Metal Riot

Paul Masdival’s CYNIC releases Ascension Codes on November 26th and the progressive rock community is awaiting it eagerly (seriously, the vinyl looks like it is going to be lovely). The band is now sharing a preview and video teaser for the track “Diamond Light Body,” featuring artwork by visionary artists, Martina Hoffmann and Robert Venosa. Design and animations by Randy Gaul and Jonatan Martinez (the latter worked with Masvidal on the Mythical Human Vessel trilogy). The full track is available on their Bandcamp to hear, incidentally.

“Diamond Light Body is a song that emerges from the ashes like a phoenix” says Paul Masvidal, Cynic founder.

Also, ICYMI: Masvidal recently shared a touching tribute to late bassist Sean Malone, who died on December 7, 2020. To commemorate Malone’s legacy, CYNIC has released a never-before-heard recorded performance of the song “Integral,” in which Malone performs fretless bass.  “Integral” was originally released as a solo guitar and vocal track on Cynic’s Re-Traced EP. The emotional tribute can be found at THIS LOCATION.

Cynic‘s Traced In Air makes me feel like friggin’ Light Hope from She Ra has appeared in a vision above me and told me the universal deep feels hidden truths of prog metal. It is crazy that it has already been over a decade since the bold album brought the well-heralded band from a fifteen year dormancy and bursting back into the scene with a more melodic yet superbly potent tendencies. Now this week there is an incredible NEW version of the album Traced In Air Remixed for us nerds to lose our collective gushing shit over…and it is a huge blessing! It was an integral birth of a new era for the band and deserves more scrutiny in any form that takes.

Now, a decade later, CYNIC usher forth a renewed edition of that very album. Featuring new tracking by virtuoso bassist Sean Malone and a vibrant new mix by PERIPHERY’s Adam “Nolly” Getgood (ANIMALS AS LEADERS, DEVIN TOWNSEND, HAKEN) plus mastering by Ermin Hamidovic (PERIPHERY, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, ANIMALS AS LEADERS, etc.), ‘Traced in Air Remixed’ underscores the record’s importance within the genre. 

GRAB IT SEPT 27th! 

Track List:
01. Nunc Fluens (02:57)
02. The Space For This (05:47)
03. Evolutionary Sleeper (03:36)
04. Integral Birth (03:45)
05. The Unknown Guest (04:09)
06. Adam’s Murmur (03:29)
07. King Of Those Who Know (06:08)
08. Nunc Stans (04:14)

Prog metal heroes Cynic have released a break up statement, the second in their off and on history. Hopefully the future will iron things out as their return was a huge boon to the scene:

It is with a heavy heart that I post today’s CYNIC news. CYNIC is no longer an active band. Due to artistic and personal differences, the second chapter in the ‘BOOK OF CYNIC’ has come to an end.

I will say the last shows we played in JAPAN have left me with a positive charge, even though they were the last live performances with Paul, Sean Malone & I on the same stage. My longstanding creative partnership with Paul, which started when we were very young kids in south Florida, has simply endured so much friction that there is no way, from my perspective, that CYNIC can be salvaged, repaired or kept afloat by any means.

CYNIC – EAST COAST DATES with Lesser Key and Reign Of Kindo have been announced – Come join the party and support progressive music!

Kindly Bent To Free Us is pretty much a masterpiece
(with a few weaker tracks here and there) and features maybe the catchiest prog song of the year, “The Lion’s Roar”, a real work out of songwriting chops and musical talent.

Click HERE for dates.

Progressive, hard rock innovators CYNIC (guitarist/vocalist Paul Masvidal, drummer Sean Reinert, bassist Sean Malone) have premiered their new full-length album, Kindly Bent To Free Us. This musical doozy is streaming now, via Pitchfork Advance,.

Regarding the album premier, band founder/visionary Paul Masvidal (DEATH) said “Leap before you look. Kindly Bent To Free Us is an epic album, full of cosmic riddles, alien transmissions and tasty riffs. Play it loud and play it often.”

About the new album, drummer Sean Reinert said: “It’s a bold new sound for CYNIC and marks a gigantic leap in the band’s progression. We’ve had a lot of time to let this material develop and gestate, and it finally feels ready to be unleashed on the world. I’ve been in trio mode with Malone and Masvidal flushing out a zillion and one details, and couldn’t be happier about what’s happening with these songs. They are truly alive!”

Kindly Bent To Free Us is scheduled for a North American release date on Feb. 18, 2014 (Feb. 14 worldwide). The album will be available as a CD-Digipack a limited edition collector’s box, limited edition Double-Lp here, and digitally here.

The track listing can be found below.