 18, 2010.
and drummer Sean Reinert
in 1987. In 1988, the band made their first recording, simply called the '88 Demo. After the demo, Paul Masvidal took over vocal duties, while continuing to play guitar. The band also added a second guitarist, Jason Gobel
. Another demo followed in 1989, titled Reflections of a Dying World. 1989 also brought the addition of bassist Tony Choy
. In 1990, the group went to the studio to record their third demo, plainly titled '90 Demo. In 1991, Cynic signed with Roadrunner Records
and recorded their fourth and final demo, known as Demo 1991.
and Sean Reinert
had played on Death's 1991 album Human, and were obliged to take part in the supporting tour of Europe. During this tour, Death ran into serious financial trouble that resulted in Masvidal and Reinert's gear being confiscated by a UK promoter, and they had to wait six months before being able to retrieve it. During this time, the band parted with bassist Tony Choy
who then joined Atheist
, replaced by Sean Malone
. They planned to record Focus in August 1992, however the day they were set to begin recording Focus Hurricane Andrew
struck Florida
, destroying both guitarist Gobel's home, the band's rehearsal space, and leading to months of delay. The band used this time as an opportunity to write new material, much of which is featured on Focus. Tony Teegarden
was eventually brought in to do the "aggressive vocals
", however all the vocoder vocals
were recorded by Masvidal.
Focus was released internationally September 14, 1993.
Cynic toured extensively worldwide throughout 1993-94, including the Dynamo Open Air
Festival in May 1994.
Gobel, Masvidal, and Reinert, with bassist Chris Kringel and vocalist/keyboardist Aruna Abrams, formed the short-lived Portal. Masvidal and Reinert released an album with a more recent project, the indie act Æon Spoke
, on SPV Records
and Kringel also played with them, touring the UK in 2005. The members of Cynic loosely reunited (playing with Bill Bruford
, Steve Hackett
, and Jim Matheos
on various tracks) on Gordian Knot
's second album, Emergent
.
announced that Cynic was reuniting to perform during spring/summer of 2007. During June/July/August 2007, they played 15 shows across Europe, predominantly at major metal/rock festivals. The setlist consisted of songs from Focus, Portal's demo, a cover of Mahavishnu Orchestra's "Meeting of the Spirits," and a new song, "Evolutionary Sleeper."
The reunion line-up featured founding members Masvidal on guitar/vocals and Reinert on drums. Gobel, the long time guitarist who played on Focus could not participate due to family and work commitments, and David "Mavis" Senescu was brought aboard as a replacement. Malone, who played bass on Focus, was unavailable due to teaching and work commitments, and Chris Kringel
, who played bass on the 1993 European tour, was brought in as a replacement. All aggressive vocals
were handled by pre-recordings of Teegarden. All keyboards were covered by Masvidal and Senescu using guitar synths.
In early 2008, the band announced plans to complete a second studio album. Malone rejoined the lineup and Dutch guitarist Tymon Kruidenier was added, the latter contributing aggressive vocals
.
was released internationally November 17, 2008 on Season of Mist, followed by Robin Zielhorst being added as touring bassist.
The band played at the Wacken Open Air
festival. The Traced in Air tour cycle began in Autumn 2008 with direct support slots for Opeth
on their European tour.
Starting in February 2009, Cynic toured North America with Meshuggah
and The Faceless
, and beginning April 15, 2009 Cynic toured North America in support of DragonForce
.
During the 2010 tour in support of Between the Buried and Me
, along with Scale the Summit
and the Devin Townsend
Project, the band performed live "an experiment" titled "Wheels Within Wheels." Shortly after unveiling this new work, the band announced a new EP coming soon on their MySpace blog. Masvidal revealed in an interview the plans for the coming EP:
Later blogs on MySpace revealed that the new EP would be titled Re-Traced
.
In May 2010, Cynic announced plans for their first US headlining tour. Titled "Re-Traced / Re-Focused Live", the tour found Cynic performing their debut album Focus in its entirety, among other tracks. The tour was co-sponsored by Decibel Magazine
as its inaugural "Hall of Fame" tour series. It kicked off on July 22, 2010 in Los Angeles with Intronaut
and Dysrhythmia as supporting bands. The tour ended on August 13, 2010. The final show of the tour took place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; it was the first time in 16 years the band returned to their hometown to perform.
In December 2010, the band announced that bassist Robin Zielhorst and guitarist Tymon Kruidenier were no longer in Cynic due to logistical and various other reasons. In the same announcement, Masvidal and Reinert set the approximate release schedule for Cynic's next album, stating that "the new Cynic release should be coming in late 2011 on the Season of Mist label", and, in addition, "[t]hey are also working towards a remixed re-release of their classic recording 'Focus.'"
Cynic will remain as a duo, utilizing a collective of guest musicians and situations. Masvidal recently announced on the Cynic forum "Sean and I are keen to the idea of Cynic evolving into a collective of sorts, depending on the album / tour, etc.. It allows for a lot more creative flexibility, plus we get to tailor each situation as it arises. Traced In Air was essentially the beginning of this idea. We love playing with different musicians as it is, so this opens up lots of possibilities."
Cynic are represented by lawyer Eric Greif
, whom Masvidal and Reinert have known over two decades since their time in Death.
On September 6, 2011, Cynic announced a new EP entitled Carbon-Based Anatomy
to be released on November 11, 2011 in Europe, and November 15, 2011 in the United States. The artwork was designed by Robert Venosa
, the artist behind the cover artworks of Focus, Traced in Air and Re-Traced, shortly before his death.
All bass parts on “Carbon-Based Anatomy” were recorded by ex-Cynic member Sean Malone
, who had also previously recorded the bass parts to Focus and "Traced in Air".
Paul Masvidal describes this new EP as
On October 10, 2011, Cynic uploaded one song from the new EP titled "Carbon-Based Anatomy" and announced that Brandon Giffin and Max Phelps would be playing live with the band. Brandon Giffin is a former bassist for The Faceless
and Max Phelps will play the second guitar and provide backing vocals.
, thrash
and hardcore
sound, but in the 1990s their sound changed towards a highly complex, experimental and extremely technical form of progressive metal
, while still retaining their death metal
roots. Many influences from jazz
and jazz-rock fusion can be heard on their debut album Focus. Focus has both "growls
" and "robotic"
vocals, using a vocoder
. The offshoot Portal later released a demo recording that continues even further in the direction of progressive space rock
, refining and softening up their sound.
Cynic's 2008 album Traced in Air melded together the styles and influences heard on 1993's Focus with the more progressive-oriented Portal approach. The result had Cynic put less emphasis on its extreme metal elements, with new guttural vocalist Tymon Kruidenier playing a smaller role than Tony Teegarden did on Focus. Additionally, Paul Masvidal all but abandoned his vocoder robotic vocals, opting instead for a more natural singing voice, with a subtle vocoder layer.
Noting the journey from metal to the progressives, the New York Times proclaimed in a positive review of Traced in Air that "Cynic should be understood not so much alongside any metal bands but along with the radical harmonic progressives in the last 45 years of pop and jazz: composers like Milton Nascimento, the Beach Boys or Pat Metheny."
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band, incorporating experimental music
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
, alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, metal
Technical death metal
Technical death metal is a musical subgenre of death metal that focuses on complex rhythms, riffs and song structures. Technical experimentation in death metal began in the late '80s and early '90s by bands such as Death, Atheist and Cynic...
and jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
elements, founded in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
, is widely regarded as a landmark release of the progressive metal genre. The band released their second album
Traced in Air
Traced in Air is the second full-length album by the progressive metal band Cynic. It is the first album since their 1993 debut Focus.-History:Cynic disbanded during the fall of 1994 while working on a new album...
on November 17, 2008. Traced in Air
Traced in Air
Traced in Air is the second full-length album by the progressive metal band Cynic. It is the first album since their 1993 debut Focus.-History:Cynic disbanded during the fall of 1994 while working on a new album...
was released through French label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Season of Mist
Season of Mist
Season of Mist is a record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing...
, followed up by an EP titled Re-Traced
Re-Traced
Re-Traced is an EP by the technical metal band Cynic. It is composed of four re-interpretations of songs from their album Traced in Air, as well as one new song. It was released through Season of Mist on May 17.-History:...
on May 18, 2010.
Demo era (1987-1991)
Cynic was formed by guitarist (and now singer) Paul MasvidalPaul Masvidal
Paul Albert Masvidal is the guitarist, singer and a founding member of the progressive band Cynic and previously led the alternative rock band Æon Spoke. Born in Puerto Rico, Masvidal grew up in Miami, Florida and currently resides in Los Angeles...
and drummer Sean Reinert
Sean Reinert
Sean Reinert is the drummer of Cynic and Æon Spoke. He is known for his technical, original and creative drumming technique....
in 1987. In 1988, the band made their first recording, simply called the '88 Demo. After the demo, Paul Masvidal took over vocal duties, while continuing to play guitar. The band also added a second guitarist, Jason Gobel
Jason Gobel
Jason Göbel is an American musician, engineer and University lecturer.He is best known for being a member of the technical metal band Cynic and playing guitar on their album Focus.-Life and career:...
. Another demo followed in 1989, titled Reflections of a Dying World. 1989 also brought the addition of bassist Tony Choy
Tony Choy
Tony Choy is an American electric bassist. He was a session musician for some well-known technical death metal bands such as Atheist, Cynic and the Dutch band Pestilence...
. In 1990, the group went to the studio to record their third demo, plainly titled '90 Demo. In 1991, Cynic signed with Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
and recorded their fourth and final demo, known as Demo 1991.
Recording Focus (1993)
The recording of Cynic's full-length debut album Focus did not happen immediately after the ink dried on the band's new contract with Roadrunner Records. Paul MasvidalPaul Masvidal
Paul Albert Masvidal is the guitarist, singer and a founding member of the progressive band Cynic and previously led the alternative rock band Æon Spoke. Born in Puerto Rico, Masvidal grew up in Miami, Florida and currently resides in Los Angeles...
and Sean Reinert
Sean Reinert
Sean Reinert is the drummer of Cynic and Æon Spoke. He is known for his technical, original and creative drumming technique....
had played on Death's 1991 album Human, and were obliged to take part in the supporting tour of Europe. During this tour, Death ran into serious financial trouble that resulted in Masvidal and Reinert's gear being confiscated by a UK promoter, and they had to wait six months before being able to retrieve it. During this time, the band parted with bassist Tony Choy
Tony Choy
Tony Choy is an American electric bassist. He was a session musician for some well-known technical death metal bands such as Atheist, Cynic and the Dutch band Pestilence...
who then joined Atheist
Atheist (band)
Atheist is a technical death metal band from Florida, founded in 1984, whose music combines metal riffs with subtle Latin music arrangements and jazz fusion.- History :...
, replaced by Sean Malone
Sean Malone
Sean Malone is an American musician who plays primarily fretless bass guitar and Chapman stick. However, Malone also plays piano, keyboards, and guitar. He is most well known as a member of the progressive band Cynic.- Biography :...
. They planned to record Focus in August 1992, however the day they were set to begin recording Focus Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew was the third Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States, after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Andrew was the first named storm and only major hurricane of the otherwise inactive 1992 Atlantic hurricane season...
struck Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, destroying both guitarist Gobel's home, the band's rehearsal space, and leading to months of delay. The band used this time as an opportunity to write new material, much of which is featured on Focus. Tony Teegarden
Tony Teegarden
Tony Teegarden is an American death metal vocalist who performed the growling vocals and keyboards on Cynic's debut 1993 album Focus. Today, he is an entrepreneur in a company called Prepaid Legal Services Inc. He is still musically active with a band called Adrift, which includes Jack Owen of...
was eventually brought in to do the "aggressive vocals
Death growl
A death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...
", however all the vocoder vocals
Robotic voice effects
"Robot voices" became a recurring element in popular music starting in the second half of the twentieth century. Several methods of producing variations on this effect have arisen.-Vocoder:...
were recorded by Masvidal.
Focus was released internationally September 14, 1993.
Cynic toured extensively worldwide throughout 1993-94, including the Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air was a festival in the Netherlands held every year since 1986, until 2005. Originally held to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Dynamo rock club in Eindhoven, it has grown exponentially since then, and from a 5,000-person attendance in the Dynamo parking lot, it had grown to...
Festival in May 1994.
Split-up (1994-2006)
Cynic disbanded during the fall of 1994 while working on a second studio album.Gobel, Masvidal, and Reinert, with bassist Chris Kringel and vocalist/keyboardist Aruna Abrams, formed the short-lived Portal. Masvidal and Reinert released an album with a more recent project, the indie act Æon Spoke
Æon Spoke
Æon Spoke is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles. It was created by members of Cynic and former members of Death, Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert, when they relocated from Miami to Los Angeles....
, on SPV Records
SPV GmbH
SPV GmbH is an independent German record label.Founded on January 1, 1984, it has slowly grown to be one of the largest independent distributors and record labels worldwide....
and Kringel also played with them, touring the UK in 2005. The members of Cynic loosely reunited (playing with Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
, Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
, and Jim Matheos
Jim Matheos
Jim Matheos , is the American guitarist and primary songwriter for the progressive metal band Fates Warning. As of bassist Joe DiBiase's departure in 1996, he is the band's only permanent member...
on various tracks) on Gordian Knot
Gordian Knot (band)
Gordian Knot is an American progressive rock/metal band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup has included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Yes, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of...
's second album, Emergent
Emergent (album)
Emergent is the second album by American progressive rock band Gordian Knot, and is the only album apart from Focus to contain all original members of Cynic.- Track listing :#"Arsis" – 1:59#"Muttersprache" – 6:26#"A Shaman's Whisper" – 6:33...
.
Reunion (2006-2007)
In September 2006, Paul MasvidalPaul Masvidal
Paul Albert Masvidal is the guitarist, singer and a founding member of the progressive band Cynic and previously led the alternative rock band Æon Spoke. Born in Puerto Rico, Masvidal grew up in Miami, Florida and currently resides in Los Angeles...
announced that Cynic was reuniting to perform during spring/summer of 2007. During June/July/August 2007, they played 15 shows across Europe, predominantly at major metal/rock festivals. The setlist consisted of songs from Focus, Portal's demo, a cover of Mahavishnu Orchestra's "Meeting of the Spirits," and a new song, "Evolutionary Sleeper."
The reunion line-up featured founding members Masvidal on guitar/vocals and Reinert on drums. Gobel, the long time guitarist who played on Focus could not participate due to family and work commitments, and David "Mavis" Senescu was brought aboard as a replacement. Malone, who played bass on Focus, was unavailable due to teaching and work commitments, and Chris Kringel
Chris Kringel
Chris Kringel is an American bass guitarist and author of books on playing the bass guitar. He was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, and has performed with Cynic, Æon Spoke, Inda Eaton and the post-Cynic project, Portal.- Books authored:...
, who played bass on the 1993 European tour, was brought in as a replacement. All aggressive vocals
Death growl
A death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...
were handled by pre-recordings of Teegarden. All keyboards were covered by Masvidal and Senescu using guitar synths.
In early 2008, the band announced plans to complete a second studio album. Malone rejoined the lineup and Dutch guitarist Tymon Kruidenier was added, the latter contributing aggressive vocals
Death growl
A death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...
.
Traced in Air and Re-Traced (2008−2011)
Traced in AirTraced in Air
Traced in Air is the second full-length album by the progressive metal band Cynic. It is the first album since their 1993 debut Focus.-History:Cynic disbanded during the fall of 1994 while working on a new album...
was released internationally November 17, 2008 on Season of Mist, followed by Robin Zielhorst being added as touring bassist.
The band played at the Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
festival. The Traced in Air tour cycle began in Autumn 2008 with direct support slots for Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
on their European tour.
Starting in February 2009, Cynic toured North America with Meshuggah
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
and The Faceless
The Faceless
The Faceless is an American technical death metal band from Encino, California. They released their debut album, Akeldama in November 2006, and a follow-up, Planetary Duality, in November 2008.-History:...
, and beginning April 15, 2009 Cynic toured North America in support of DragonForce
DragonForce
DragonForce are an English power metal band from London. Formed in 1999, the group is known for its long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-based lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game-influenced sound. Guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman are the only two...
.
During the 2010 tour in support of Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. They have released a total of five studio albums, as well as a cover album, an EP and a live DVD/CD...
, along with Scale the Summit
Scale the Summit
Scale the Summit is an American instrumental metal band based out of Houston, Texas. It formed in 2004 and signed to Prosthetic Records.The band draws influences from other progressive acts such as Cynic and Dream Theater. However, unlike most other progressive metal bands, they have no vocalist...
and the Devin Townsend
Devin Townsend
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist....
Project, the band performed live "an experiment" titled "Wheels Within Wheels." Shortly after unveiling this new work, the band announced a new EP coming soon on their MySpace blog. Masvidal revealed in an interview the plans for the coming EP:
Later blogs on MySpace revealed that the new EP would be titled Re-Traced
Re-Traced
Re-Traced is an EP by the technical metal band Cynic. It is composed of four re-interpretations of songs from their album Traced in Air, as well as one new song. It was released through Season of Mist on May 17.-History:...
.
In May 2010, Cynic announced plans for their first US headlining tour. Titled "Re-Traced / Re-Focused Live", the tour found Cynic performing their debut album Focus in its entirety, among other tracks. The tour was co-sponsored by Decibel Magazine
Decibel magazine
Decibel is a monthly heavy metal and extreme music magazine published by the Philadelphia-based Red Flag Media. Since October 2004, Decibel has featured a plethora of extreme metal bands and musicians. Its sections include Upfront, Features, Reviews, Guest Columns and the Decibel Hall of Fame...
as its inaugural "Hall of Fame" tour series. It kicked off on July 22, 2010 in Los Angeles with Intronaut
Intronaut
Intronaut is a progressive metal band from Los Angeles, California.Their style, while rooted in metal, is extremely forward-thinking and psychedelic, complete with complex polyrhythms, intense, haunting melodies, and vocal harmonies, combined with progressive and jazzy instrumental breaks.Their...
and Dysrhythmia as supporting bands. The tour ended on August 13, 2010. The final show of the tour took place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; it was the first time in 16 years the band returned to their hometown to perform.
In December 2010, the band announced that bassist Robin Zielhorst and guitarist Tymon Kruidenier were no longer in Cynic due to logistical and various other reasons. In the same announcement, Masvidal and Reinert set the approximate release schedule for Cynic's next album, stating that "the new Cynic release should be coming in late 2011 on the Season of Mist label", and, in addition, "[t]hey are also working towards a remixed re-release of their classic recording 'Focus.'"
Cynic will remain as a duo, utilizing a collective of guest musicians and situations. Masvidal recently announced on the Cynic forum "Sean and I are keen to the idea of Cynic evolving into a collective of sorts, depending on the album / tour, etc.. It allows for a lot more creative flexibility, plus we get to tailor each situation as it arises. Traced In Air was essentially the beginning of this idea. We love playing with different musicians as it is, so this opens up lots of possibilities."
Cynic are represented by lawyer Eric Greif
Eric Greif
Eric Greif is a lawyer and entertainment personality known first for a management career within the heavy metal musical genre in the 1980s and later within the legal profession...
, whom Masvidal and Reinert have known over two decades since their time in Death.
Carbon-Based Anatomy (2011−present)
Cynic's website announced that the band was working on a new album and the "first baby steps into this gigantic process are being taken right now, creating little embryos of songs that will turn into fully fledged CYNIC tunes over the course of the following months."On September 6, 2011, Cynic announced a new EP entitled Carbon-Based Anatomy
Carbon-Based Anatomy
Carbon-Based Anatomy is an EP by the avant-garde metal band Cynic. It was released through Season of Mist on 11 November 2011.-History:Carbon-Based Anatomy EP is composed of six previously unheard tracks. However, the song "Carbon-Based Anatomy" is a reinterpretation of an older unreleased Æon...
to be released on November 11, 2011 in Europe, and November 15, 2011 in the United States. The artwork was designed by Robert Venosa
Robert Venosa
Robert Venosa was an American artist residing in Boulder, Colorado, USA. He studied with what are termed the New Masters. His artworks reside in collections around the world. -Life and works:...
, the artist behind the cover artworks of Focus, Traced in Air and Re-Traced, shortly before his death.
All bass parts on “Carbon-Based Anatomy” were recorded by ex-Cynic member Sean Malone
Sean Malone
Sean Malone is an American musician who plays primarily fretless bass guitar and Chapman stick. However, Malone also plays piano, keyboards, and guitar. He is most well known as a member of the progressive band Cynic.- Biography :...
, who had also previously recorded the bass parts to Focus and "Traced in Air".
Paul Masvidal describes this new EP as
On October 10, 2011, Cynic uploaded one song from the new EP titled "Carbon-Based Anatomy" and announced that Brandon Giffin and Max Phelps would be playing live with the band. Brandon Giffin is a former bassist for The Faceless
The Faceless
The Faceless is an American technical death metal band from Encino, California. They released their debut album, Akeldama in November 2006, and a follow-up, Planetary Duality, in November 2008.-History:...
and Max Phelps will play the second guitar and provide backing vocals.
Musical style
Cynic's first recordings feature a more punkPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
and hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
sound, but in the 1990s their sound changed towards a highly complex, experimental and extremely technical form of progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
, while still retaining their death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
roots. Many influences from jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and jazz-rock fusion can be heard on their debut album Focus. Focus has both "growls
Death growl
A death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...
" and "robotic"
Robotic voice effects
"Robot voices" became a recurring element in popular music starting in the second half of the twentieth century. Several methods of producing variations on this effect have arisen.-Vocoder:...
vocals, using a vocoder
Vocoder
A vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
. The offshoot Portal later released a demo recording that continues even further in the direction of progressive space rock
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
, refining and softening up their sound.
Cynic's 2008 album Traced in Air melded together the styles and influences heard on 1993's Focus with the more progressive-oriented Portal approach. The result had Cynic put less emphasis on its extreme metal elements, with new guttural vocalist Tymon Kruidenier playing a smaller role than Tony Teegarden did on Focus. Additionally, Paul Masvidal all but abandoned his vocoder robotic vocals, opting instead for a more natural singing voice, with a subtle vocoder layer.
Noting the journey from metal to the progressives, the New York Times proclaimed in a positive review of Traced in Air that "Cynic should be understood not so much alongside any metal bands but along with the radical harmonic progressives in the last 45 years of pop and jazz: composers like Milton Nascimento, the Beach Boys or Pat Metheny."
Current members
- Paul MasvidalPaul MasvidalPaul Albert Masvidal is the guitarist, singer and a founding member of the progressive band Cynic and previously led the alternative rock band Æon Spoke. Born in Puerto Rico, Masvidal grew up in Miami, Florida and currently resides in Los Angeles...
- guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, vocals, "robotic"VocoderA vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
vocals, guitar synth (1987–1994, 2006–present) - Sean ReinertSean ReinertSean Reinert is the drummer of Cynic and Æon Spoke. He is known for his technical, original and creative drumming technique....
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1987–1994, 2006–present) - Brandon Giffin - (live) bass (2011-present)
- Max Phelps - (live) guitar, vocals (2011-present)
Former members
- Sean MaloneSean MaloneSean Malone is an American musician who plays primarily fretless bass guitar and Chapman stick. However, Malone also plays piano, keyboards, and guitar. He is most well known as a member of the progressive band Cynic.- Biography :...
: fretless bassFretless guitarA fretless guitar is a guitar without frets. It operates in the same manner as most other stringed instruments and traditional guitars, but does not have any frets to act as the lower end point of the vibrating string...
, Chapman StickChapman StickThe Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and has been used on music recordings to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures...
(1993–1994, 2008) (AghoraAghora (band)Aghora is a progressive metal/technical metal band formed in 1995 by guitarist Santiago Dobles. In 2000 they released their first album, Aghora, recorded and produced by Santiago Dobles and Dan Escauriza in 1999, Miami, Florida. The album featured Sean Malone and Sean Reinert, both members of Cynic...
, Gordian KnotGordian Knot (band)Gordian Knot is an American progressive rock/metal band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup has included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Yes, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of...
, Office of Strategic InfluenceOSI (band)OSI is an American progressive rock band, originally formed by Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos in 2002. Chroma Key keyboardist and vocalist Kevin Moore is the only other full-time member of the band...
) - Jason GobelJason GobelJason Göbel is an American musician, engineer and University lecturer.He is best known for being a member of the technical metal band Cynic and playing guitar on their album Focus.-Life and career:...
: guitar (1988–1994) (Gordian KnotGordian Knot (band)Gordian Knot is an American progressive rock/metal band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup has included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Yes, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of...
, Portal, MonstrosityMonstrosity (band)Monstrosity is a death metal band originating from Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the death metal scene of the early 1990s. Vocalist, George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher and drummer, Lee Harrison, were the founders of Monstrosity. Harrison had just left the band Malevolent Creation and George Fisher...
) - Aruna Abrams: vocals/keyboards (1994–1996) (Thrillseekers, Anjunabeats)
- Tony ChoyTony ChoyTony Choy is an American electric bassist. He was a session musician for some well-known technical death metal bands such as Atheist, Cynic and the Dutch band Pestilence...
: bass (1991–1993) (AtheistAtheist (band)Atheist is a technical death metal band from Florida, founded in 1984, whose music combines metal riffs with subtle Latin music arrangements and jazz fusion.- History :...
, PestilencePestilence (band)Pestilence is a death metal band from the Netherlands founded in 1986. Later they incorporated more jazz and fusion elements into their music. After disbanding in order to pursue other musical directions in 1994, Pestilence has reunited in 2008...
, C-187) - Chris KringelChris KringelChris Kringel is an American bass guitarist and author of books on playing the bass guitar. He was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, and has performed with Cynic, Æon Spoke, Inda Eaton and the post-Cynic project, Portal.- Books authored:...
: bass (1993–1994, 2006–2007) (Portal) - Tymon KruidenierTymon KruidenierTymon Kruidenier is a Dutch guitarist. He became well known in the world of metal, being a member of the technical death metal band Cynic from 2008-2010.-Biography:...
: guitar, death growlDeath growlA death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...
s, guitar synth (2008–2010) (ExiviousExiviousExivious is a heavy metal band, featuring former members of American progressive metal band Cynic and current members of Dutch band Textures. They released one self-titled album independently. Exivious incorporate heavy metal riffs with a jazz fusion approach to phrasing and time signatures,...
) - Tony TeegardenTony TeegardenTony Teegarden is an American death metal vocalist who performed the growling vocals and keyboards on Cynic's debut 1993 album Focus. Today, he is an entrepreneur in a company called Prepaid Legal Services Inc. He is still musically active with a band called Adrift, which includes Jack Owen of...
: keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, death growls (1993–1994, 2006–2007) - Robin ZielhorstRobin ZielhorstRobin Zielhorst is a Dutch bass player, and a current bassist of the Dutch fusion-metal band Exivious. He is also well known for his work in Cynic.-Biography:...
: fretless bass (2008–2010) (ExiviousExiviousExivious is a heavy metal band, featuring former members of American progressive metal band Cynic and current members of Dutch band Textures. They released one self-titled album independently. Exivious incorporate heavy metal riffs with a jazz fusion approach to phrasing and time signatures,...
) - Dana Cosley: (live) keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, death growls (1994) (Demonomacy) - Mark Van Erp: bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1987–1989) (Malevolent CreationMalevolent CreationMalevolent Creation is a death metal band originally hailing from Buffalo, New York. Moving to Florida in 1987, they became a part of the emergent local death metal scene, landing a deal with Roadrunner Records...
, MonstrosityMonstrosity (band)Monstrosity is a death metal band originating from Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the death metal scene of the early 1990s. Vocalist, George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher and drummer, Lee Harrison, were the founders of Monstrosity. Harrison had just left the band Malevolent Creation and George Fisher...
) - Russell Mofsky: guitar (1987) (Quit, Gold Dust Lounge)
- Esteban "Steve" Rincon: vocals (1987) (Sector 4, Hellwitch)
Albums
- Focus (1993)
- Traced in AirTraced in AirTraced in Air is the second full-length album by the progressive metal band Cynic. It is the first album since their 1993 debut Focus.-History:Cynic disbanded during the fall of 1994 while working on a new album...
(2008) - TBA (2012)
Demos
- 88 Demo (1988)
- Reflections of a Dying World (1989)
- 90 Demo (1990)
- Demo 1991 (1991)
- Portal 1995 (1995)
- Promo (2008)
External links
- Official Cynic website
- Cynic on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- From Jazz-Rock Fusion to Progressive Metal, With a Virtuosic Accompaniment, The New York Times, Feb. 2010
- [ Allmusic review]
- Cynic on the White Noise Metal video podcast
- 2010 interview with Paul Masvidal on Prog Sphere
- Interview with Cynic on avantgarde-metal.com (2010)