Cynic
This death metal act was formed in Florida, USA, in 1987 by Paul Masvidal (b. Puerto Rico; guitar/keyboards), Sean Reinert (drums), Mark Van Erp (bass), and Jack Kelly (vocals). Following the recording of a demo tape, the line-up shifted to include Jason Gobel (guitar) and the departure of Kelly left Masvidal assuming vocal duties. New bass player Tony Choy made his debut on the band's third demo, '90 Demo, where brutal death metal was mixed with highly complex jazz/fusion-style riffs and rhythms. However, until the release of Focus in 1993, it seemed that the band was destined to be better known for providing session musicians for other bands, as Masvidal and Reinert played on Death's 1991 Human album and tour, while Choy worked first with Pestilence and then with Atheist, whom he subsequently joined on a permanent basis. Focus, with Sean Malone (b. Delran, New Jersey, USA) replacing Choy and additional vocalist Tony Teegarden joining Masvidal on "singing" duties, was a complex, multi-textured album, displaying some remarkable musicianship without lapsing into self-indulgence, and one reviewer's description of "King Crimson meets Death' seemed apt. The band was finally able to tour extensively in their own right, although, ironically, temporary bass player Chris Kringel (b. Appleton, Wisconsin, USA) was recruited for some performances due to Malone's music degree study commitments. Cynic disbanded during session for a second album with several members reuniting in the short-lived Portal. The band was revived in 2006 with a line-up featuring Masvidal, Reinert, Kringel and new guitarist David Senescu.
Listen to Cynic
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Veil Of Maya
- Celestial Voyage
- How Could I
- Textures
- I'm But A Wave To...
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