~|Our karma's all been burned
The molecules emerge
In a world beyond this world
We dare, speak the word
|~
Hey everyone! Today it is time to take a look at a band that has existed in multiple variations. Starting out in the early 90s in the USA. This is the brainchild of session musicians Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert, fresh out of touring and recording the album "Human" by the american metal band "Death". Cynic was founded while they were working with "Death", but they didn't release a full album until they split with them.
You can really hear how they contributed to making "Human" the record it is from their sound on the albums from Cynic. It's a very clean and tight form of death metal, with a very high level of technicality compared to most of the thrash and death metal scene at the time. They've combined the agressive death metal sound with a progressive rock approach to experimentation, and to us start off we'll check out their debut record, "Focus"
Focus
This is the first record they released, and it was coming right out of a heap of troubles after touring to promote "Human" while trying to record an album. The sound is very reminiscent to death, but it has a more ethereal feel to it. The music seems less about the agression, and more focused on transporting the listener. Starting off with "Veil Of Maya", the album shows that it is absolutely a metal album. The track is full of a mixture of abrasive riffs and transcendent strumming of strings. This becomes clear on the track "Textures", a slowly evolving tapestry of polyrythms and melodies churning together into a fiery blaze.
The band broke up after the release of this record, due to personal differences rearing their heads while the band were working on their follow up record. However a decade later they re released the record with some remastered versions of tracks and some tracks. Following this the band started touring under the short lived monicker "Portal", before reforming Cynic and starting work on a new record.
For our first musical piece we're checking out the opener "Veil Of Maya", a track that really shows where they are coming from, as well as giving us a glimpse at what's to come in the near future.
Veil Of Maya(2004 Remix)
Traced In Air
more than a decade after their first release, their 2nd record was finally ready. In 2008 "Traced In Air" came out, with once again a fresh look to the style of modern metal.
A further dive into the combination of Death Metal riffage with psychedelic rythms and a sort of "Tool" vibe to them. The Opener "Nunc Fluens" is a long drawn out drum build, like an introduction to the stage, teasing you with what has happened over the years since "Focus".
The record changes pace with the 2nd track "The Space For This", a sort of anti climax with a feeling of uncertainty to it. A mellow guitar tune with cymbals slowly floating overhead it becomes a way for Cynic to become a juxtaposition of two worlds. This album is filled with gems like this, showing off a sense of controlled chaos in an airtight cosmos.
Our second treat today is my favorite on the album and the first I heard from Cynic, instantly locking me in their grasp. This is "Evolutionary Sleeper"
Evolutionary Sleeper
Kindly Bent To Free Us
Released in 2014, this record shows how far the band has come and how they have evolved their sound through Death Metal into Progressive, and into something almost ambient, while still keeping their tight rythms in check.
Opening with "True Hallucination Speak", a neverending cascade of riffage that strikes a similarity to how it seems to be when you encounter someone in the middle of a bout of glossolalia, until it erupts into a bowieesque space opera.
This album moves on to tracks like the more traditional metal track "Lion's Roar", a death metal jam out with whammy bars flying over a spiraling bassline. Other tracks are more melancholic pieces like "Infinite Shapes", a loopy guitar that slowly reverberates out before being faced with harsh reflections breaking through.
The final track I want to show you today is the resentful track "Holy Fallout", a slow grinding metal track and one that I feel shows where they've come.
Holy Fallout
All right, that's all folks! I hope you enjoyed todays edition of Alphabetical Order, a blog series where I write my opinions on parts of an artists discography. If you liked it or if you hate it, let me know! And if you wanna keep up to date, you can follow me. Until next time, peace out!
You can get more info or support the artist by checking out these links:
https://www.discogs.com/artist/309448-Cynic-2
https://cyniconline.bandcamp.com
http://cyniconline.com