Upcoming Releases

CYNIC To Release Early PORTAL Demos This March

portal cynic

"WHAT?! So the secret identity of Portal was Cynic all along?"

Nah, it just so happens that the very American progressive rock band, Cynic, used to be called Portal way back in the mid-'90s. That was around the same period the Australian Portal came into existence, but I bet the two didn't even know that they had shared the same name.

So anyway, Cynic / Portal will officially be releasing 10 songs that they demoed together 17 years ago in 2 months time. The lineup from back then had consisted of current Cynic members Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert, guitarist Jason Gobel, bassist Chris Kringel and female vocalist Aruna Abrams. (more…)

Reviews

CD Review: CYNIC Carbon-Based Anatomy

carbon based anatomy

Cynic has always been a band known for defying the confines of any particular genre. Their classic, 1993 debut Focus remains unrivaled by most other technical death metal bands, and the jazz fusion influence doesn’t sound ever sound forced. After well over a decade of silence, Cynic’s 2008 effort, Traced in Air showed the band expanding on a cleaner style, while still delivering plenty of their trademark metal sound. The EP Re-Traced reexamined several tracks from the previous album, bringing forth a more Aeon Spoke style to their sound (another awesome project from Masvidal and Reinert). With this latest EP, Carbon-Based Anatomy, Cynic has released the most diverse collection of songs in their careers, which could divide some old fans and welcome new ones. (more…)

A/V Quick Bits

Stream CYNIC's Entire EP In Full

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We're pretty stoked for Cynic's new EP, Carbon Based Anatomy and if you haven't given it a shot yet, now you can. You can now (legally) listen to the entire thing before it comes out this Tuesday, November 15th, over at Pitchfork. Also, check out the recent interview we conducted with the band where they go into detail about the album creation process.

A/V

A/V Roundup: New Music from CYNIC, ANIMALS AS LEADERS, TAAKE, CATTLE DECAPITATION

The weekend is here! Before we log off for the Suckfest, we wanted to catch up on some quick new song releases out there in the internet eether…

Cynic have posted another new track online, my favorite off their new EP, my favorite off the EP, "Back of My Bones" on NPR. The track is so damn happy. The EP is awesome and I can't wait to see them this weekend.

You can hear samples of Animals As Leaders' new album, Weightless which hits stores this Tuesday over at the Prosthetic Store.

I'm really excited that Cattle Decapitation is working on new material. Chances are it will rule hard! Watch this video teaser the band posted.

Finally, if you like your metal like you like your coffee (black!) then you will love the new Taake album, which is streaming at the AV Club.

A/V Tour Dates

New CYNIC Track Available For Free Download; Touring Lineup Revealed

49822_cynic_carbon_based_anatomy

This is really exciting. The title track off Cynic's upcoming Carbon Based Anatomy EP is now available for free download (below), and it is by far my favorite track off the new album. The one when I realized, damn it's good to have new Cynic in my life! The full EP hits stores on November 11th. (more…)

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Podcast: Download

Fuck Yes!

CYNIC Post EP Preview

YouTube Preview Image

There is new Cynic music on the way. Does that make anybody else reaaaallly excited? Full disclosure, I have already received an advance of the upcoming EP, Carbon-Based Anatomy and it's fantastic. My first thought was it was so comforting to hear new material from them. And that's probably the best way to describe this EP, comforting, which I feel the video teaser above gets across. You will have your chance to hear the full thing when the EP hits stores on November 15th in the US and November 11th in Europe.

Tour Dates

More Bands Announced For The Super-Awesome The Metal Suckfest

MetalSuckFest

Our friends over at Metalsucks are throwing a pretty rad two-day rager that they're calling the Metal Suckfest, two days, twenty bands, and a lot of booze. The party happens on November 5th and 6th at the Gramercy in NYC. The first day will feature Municipal Waste, God Forbid, Today is the Day, Howl, Black Tusk, Magrudergrind, Ramming Speed and Prime Evil and the second night will feature the mighty Cynic headlining, Obscura, The Red Chord, A Life Once Lost, Scale the Summit, Fight Amp, Rosetta, Ultrageist. Four more bands are expected to be announced shortly. Tickets go on sale this Friday 10am at LiveNation.com.

For all of you out-of-towners, don't fret, Metal Injection will be there covering the shit out of this event!

Upcoming Releases

CYNIC Set To Release New EP In November

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I cannot be more excited to write this next sentence. Cynic will be releasing an EP of new material on November 15h (Nov 11 in EU). The EP will be called Carbon-Based Anatomy and you can expect six new tracks from the prog masters. Paul and Sean have once again enlisted the late Robert Venosa to work on the artwork, who worked on all the band's previous releases before tragically passing away. Sean Malone will be providing the bass licks for the album, as he did with Traced in Air and Focus. I am really excited to hear any and all new music from this band. Here is the announced tracklisting: (more…)

Tour Dates

The Metal Suckfest Is Coming, Headlined by MUNICIPAL WASTE & CYNIC

MetalSuckfest_2011_Teaser

Twenty incredible bands in two mosh-filled, headbang-fueled days.

For the past couple weeks, our buds over at MetalSucks have been teasing their readers with rumors of some momentous occasion in the works, which ended up being The Metal Suckfest in New York City at The Gramercy Theatre, November 4 -5, 2011. (more…)

Upcoming Releases

CYNIC Frontman Issues New Album Update

cynic2011

It's been pretty quiet in the Cynic camp for 2011. We heard from the band late last year saying they were about to embark on writing a new album. Frontman Paul Masvidal has broken his silence, and issued an update to fans. He spoke somewhat cryptically (he was possibly stoned while writing this) with the basic gist being they have a good amount songs written, and may write a few more, but he doesn't want to commit to saying there will be more songs, 'cause commitment harshens his mellow, maaaan. All joking aside, here is his full update: (more…)

Breakups

CYNIC Part Ways With Two Members

Cynic just released a statement saying they are parting ways with the two newer members of the band, bassist Robin Zielhorst and guitarist Tymon Kruidenier. This does not stem from any bad blood or creative difference, simply location differences as Robin and Tymon live in the Netherlands and Paul and Sean live in California. The statement also featured some good news. The band is in the pre-production stage of a new album with an expected release in the summer of 2011 (fuuuccckk yesssss!!!). Meanwhile, Robin and Tymon are going to work on the second release from their incredible band Exivious. Double fuck yes! So overall, all is swell. No replacements have been announced yet. Here is the full statement: (more…)

Fuck Yes!

CYNIC Begin Writing New Material


Click Here To Watch The Video

A few weeks ago, I saw Cynic on their headlining tour and was absolutely blown away by the entire set. It is definitely a contender for live show of the year for me, and anybody that listens to the Livecast knows that Cynic are one of my favorite bands around (although some others on the 'cast might disagree). Well, Cynic have just issued their first post-tour update, and besides the pleasantries exchanged about the other bands on the tour, the band hints that the wheels are in motion for a third Cynic record: (more…)

Tour Dates

CYNIC announce headlining tour with INTRONAUT & DYSRHYTHMIA; to play Focus in full

YES!!! YES!! YESS!!!! As we mentioned a few weeks ago, prog masters Cynic will go embark first headlining tour since reuniting a few years ago, and they're making it special. The band has promised to perform their landmark 1993 release Focus in full, in addition to songs from Traced In Air and presumably Re-Traced. The band is bringing out two great opening acts that will surely blow your mind as well: Cali riff worshipers Intronaut and NY-based mind blowers Dysrhythmia. This is already one of the top 3 tours of the summer for me (along with Summer Slaughter and American Carnage). Full dates after the jump: (more…)

Fuck Yes!

CYNIC to play Focus in full on upcoming Decibel Hall of Fame tour

YES!!!! Cynic is finally heading out on a much-needed headlining tour this Summer, and it looks like they will be playing their breakthrough record, Focus in full.

While no dates have been released yet, some details have surfaced in the newest issue of Decibel magazine, (#68, June 2010), among them that the tour will be three weeks long throughout North America. These shows will feature the same lineup as the previous Traced In Air shows. Additionally, Masvidal was quoted in the piece saying he was unsure if the album would be played from beginning to end or shuffled in with some tracks off their most recent release.

As soon as we get any more info on this tour, you better believe we'll post about it!

Around the Interwebs

CYNIC's Paul Masvidal can make a song out of anything

Our hombres at MetalSucks may have worked out the best deal ever by getting Cynic frontman Paul Masvidal to write a blog for them. It's an incredibly interesting look into the man behind Cynic. Incredibly interesting that is, if you care about the band. Otherwise, it may seem like gibberish to you. In that case, this article isn't for you.

But for those of you who do love Cynic, like myself, this blog is awesome. In his latest entry, Paul blogs about creating riffs out of a bird chirping outside his window. W – T – F! Here is a sample:

The bird’s set begins with an up-tempo phrase made up of six short bars, with each bar consisting of a varied number of beats, like so:

//////    //////    /////    //////    /////    ////

6        6         5        6        5       4

Needless to say, if you are into guitar wankery, you may want to read this!

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