Cynic - Kindly Bent to Free Us (2014) [Gorgatz]

Cynic - Kindly Bent to Free Us (2014) [Gorgatz]



- I N F O -

Ben Ratliff, the noted New York Times jazz critic and author wrote that "CYNIC should be understood not so much alongside any metal bands, but along with such radical harmonic progressives in the last 45 years of pop and jazz as Milton Nascimento, the Beach Boys or Pat Metheny."

In this one paragraph, Ratliff concisely explained the duality that is the essence of what makes CYNIC so unique in modern music. Combine the musical aggression and precision of the best of metal and jazz fusion with the harmonic and sonic expansiveness of progressive rock and pop and you have CYNIC. On their new EP Carbon-Based Anatomy, CYNIC have once again taken their natural interfusion of musical styles and turned it into something truly singular. Carbon-Based Anatomy is equal parts King Crimson, Tool, Muse and Allan Holdsworth. It's a 23-minute transcendent musical journey through the fertile musical minds of guitarist Paul Masvidal and progressive drumming icon Sean Reinert. Beginning with their much-venerated 1993 debut release "Focus", CYNIC have long been famous for pushing musical boundaries. Now in 2011, CYNIC have redefined themselves once again with a 6-song EP that combines diverse influences from 70s-inspired Prog Rock to cutting-edge Metal, tribal folk and futuristic alien shapes and sounds.
Since re-forming four years ago for their celebrated comeback album "Traced In Air", CYNIC have brought their hugely influential approach to fans and musicians the world over. Their all-too-human experiences have culminated in the fully- realized piece of art that is Carbon-Based Anatomy [ (2011) ] A mini epic, CBA is both a philosophical as well as a musical journey, one that begins in the Amazon jungle on the lips of a shamanic wise-woman (as portrayed by Amy Correia) and ends in outer space on the luminous wings of songwriter and guitarist Paul Masvidal's electric guitar. Exploring concepts of "death", "the self" and "freedom," Masvidal shines a light with virtuosic playing that has been simplified to its most potent elements and performed with spontaneity and joy. Sean Reinert's visceral drumming creates a dynamic and pulse- raising energy throughout the action- packed 23 minutes of music. Primal and direct, at times haunting or anthemic, this is CYNIC's most immediate and urgent offering to date. It's an invocation and an offering to the legions of fans around the world who, like the band itself are truth- seekers and misfits, finding unity and transcendence in a new kind of modern tribal music.

All of these diverse elements have been harnessed and carefully shaped by mixer John Hiler, into what is unquestionably the most open and expansive-sounding release of CYNIC's career. Carbon-Based Anatomy is retro, yet at the same time is unapologetically modern. It is respectful of the groundbreaking artists that have made musical evolution possible yet refuses to be stifled by that reverence. It is wholly appreciative of past musical landmarks but is unashamedly forward- thinking.

2012 allows CYNIC to finally present their famed and reverently discussed Portal demos as an official release on CD and vinyl, respectively and strictly limited to 5000 and 1000 copies ! When CYNIC split up in 1994, the US band had left a major imprint in the world of extreme Metal. Their full-length debut "Focus" (1993) shaped together with now label mates ATHEIST the genre of Technical / Progressive Death Metal. And the band's main men Paul Masvidal (vocals / guitars) and Sean Malone (drums) had played a major role in the late Chuck Schuldiner changing course into a more progressive direction with legendary DEATH when they contributed to the "Human" album (1991). CYNIC incorporated elements not common to Metal like experimental sounds and even Fusion Jazz. Since the iconic band re-united in 2006 their development moved away from the Death Metal context and via the Progressive Metal of their highly acclaimed second album "Traced in Air" (2008) towards ever more open soundscapes fusing a multitude of stylistic influences into a unique form of outstanding music, which still remains unmistakably CYNIC. "The Portal Tapes" prove that this development has its roots as least as far back as 1994, when CYNIC members Paul Masvidal, Sean Malone and Jason Gobel joined forces to form short-lived project PORTAL together with Chris Kringel on bass and stunning vocalist Aruna Abrams. Aruna's beautiful and haunting voice combined with Paul's clean vocals is the perfect fit for these laid back and subtle songs.

"The Portal Tapes" have far more in common with the likes of PORCUPINE TREE and THE GATHERING than any DEATH. Yet this album comes with the same intelligent structures that make CYNIC outstanding. Get captured by the radiant atmosphere and get lost within the cosmic spaces of "The Portal Tapes"!

- T R A C K L I S T -

1. True Hallucination Speak
2. The Lion’s Roar
3. Kindly Bent To Free Us
4. Infinite Shapes
5. Moon Heart Sun Head
6. Gitanjali
7. Holy Fallout
8. Endlessly Bountiful

Format: Mp3, CBR 320 kbps
Genre: Progressive Metal
Size: 100.02 MB