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Cynic (band)

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Cynic

Cynic is a technical death metal / progressive metal band with incorporated jazz fusion founded in Miami, Florida, United States. Their only album, Focus released in 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of the genre. However, the band have confirmed they will be recording a new album in 2008.

Biography

Demo era

Cynic was formed in 1987 by guitarist (and now vocalist) Paul Masvidal and drummer Sean Reinert who met in elementary school. Soon after they recruited bassist Mark Van Erp and vocalist Jack Kelly. In 1988, the band made their first recording, simply called the '88 Demo. After the demo, Paul Masvidal took over vocal duties, while still continuing to play guitar. The band also added a second guitarist, Jason Gobel. Another demo followed in 1989, this one 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.

Recording Focus

The recording of Cynic's only full-length album, Focus did not happen immediately after the ink dried on the band's new contract with Roadrunner Records. Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert had played on Death's 1991 album Human, and were obligated to take part in the supporting tour of Europe. During this tour, Death ran into serious financial trouble, and Masvidal and Reinert's gear was confiscated, 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. 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 Jason Gobel's home, and the band's rehearsal space, leading to a further three months in delays. The band used this time as an opportunity to write new material, much of which is featured on Focus Just before recording the album, Paul Masvidal was in danger of losing his voice, death metal vocalist Brian Deneffe was recruited from Wisconsin's Viogression, but this was short-lived. Tony Teegarden was eventually brought in to do the "death grunts", however all the "robotic" vocoder vocals were recorded by Masvidal. Eventually they found and recruited Sean Malone as bassist while in the studio. During the European tour with Pestilence, Tony Teegarden was brought in as a full member of the band, playing keyboards and singing the "death grunts". Bassist Sean Malone could not participate in the tour due to school commitments, and Chris Kringel was brought in to take his place.

Split-up

Cynic disbanded during the fall of 1994 while working on a second album.

Ex-members went on their separate ways. Gobel, Masvidal, and Reinert, with bassist Chris Kringel and vocalist/keyboardist Aruna Abrams formed the short-lived Portal. Currently Masvidal and Reinert perform in the band Æon Spoke, and Kringel has 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.

Reunion and second studio album (2007-present)

In September 2006, Paul Masvidal 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, titled "Evolutionary Sleeper". It is unclear as to if there are any plans to continue with the reunion now that all the scheduled shows are over.

The reunion line-up features founding members Paul Masvidal on guitar/vocals and Sean Reinert on drums. Jason Gobel, the long time guitarist who played on Focus could not participate due to family and work commitments. David "Mavis" Senescu was brought aboard as a replacement. Sean Malone, who handled the bass playing 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 "death grunts" were handled by pre-recordings of Teegarden (rather than have Masvidal or Senescu do them live). All keyboards were covered by Masvidal and Senescu using guitar synths. With the absence of Teegarden, the group organized a contest in order to find fans to provide the death vocals for the song "Uroboric Forms" on various dates.

As of January 17'th Cynic have resumed musical activity and have decided to write and record new music for a late 2008 release working with Jason Suecof of Capharnaum fame.[1] The band will also play the Wacken Open Air festival.[2] According to a post on his personal blog, Sean Malone will be playing with the band.

In 2008, drummer Sean Reinert gave an update on the second studio album in an interview with Metal Hammer saying:"yeah we got tons and tons of stuff lying around man from 94[1994] to the present day man, it's gonna be great. Everyone can expect something stylistically the same as Focus but more upbeat, energetic and most important of all, pretty god damn brutal! I mean we're gonna mix in Bullacake by Niche Dexplitic into one of our songs but will be using real scary riffs 'nd solos and more savage growling as well as Paul's robotic vocals and keyboarding. Basically all the shit which was there on "Focus" is all gonna be there with this new one two. But with some new things bundled in and a bit more brutal. It's gonna be good."

Musical style

Cynic's first recordings feature a more traditional death metal sound, but in the 1990's, their sound changed toward a highly complex, experimental and extremely technical form of progressive metal, while still retaining their death metal roots. Many influences from jazz and fusion can be heard on their final recording, the album Focus. The vocals on Focus have both "death grunts" and a "robotic" voice, which was achieved by using a vocoder. The band formed by Cynic members after Cynic broke up, Portal, released a demo recording that continues even further in the direction of progressive metal, abandoning the death metal influences altogether.

Line-up

Current members

Former members

Discography

Albums

Demos

  • '88 Demo (1988)
  • Reflections of a Dying World (1989)
  • '90 Demo (1990)
  • Demo 1991 (1991)
  • Portal 1995 (1995)

References

  1. ^ http://www.komodorock.com/new-releases/cd-releases/cynic-to-record-new-album-200801183537/
  2. ^ http://www.wacken.com/en/woa2008/main-bands/billing-2008/
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