Cynic
From their humble beginnings in the Floridian death metal scene,
Cynic is now regarded as a prog death metal innovator,
even with a relative dearth of recordings over their career.
Early lineups pursued a straightforward death metal style,
but by 1993 the band was experimenting with progressive songwriting,
fusion influences, guitar synths, and altered vocal effects,
all of which can be heard on
Focus,
now regarded as a landmark release in the field of
technical/progressive metal.
For various reasons, the band decided to end it there, breaking up
soon after the album's release.
For years and years rumors of a possible reunion persisted,
while the various members participated in all sorts of musical
projects both metal and not.
Finally, in 2007 the duo of Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert regrouped,
pulling in two old friends from the early days to round out the new band,
and Cynic was back in action.
Less, er, focused on the fusion/prog metal of the debut,
2008's
Traced In Air nonetheless continued to push the envelope of
ecletic extreme metal.
By 2014 the band was reduced back to the core trio of Masvidal,
Reinart and Sean Malone,
and they released
Kindly Bent To Free Us that year, and again
the band went quiet.
Kindly was considered their swansong for some time, well before
the unfortunate passing of both Seans in 2020.
Yet Masvidal continues to keep the flame alive, with a new lineup
and new album in 2021,
Ascension Codes.
Former Members/Guests
Tymon Kruidenier
vocals/guitars (ex-Exivious)
Jason Gobel
guitars (ex-Gordian Knot, ex-Monstrosity)
Max Phelps
guitars (guest for Defeated Sanity)
Sean Malone
bass (ex-Aghora, ex-Gordian Knot, ex-O.S.I.) RIP: December 9, 2020, age 50
Robin Zielhorst
bass (ex-Exivious, guest for Ne Obliviscaris)
Dave Mackay (guest)
bass/keyboards
Sean Reinert
drums (ex-Aghora, ex-Death, guest for Flametal, ex-Gordian Knot) RIP: January 24, 2020, age 48
Discography
Focus
1993
Roadrunner
|
- Veil of Maya
- Celestial Voyage
- The Eagle Nature
- Sentiment
- I'm But a Wave To...
- Uroboric Forms
- Textures
- How Could I
|
-
Paul Masvidal
-
Jason Gobel
-
Sean Malone
-
Sean Reinert
|
1993 Readers' Album
#3
|
Traced In Air
2008
Season Of Mist
|
- Nunc Fluens
- The Space For This
- Evolutionary Sleeper
- Integral Birth
- The Unknown Guest
- Adam's Murmur
- King of those Who Know
- Nunc Stans
|
-
Paul Masvidal
-
Tymon Kruidenier
-
Sean Malone
-
Sean Reinert
|
2008 Readers' Album
#7
|
Re-traced
EP
2010
Season Of Mist
|
- The Space For This
- King Of Those Who Know
- Evolutionary Sleeper
- Integral Birth
- Wheels Within Wheels
|
-
Paul Masvidal
-
Tymon Kruidenier
-
Robin Zielhorst
-
Sean Reinert
|
2010 Readers' Album
#78
|
Carbon-Based Anatomy
EP
2011
Season Of Mist
|
- Amidst The Coals
- Carbon-Based Anatomy
- Bija!
- Box Up My Bones
- Elves Beam Out
- Hieroglyph
|
-
Paul Masvidal
-
Max Phelps
-
Sean Malone
-
Sean Reinert
|
2011 Readers' Album
#45
|
The Portal Tapes
COMPILATION
2012
Season Of Mist
|
- Endless Endeavors
- Karma's Plight
- Circle
- Costumed in Grace
- Cosmos
- Crawl Above
- Mirror Child
- Road to You
- Belong
- Not the Same
|
|
|
Kindly Bent To Free Us
2014
Season Of Mist
|
- True Hallucination Speak
- The Lion's Roar
- Kindly Bent To Free Us
- Infinite Shapes
- Moon Heart Sun Head
- Gitanjali
- Holy Fallout
- Endlessly Bountiful
- Earth Is My Witness (deluxe CD book exclusive bonus track)
|
-
Paul Masvidal
-
Sean Malone
-
Sean Reinert
|
|
Uroboic Forms - The Complete Demo Recordings
COMPILATION
2017
Century Media
Ascension Codes
2021
Season Of Mist
|
- Mu-54*
- The Winged Ones
- A'-va432
- Elements and their Inhabitants
- Ha-144
- Mythical Serpents
- Sha48*
- 6th Dimensional Archetype
- DNA Activation Template
- Shar-216
- Architects of Consciousness
- DA'z-a4
- Aurora
- DU-*714285
- In a Multiverse Where Atoms Sing
- A'jha108
- Diamond Light Body
- Ec-ka72
|
-
Paul Masvidal
-
Dave Mackay
-
Matt Lynch
|
|