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General Information
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Artist...............: CYNIC
Album................: Traced in Air
Year.................: 2008
Genre................: Progressive Metal
Number of songs......: 8
Playing Time.........: 00:34:14
Codec................: LAME 3.98
Version..............: MPEG 1 Layer III
Quality..............: Insane, (avg. bitrate: 320kbps)
Channels.............: Stereo / 44100 hz
Tags.................: ID3 v1.1, ID3 v2.3
Covers...............: Front Back CD & Booklet
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Release Notes
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Track Listing:
1. (00:02:56) CYNIC - Nunc Fluens
2. (00:05:46) CYNIC - The Space For This
3. (00:03:35) CYNIC - Evolutionary Sleeper
4. (00:03:52) CYNIC - Integral Birth
5. (00:04:13) CYNIC - The Unknown Guest
6. (00:03:29) CYNIC - Adams Murmur
7. (00:06:09) CYNIC - King of Those Who Know
8. (00:04:12) CYNIC - Nunc Stans
Album Review:
"by George Tassis"
http://www.metalperspective.com/reviews/cynic.php
After their reunion in 2006 I was under the impression that Cynic were back
together for a couple of shows only. It seems like one thing led to another
and here we are, 15 whole years after "Focus" with a new Cynic album! If I
was prepared, "Traced In Air" would have been a much anticipated release!
But I wasn't, so this kind of came out of the blue for me. And I think that's a
good thing in my case because anticipations sometimes consume an album
before the actual hearings take place.
Over the last 15 years people have debated and tried to come to a safe
conclusion about Cynic's contribution to the heavy metal music. I, myself
often try to think the best way of justifying the reasons why Cynic became
such a legend considering they're (were) a single-album band. I didn't have
any satisfying explanation until "Traced In Air" hit me. But I won't elaborate
on this issue until this review is over.
Let's introduce the new Cynic, shall we? Comparing the new line-up with the
old one there's only one difference to be found. Jason Gobel is not in the
reunion while Paul Masvidal, Sean Reinert and Sean Malone form the core of
the "new" band. Now 3 out of 4 add up to a pretty good percentage if you
ask me! Info says Sean Malone only recorded with the band while Robin
Zielhorst (Exivious) fills his shoes live. At least studio-wise this is still Cynic.
The remaining new member is Tymon Kruidenier (guitars, growls) also in
Exivious, which I have to mention is Europe's finest substitute for the old
Cynic (check out their demos, they rawk!). So actually, new Cynic is like
3/4ths the old band plus 1/4th a representative of their best students. No
matter where your angle is on the band, they're Cynic all the way!
As I already proved Cynic are still Cynic, but 2008 is not still 1993. Today the
ambience is way different than the time "Focus" shook the metal world with
its boldness. If such a thing as open-mindness exists, it's definitely dominant
nowadays while almost absent in 1993. To begin with, I believe an open mind
is dictated by many characteristics, much more than being tolerant of new
things alone. 1993 was a time that called for big balls to do what Cynic did
with "Focus". 2008 is a year when progress is celebrated through mixing
metal with other non-metal genres adding up to certain people's intellectual
profile. Cynic were never fakers, nor are they now. So, what room is there
for Cynic to prove themselves within the progressive metal frame, in a time
when metal is the one thing that needs to be hidden from post-metal basket
cases when in 1993 any other influence besides metal was a solid reason for
crucifixion in the metal community? Now that's a good example of how
circumstance can switch from black to white in only 15 years! This is a much
better time for bands like Cynic, but it's no easy task for long time missing
leaders to find place among their heirs. But I think Cynic have found the right
recipe.
Starting off, this album is brief in the progressive sense. By the time I finished
the above lines, I already had it playing for the second time. "Traced In Air"
doesn't try hard in proving Cynic's status as a band bound by progress. It's
what they do, as simple as that. But what about the other stuff? Well, if
you're thinking of death metal there's no other stuff. Cynic are no longer a
death metal oriented band. Of course Tymon is still growling behind Paul's
computerized vocals but musically speaking, there's not a single idea in this
album to be called death metal. On the other hand, if you're thinking of other
stuff like fusion, jazz or ambient, there's lots of it in "Traced In Air". Actually
2008 Cynic are simply a progressive metal band. And that's what they did to
re-enter the metal world smoothly. They made a choice over the audience
they wish for themselves, making the formation of a strict progressive metal
fan-base their prime target. Wise decision in my opinion (whether I agree or
disagree with it).
As I already said, this album is a genuine progressive metal album. Cynic
haven't lost their metal character over the years, there's lots of powerful
riffage to be found in here. Soloing is of the fusion type to the very core
while the rhythm section is the same monster as always. Labyrinthine themes
were never a stranger in Cynic's music and they're still here! They were
extremely technical back in the day and they still are, only in a different
sense. The new material is more into contemporary progressive metal (mid-
era Pain Of Salvation, Spiral Architect, Behind The Curtain) flourished with
fusion and jazzy ideas and structures. "Evolutionary Sleeper" came out ten
times better in the album, "The Unknown Guest" is the best track in here
linking the past with the future with a structure reminding of the old days (the
only song that does that in the album) but also with a brand new progressive
frenzy ending while "Integral Birth" is probably the best evidence of what is
to be expected from Cynic in the future.
The majority of the vocals is computerized. Remember the dialogues between
growls and computerized vocals in "The veil of Maya"? Forget about them.
Nowadays, growls are used as backing vocals and, in my opinion, only serve
the purpose of connecting Cynic to their death metal past. This leads me to
the one major flaw of the album; the vocals. Computerized vocals do not
have an edge to them and they are flat and tiresome. I don't want them to
wipe it out. It's just that this should be an extra in the vocal section, not the
main attraction. I don't think Cynic need such tricks, musically this album is
almost flawless for the genre it's serving, but I don't see a reason why they
shouldn't find a regular singer. They're actually a new band; I don't think
people would be treating them differently if they had a good clean singer.
Plus, this type of vocals is absolutely insipid and that was the most benign
word I could find. It diminishes the result a great deal while back in 1993 gave
them the element of surprise. This would be my only suggestion to the band.
Having reached the delicate issue of the grade, I know it will seem a bit low to
some of you, taken under consideration the review I gave the album. So, I
think it's the right time to reveal my conclusion about where the 1993 Cynic
grandeur lies. Although nowadays it's all about mixing metal with other
elements no matter if it's good or bad, Cynic did that successfully. They
weren't really guilty of any of their influences while some bands today hate
the fact that they are metal. Cynic were free back then in an intolerant
environment while most of today's bands are slaves in a completely tolerant
scene. It's all about bravery and awareness. I have to consider two things
before giving the final grade. It is plain stupid trying to put bands like Cynic in
boxes and tag them but I also can't help myself but missing the old
aggressive Cynic. No one can be like that, not even them. Progressive metal
bands with calm interludes are the rule today but I have come to think that in
the end, it's much harder to write an inspired full metal song than filling the
uninspired intervals with "something else". And that's a disturbing fact.
Links:
http://rapidshare.com/files/175278199/1192008.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/175278197/1192008.part2.rar