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Rating:
THE REVIEW
Crazy! What I hoped wouldn't happen has occurred, and fifteen years later, it has manifested itself as the most striking phenomenon in the history of music (both contemporary and not), embodied by the entity Cynic. I don't know what actually crossed the minds of these ingenious individuals to create a successor to the band's first and only chapter, but that's how it went.
In my humble opinion, it is difficult to make certain decisions, especially when their outcomes are culturally indelible. However, not everyone thinks the same, and it's thanks to this that we see both evolutions and devolutions. It pains me to make this statement, but this time we are facing a devolution, concerning not only the musical proposal of the involved parties but also their mindset. They fell into the illusion of believing they could create an album equal to the unattainable "Focus" (the same ones who spoke of the veil of Maya).
The album flows like a lightning bolt without weighing on the listener. The sound is unique, as only Cynic can do, but it is not enough. The structure of the songs has been simplified, and the bass is not audible enough, making everything even more linear. The absence of Jason Gobel's class is the cherry on top of a cake with flavors that are anything but fusion, empty, and ephemeral.
We are not in progressive territories, enjoy listening!
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Summary by Bot
This review critiques Cynic's 2008 album Traced In Air as a step backward compared to their seminal work Focus. While the sound remains unique, the song structures are simplified and lack complexity. The bass is underemphasized and the absence of guitarist Jason Gobel is noted as a significant loss. Overall, the album is seen more as a devolution in both music and mindset rather than an evolution.Tracklist Videos
Cynic
Cynic are an American band known for blending technical death metal with progressive and jazz-fusion elements, and for the influential 1993 album “Focus.”15 Reviews
Other reviews
By ElectricOne
Pure freedom, freedom to explore, to express, to not fear the reactions of an audience.
Traced In Air is yet another timeless multidimensional pearl in the career of ours.
By Flax
"Traced In Air is a masterpiece, born out of Paul Masvidal’s brilliant compositional prowess, and the instrumental skill of the rest of the group."
"A total sonic evolution, marked by a fluidity typical of Cynic, but in this album, perfected."
