Cynic - Traced in Air
Rating
RIYL
AghoraAtheist
Opeth
Release Date
11/25/2008
Tracklist
1. Nunc Fluens2. The Space for This
3. Evolutionary Sleeper
4. Integral Birth
5. The Unknown Guest
6. Adam’s Murmur
7. King of Those Who Know
8. Nunc Stans
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Death metal aficionados instantly recognize the name Cynic and for good reason; their 1993 masterwork, Focus, took the fledgling genre to new heights. By incorporating a dizzying range of influences with a unique and controversial vocal technique, Focus shattered listener’s expectations of what to expect from not only metal, but music in general. Unfortunately, shortly after Focus’ release the group disbanded. However, this did not dampen the growing popularity of the band within the metal scene. Focus became a record iconic of progressive death metal and few groups are as universally praised. Cynic’s dedicated fan base never stopped clamoring for a reunion and in 2007 their prayers were answered. Founding members Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinhart resurrected Cynic and played several European music festivals eliciting a massive response. Inspired by this reaction, new material was composed and in 2008 the band released their second album in 15 years, Traced in Air.
First and foremost, it is paramount to understand that Traced in Air is in no way, shape, or form a death metal record. Focus hardly qualified for the label in the first place and Cynic’s new record has more in common with Enya than Deicide. Gone are the pounding blast beats and razor sharp riffing of songs like “Uroboric Forms” and “Celestial Voyage”. Also noticeably absent are the majority of the harsh, raspy vocals. The album plays like a progressive jazz fusion band’s foray into technical death metal, rather than the other way around.
The introduction to Traced in Air is “Nunc Fluens”. The song starts with a swirling vortex of feedback and tribal drumming that gradually reaches an immense crescendo. The atmosphere created is intoxicating and emblematic of what’s to come; the use of ambient sounds is a recurring theme on Traced in Air. The guitar wizardry is by no means lacking, however. What most would call a solo is employed as a riff and the solos… well, you’ll just have to hear those. The actual riffing is tasteful and wonderfully catchy. Cynic avoids the sonic pitfalls of overly indulgent guitar wankery that seems to plague the modern metal scene. Instead, Masvidal and new guitarist Tymon Kruidenier stimulate the mind with both technical and simplistic passages that intertwine flawlessly. The transition riffs in “The Space for This” and the entirety of “The Unknown Guest” are great examples of the band’s songwriting maturity.
Sean Reinhart is a legend in progressive music circles and Traced in Air is the latest vehicle through which his reputation is upheld. Quirky, cymbal heavy fills and intricate meter changes litter the dense soundscape. This, along with the tribal rhythms and booming tom rolls that Reinhart is often called upon to play, gives extra depth to the already massively complex songs. Sean Malone’s bass playing is also outstanding. It not only serves to accent key melodic motifs, but also performs as a rhythmic anchor for the constantly evolving riffage.
One of the most recognizable features of Cynic’s sound was the extensive use of a mechanical vocoder instead of tradition clean singing. The new album continues in this tradition, but instead of a robotic voice, the tone is more fleshed out and expressive. With the first few listens, Masvidal’s voice effects sound similar to the same used by mainstream rap artists (think T-Pain). Naturally the change is a bit offsetting at first, but thankfully the near perfect instrumental elements dominate the initial few listens. By the time you begin to pay more attention to the man voicing Traced in Air’s esoteric, introspective lyrics, the new vocals are a comfortable fit.
When you look back at bands that make new albums after spending years in hibernation, the good to bad ratio is woefully negative. Dissection could have done without Reinkaos and Chinese Democracy should have stayed a pipe dream, but Traced in Air is the exception to an otherwise depressing rule. Every track on this album is fantastic and each has many memorable passages that keep you coming back for more. Traced in Air has become my favorite album of 2008 and I cannot recommend it enough.
--Ian Woods
Comments
Leeds, England
No wai is this a 5.
Thought this was kinda average and short.
Minnesota
I'm with Rich. It was good (maybe 3.5), but not as earth shattering as Focus was.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
PA
A 5? Really? This is a good CD but it's WAAAY too short and repetetive. Sure, the band's sound is incredibly unique (and at one point ahead of everyone's time) but this album was not as good as expected.
Music Blog.
Depths blog. (my band)
West Haven, CT
Somehow I didn't know this came out till January of this year.
I give it a 4. or 4.5
SO much progression!!! ahhhhhhhhhh
I just hate the robotic vocals when its used so much.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Infinitely Inwards
Amazing album....not a 5....but fucking great.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
The Mars Volta - Noqtourniqet
Aborted - Global Flatline
Spawn of Possession - Incurso
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
JMU
I rated this a 5 for two main reasons. First, I can listen to it over and over and over again without getting the least bit tired of the songs. Each track speaks to me differently and is chock-full of fantastic melodies, lyrics, and rhythms. Second, I have heard nothing remotely like this. The closest album I can think of is Focus; and yet Traced in Air is a far more mature and refined record than its predecessor.
Sure, Focus was an earth shattering release that broke boundries, inspired thousands, and it fully deserves all the praise it receives. But TiA is just as groundbreaking and innovative for different reasons, imo.
New Jersey
Damn I am loving this. I probably wouldn't have listened to this if he didn't give it a 5, exaggeration doesn't have to be a bad thing.
when i see it in your eyes
i just want to go blind
Infinitely Inwards
Quite sensible. I, however, think that this album should be judged differently for many reasons. It is, as Chris stated, too short for my tastes.(Especially considering the time lapse between the two albums and that proggy stuff like this needs to be more fleshed out IMO). I also have a lot of albums that exceeded my expectations recently (Suspyre, Gojira, Empyrios, etc.), so that makes me a little too biased to give this a 5. I am all for you giving it a 5 though, because i am taking this article as an objective review of the music itself. Your written review is more than enough for me to gauge my like or dislike. Kudos to you sir.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
The Mars Volta - Noqtourniqet
Aborted - Global Flatline
Spawn of Possession - Incurso
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
West Haven, CT
The latest Gojira is quality metal.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Claremont, CA
holy SHIT this is some good stuff. can't wait to see them open for meshuggah next week!
West Haven, CT
It really should be the other way around though.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.