Cynic

[Justin S.]

yeah i've heard a lot of people say this, and i have one leering question... how is this jazz fusion at all? i listen to a lot of death metal, and a lot of jazz fusion, and honestly cynic just sounds like technical death metal to me.

anyone care to explain?

"Textures" is a perfect example of jazz influence, although this sound and technique are all over the album. I agree though, the whole 'fusion' thing is over emphasized by many. Its a metal album first and foremost, with jazz elements.

 

[RookParliament]

I enjoy the synth vocals as well. I'm not too sure about this, but I think the singer's vocal cords were messed up during the recording so they used the effect to mask it. Its adds a little variety and I think brings the total vocal stylings on the album up to three or four I think

 

[Dreadful]

I never had a problem with the vocals either...the synth ones, I thought it added alot to the atmosphere and originality of the album. Always thought they were kinda cool. Seriously...every newer extreme metal band back then just wanted to purely be death metal...cynic, edge of sanity, godflesh and fear factory were the main ones who really added some clean melody to the death metal music (yes FF was dm back then).

 

[Sanzen]

(yes FF was good back then).

fixed

 

[OGM]

What I know about Cynic?

That Atheist kicks their ass.

This is true.

 

[dorian gray]

man, has anyone heard FF now? they were on the soundtrack of "saw". the song was incredibly, superbly, terrible. i kept watching the video over and over because it was so funny.

 

[Sanzen]

You should see them live dude. without Dino, the only one with any talent is Raymond Herrara, and his double-kick gets old real quick. they were terrible. Lamb of God blew them away.

 

[dorian gray]

isnt it Lamb of Gord?

 

[deliverance]

i like atheist more than cynic. definetly. matter of fact i listened to Elements and Piece of Time today, and loved every second of it.

 

[Dreadful]

Pestilence - consuming impulse > all Cynic and Atheist

 

[deliverance]

Pestilence - consuming impulse > all Cynic and Atheist

i've only heard Testimony of the Ancients.

 

[rumbly_bumbly]

Cynic are my favourite progressive/death metal band.

The fusion jazz influence is shown through Sean Reinart amazing technically superb drumming, Sean malone's bass playing is very much like Jaco Pastorious.

Paul Masvidal and Jason Gobel's guitar styles is basically all chromatic jazz based, Paul masvidal and Sean reinart both thank Mahavishnu orchestra and Chick Corea/Return to forever on human (death) who are the ultimate fusion Jazz groups.

I strongly advise anybody wholikes Cynic to check out these albums.

Romantic Warrior by return to forever
Where have I known you before - Return to forever
Birds of fire - Mahavishnu orchestra
Bellohorizente - John MCloughlin

 

[Skaldir]

I my opinion Cynic can't be compared to any other band. They were just unique.
Really like Focus. Everytime I listen to it, I think it's fantastic. And it's not progressive just to be progressive, it's more about the songs.

 

[Dreadful]

Mahavishnu orchestra is great.

 

[[KOTNO]Narrot]

yeh, i agree about mahavishnu being great. so is cynic and atheist (tho i personally prefer atheist). all quality music!

 

[Deadpool]

i like atheist much but cynic is unique band and their technique(look at the line-up +sean malone)is awesome.All the riffs are crazy.Definitely listen the album focus.

 

[ramses]

Atheist is faster than Cynic...but other than Atheist, Cynic can really be dabbed as progressive death metal. Focus I'd say is the one of the most essential progressive metal albums ever...even if it's death metal. It's a very broadened representation of how original and diverse a death metal band can be for the time. At the time 1993...you really only had Atrocity, Atheist, Pestilence - testimony of the ancients, demilich...Focus stood out the most in extreme music period I'd say. Fantastic.

The closest album to Cynic's focus is the last Pestilence album called Spheres....they went all jazz/deathfusion on that one. It's very much like Focus