CYNIC

Traced In Air

Season Of Mist/ CD

When you look at it with the cold scientist's eye, you realize that such a things practically do not have the right to go well. As we all know many, often very eminent artists - after long years of being outside the business - tried to compete with their own legend. Unfortunately – especially for them and their faithful fans - usually it appeared that the words of philosopher about entering into the same river twice, have a profound wisdom. The most common result of these efforts was barely taken tolerance fueled by sentimental indulgence for faded stars. Those who were able to creatively develop the old formula – for example CELTIC FROST – or at least confirm top class – EXODUS - after few years break are glorious exceptions that only confirm this merciless rule.

We're talkin' here about CYNIC. The band which became a legend after the release of their debut and only album. In 1993, "Focus" shocked almost the entire metal scene. Combining elements of death metal, jazz and fusion in space sounding unique songs it was something so innovative that band had to deal with the wall of misunderstanding. And even though journalists very often rated that CD with top marks, metal fans didn't know how to approach that hedgehog. So finally short but adventorous journey ended in 1994.

Fortunately CYNIC's musicians didn't disappear. Their activity in other band's (GORDIAN KNOT, AGHORA, PORTAL) was fueling hope that one day we will see them playing together again. And that the album, which will become a new chapter in the history of the group will finally see the light of day.
Now we know. We’ve had to wait for long 15 years. In 2007 CYNIC played some gigs in Europe, where in addition to the restrospective of songs from the debut, they served foretaste of the new material.("Evolutionary Sleeper."). The quality of that song was a first sing that all may be well. And indeed we weren't wrong. "Traced in Air ' continues and expands all that has started on" Focus ". All the characteristic band's style elements are present. We have of course those „robotic”, distorted – due to the technical progress they're more natural then it was on the debut album - Masvidal's vocals. Those parts are combined with clean, high and melodic Paul's parts and occasionally with - used mainly in the background – harsh growlings performed by Timon Kruideniera of the Dutch band EXIVIOUS.
Heavy riffs are connected with the floating, gently landscapes. Those melodic parts in "Nunc Stans" are really breathtaking. Distorted guitars and delay-sounding passages are frequently intertwined in a fairly lazy, meditation-like pace. Guitar solos derive somewhere from the world of jazz improvisation. Masvidal confirms that hiss musical imagination has no borders. Another story is a rhythm section. Those parts may become the subject of analysis of many wise heads. I do not feel absolutely competent to describe all these jazzy Reinert's tricks. All I know that it's absolutely unbelievable. The ability to create all those sonic layers is a real blessing.

Today – like it was in the past - CYNIC is a independent category on the metal scene. I may only hope that this time a wider noise admirer's crowd will appreciate the quality of those ambitious and unusual sounds so we won’t have to wait another fifteen years for album number three.

10/12