ITP V.022 REVIEW: CYNIC: "ASCENSION CODES"

 

 BAND:  CYNIC (MIAMI, . FLORIDA, U.S.A.)

GENRE:PROGRESSIVE METAL

LABEL: SEASON OF MIST

RELEASE DATE:11/26/2021

TITLE: "ASCENSION CODES"

 

 

PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG) :

"UROBORIC FORMS-THE COMPLETE DEMO RECORDINGS", 2/10/2017 via CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS.

"KINDLY BENT TO FREE US", 2/14/2014 via SEASON OF MIST.

"THE PORTAL TAPES", (COMPILATION), 3/23/2012 via SEASON OF MIST

"CARBON BASED ANATOMY" (EP), 11/11/2011 via SEASON OF MIST

"RE-TRACED" (EP), 5/17/2010 via SEASON OF MIST. . 

"TRACED IN AIR", 11/17/2008 via SEASON OF MIST. 

"FOCUS", 9/13/1993 via ROADRUNNER.

"THE BREED BEYOND" (SPLIT WITH FEAR FACTORY, PESTILENCE, BELIEVER, TREPONEM PAL), 1993 via ROADRUNNER RECORDS.

BEST RELEASE (S): "FOCUS" (1993), "TRACED IN AIR" (2008), "KINDLY BENT TO FREE US" (2014)

 

 

CYNIC: "ASCENSION CODES"   TRACK-LISTING: 

1. "MU-54"

2. "THE WINGED ONES"

3. "A-va432"

4. "ELEMENTS AND THEIR INHABITANTS"

5. "Ha-144"

6. "MYTHICAL SERPENTS" 

7. "Sha48"

8. "6th DIMENSIONAL ARCHETYPE"  

9. "DNA ACTIVATION TEMPLATE"

10. "Shar-216" 

11. "ARCHITECTS OF CONSCIOUSNESS"

12. "AURORA"  

13: "IN A MULTIVERSE WHERE ATOMS SING" 

14. "DIAMOND LIGHT BODY" 

 

ITP RATING:**** (four out 5 stars)
PRODUCTION: ****
SONGWRITING: ***1/2
PERFORMANCE:**** 1/2

Tampa, Florida metal warriors CYNIC are a pioneering band employing jazz and metal elements to mark their very on sound of progressive metal.. 

After two breakups and reforming a week after the second break up as a trio, bassist SEAN MALONE died.in 2020. 

MALONE'S death left a gaping wound of heartbreak to both CYNIC and the extreme metal scene. 

  CYNIC vocalist and guitarist PAUL MASDIVAL vowed to continue CYNIC as a duo with drummer MATT LYNCH. 

Here ITP has CYNIC'S comeback release  "ASCENSION CODES".. 

CYNIC'S  "ASCENSION CODES"  kicks off with ambient instrumental intro "MU-54" as the track segues into "THE WINGED ONES". "THE WINGED ONES" is an instrumental progressive rock juggernaut with jazzy time signatures, prog influenced guitar and synthesizers. 

CYNIC'S "A-va432" is an ambient intro into  "ELEMENTS AND THEIR INHABITANTS" as the track rocks with the best of them. "ELEMENTS AND THEIR INHABITANTS" features clean vocals and excellent, jazz inspired musicianship set to an ambient atmosphere...

"Ha-144" is the intro to . "MYTHICAL SERPENTS" as the later track employs guitars and progressive jazz textures.  Great drumming by MATT LYNCH and good clean vocals via PAUL MASDIVAL.

 "6th DIMENSIONAL ARCHETYPE" features heavy guitar more prominently on this track as the songwriting is tight. I love the production on PAUL MASDIVAL vocals. .    . 

.CYNIC'S  "DNA ACTIVATION TEMPLATE" starts off with synthesized spoken word as at 4:00, the tracks kicks in with music. The rest of "DNA ACTIVATION TEMPLATE" closes with good instrumental progressive rock. 

CYNIC'S "ARCHITECTS OF CONSCIOUSNESS" features prominent guitar work, technical and heavier at times. Metal guitar riffs adorn . "ARCHITECTS OF CONSCIOUSNESS" complimented by synthesizers and soft, sung clean vocals.  

CYNIC'S  "AURORA" kicks off with progressive metal riffs and a well written vocal performance. I even hear a little drum and bass in the textures of "AURORA". 

CYNIC'S  "IN A MULTIVERSE WHERE ATOMS SING" is one of the bands heavier tracks combing progressive metal with a strong, clean vocal performance.

CYNIC'S  "ASCENSION CODES" closes with  "DIAMOND LIGHT BODY" features synthesized vocals, progressive metal riffing, with ambient textures. For "DIAMOND LIGHT BODY"finale, the track gets heavier. 

CYNIC'S  "ASCENSION CODES" is half progressive, experimental rock and half progressive metal. The second half  of  CYNIC'S  "ASCENSION CODES" connects securely with better written tracks complimented by ambient atmospheres. 

Yeah, I would like to have heard more progressive METAL from CYNIC compared to the ambient synthesizer stuff . However, the musicianship on CYNIC'S  "ASCENSION CODES" is flawless as  PAUL MASDIVAL  plays all instruments and  MATT LYNCH'S drumming is amazing. 

Overall, CYNIC'S  "ASCENSION CODES" is an insightful progressive metal juggernaut and it's good to have them back. 

BTW, ITP sends heartfelt condolences to  late CYNIC drummer SEAN REINERT and late bassist SEAN MALONE.   

.ITP RATING:**** (four out 5 stars)
PRODUCTION: ****
SONGWRITING: ***1/2
PERFORMANCE:**** 1/2

 

  CYNIC: "ASCENSION CODES":   

 https://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com/2021/11/cynic-post-new-release-ascension-codes.html

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