Cynic - Traced In Air (#4695)

metalgod · **Joined:** Thu Sep 16, 2004 12:50 am **Posts:** 5515

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Quote:

Cynic - Traced In Air
Technical, Jazz-infused Progressive Metal
Quoted: 89 / 100

Click here to see the review.

Seinfeld26 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:30 pm

Focus is one of my absolute favorite prog metal albums, and this sounds like it will definitely be on my "to buy" list. Now that Cynic has reunited, may be we'll see a new album in a much shorter time span (hopefully). But, for the time being, this should probably tide us over.

Esiel · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:58 pm

I honestly can still barely digest Focus, although I admit its extreme technicality and musical genius. I think it's a bit too extreme and frantic for me, somehow. But Traced in Air is pure sonic orgasm. It's a prog fan's wet dream. Forget Petrucci's mindless guitar masturbation (no offense to DT fans), this is where it's at. This is prog with soul.

For those who love Cynic and don't know them, Gordian Knot is also very awesome. Sounds not too unlike Cynic but without the vocals that made Focus so difficult for me. Probably why I think Traced in Air is so awesome.

RapIsGay · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:11 pm

I havent heard this yet but my copy is in the mail. Cynic is amazing, one of my fav's and I can't wait to listen to this. Hopefully that U.S tour will be coming soon

Goat · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:23 pm

Esiel wrote:

I honestly can still barely digest Focus, although I admit its extreme technicality and musical genius. I think it's a bit too extreme and frantic for me, somehow. But Traced in Air is pure sonic orgasm. It's a prog fan's wet dream. Forget Petrucci's mindless guitar masturbation (no offense to DT fans), this is where it's at. This is prog with soul.

For those who love Cynic and don't know them, Gordian Knot is also very awesome. Sounds not too unlike Cynic but without the vocals that made Focus so difficult for me. Probably why I think Traced in Air is so awesome.

I love Focus, but yes, this is a beautiful album.

Dago, I'm shocked. :mad:

Dago · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:39 pm

I just cannot stand the vocals. Some good parts, but it didnt really catch my attention.
Plus a little too short for a progressive metal album.

Esiel · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:44 pm

Dago wrote:

Plus a little too short for a progressive metal album.

I agree with that. It's only 35 minutes or so... although, I speak for myself only, but honestly I don't think mind so much... 50-minute technical prog albums wear me out. I don't think I could listen to a Planet X or Gordian Knot album twice in a row while I have with this one.

Legacy Of The Night · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:28 pm

There was this CD store that had this band listed as "The Cynics"

lolz

wdiv · **Joined:** Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:30 pm **Posts:** 39

I've never really seen why Focus is considered such a classic. I mean it's okay, but not one I'd take to the desert island with me.

rio · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:02 am

Legacy Of The Night wrote:

There was this CD store that had this band listed as "The Cynics"

lolz

Harhar

Are the vocals all robot-like still?

I did read the review but only scanned it as I am at work, so sorry if you already said so.

traptunderice · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:27 pm

I wouldn't say robot-like but he does use the vocoder(sp?) sometimes but at other times the vocals could be compared to Porcupine Tree.

rio · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:17 pm

That's interesting, looking forward to hearing it.

SoulSociety · **Posted:** Wed Oct 29, 2008 2:21 pm

Esiel wrote:

I honestly can still barely digest Focus, although I admit its extreme technicality and musical genius. I think it's a bit too extreme and frantic for me, somehow. But Traced in Air is pure sonic orgasm. It's a prog fan's wet dream. Forget Petrucci's mindless guitar masturbation (no offense to DT fans), this is where it's at. This is prog with soul.

For those who love Cynic and don't know them, Gordian Knot is also very awesome. Sounds not too unlike Cynic but without the vocals that made Focus so difficult for me. Probably why I think Traced in Air is so awesome.

Focus is an amazing album, so I'm definitely checking TIA out.

Though Gordian Knot is really fucking boring for me, it's way too slow, probably the same reason I don't like Panopticon.

Esiel · **Posted:** Wed Oct 29, 2008 7:21 pm

SoulSociety wrote:

Though Gordian Knot is really fucking boring for me, it's way too slow, probably the same reason I don't like Panopticon.

You mean Isis's Panopticon? Funnily, I never really liked Isis before it. I guess I have a liking for the mellower stuff at times. I find Emergent makes some great background music. Not too fast, not slow enough to melt in.

Do you like Aghora's debut? Aghora is sort of like the bastard child of Cynic. Formless, their 2006 sophomore album was very disappointing to me after so long but the self-titled debut album was awesome stuff... if you can stomach female vocals.

rio · **Posted:** Wed Oct 29, 2008 7:51 pm

Yes, Aghora is a good band, definitely easier to get into than Cynic, which can definitely put people off at first. Not as nourishing in the long run though...

belowthelights · **Joined:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:10 pm **Posts:** 780

focus is an undisputed classic. it holds a very special place in my life despite not caring even a tiny bit for those "clean" vocals. ultimately it was bearable and i just got used to it because every other aspect of cynic was just so fkn good.

this time around the vox flat out destroy a few songs. the first half is fantastic, the latter half not so much :sad:

. can you imagine where this band would be if they had some non obnoxious clean vocals?

same goes for alarum however its the opposite. i just cant stomach those aggressive vox but i dig the clean vocals. these two bands should swap their weakest links when they record their next cd.

SoulSociety · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:26 pm

Esiel wrote:

SoulSociety wrote:

Though Gordian Knot is really fucking boring for me, it's way too slow, probably the same reason I don't like Panopticon.

You mean Isis's Panopticon? Funnily, I never really liked Isis before it. I guess I have a liking for the mellower stuff at times. I find Emergent makes some great background music. Not too fast, not slow enough to melt in.

Do you like Aghora's debut? Aghora is sort of like the bastard child of Cynic. Formless, their 2006 sophomore album was very disappointing to me after so long but the self-titled debut album was awesome stuff... if you can stomach female vocals.

I have no problem with female vocals, though I never heard of Aghora.

And for me Isis' best album is Oceanic, it's epic and there's something mesmerizing about it. I heard Panopticon after it and I was disappointed with the lack of awesome riffs. When I feel like mellow stuff, I prefer Opeth's Damnation.

Esiel · **Posted:** Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:35 am

SoulSociety wrote:

I have no problem with female vocals, though I never heard of Aghora.

And for me Isis' best album is Oceanic, it's epic and there's something mesmerizing about it. I heard Panopticon after it and I was disappointed with the lack of awesome riffs. When I feel like mellow stuff, I prefer Opeth's Damnation.

Yeah? Then you really need to check out Aghora's self-titled debut. Avoid Formless, it's way lackluster compared to their debut. As for Isis... yeah, I really need to try to get into Oceanic more. Mostly everyone seems to agree that it's their best.

rio · **Posted:** Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:10 pm

This will probably be my no. 1 album of the year, I think.

SoulSociety · **Posted:** Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:05 am

rio wrote:

This will probably be my no. 1 album of the year, I think.

Yes, it's definitely one of the best this year. Took some time to get into the spacey vocals, but I really like them now.

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Cynic - Traced In Air (#4695)

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