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Cynic > Carbon-Based Anatomy > Reviews
Cynic - Carbon-Based Anatomy

Carbon-Based Aeon Spoke - 70%

Hames_Jetfield, April 17th, 2021

The recording overproductiveness of Cynic's comeback usually did not fit into a more meaningful amount of interesting music. But from time to time they had exceptions...anyway, after the totally unnecessary "Re-Traced", Masvidal and the rest of the band just a year later hit with another ep, but breaking out of this rule, because it was exceptionally good ep! What's even more interesting, "Carbon-Based Anatomy" is no return to "Traced In Air" or a continuation of the sterile experiments with "Re-Traced" ideas. This ep is like a turn in a clearly different direction (and no, not in the times of "Focus" or demos)! First of all, "Carbon..." - despite staying in prog rock style - appears to be one of the most unusual albums in Cynic's discography. Well, I mean the way the band regained the idea of ​​itself while staying in the lighter areas.

This applies to the biggest novelty on the ep, ie. electronics, which gained on "Carbon..." almost the same laws as "proper" instruments. Therefore, the ambients were pushed where they are supposed to build the climate and where they are to give the music the right dynamics (also in separate songs). And as usually such solutions effectively break the rhythm of the music and have little to do with dynamics, it works really well on this ep! There is no boring "spitting" (and that's what it usually comes down to). Apart from Masvidal's clear, high-pitched vocals (which are a bit too much - but this is the standard of the newer Cynic) and again a bit of a sleepy atmosphere, there is - paradoxically - quite a lot interesting music; much more than on the previous ep. So the guitars regained their character, well, sometimes even distortion (especially in solos), the rhythm section in the persons of Malone and Reinert went crazy more than on "Traced...", and the ambient-like additions nicely emphasized the specific, cosmic-oriental climate.

And all this fit into a very consistent whole. Both atmospheric intros like "Bija!" and "Amidst The Coals", but also "fuller" songs like the title track, "Box Up My Bones" or "Elves Beam Out". On the other hand, "Carbon-Based Anatomy" gains a lot...without isolating individual songs, as a coherent whole! And this, in turn, is due to the equally good proportions in terms of climate and interesting arrangements, although the music here is not the most spontaneous.

Only the target of this ep remains unclear. Again, I think the music in this incarnation would be more suited to Aeon Spoke than Cynic. I have already mentioned a similar thing in the case of "Re-Traced", but "Carbon..." has the advantage that it's easier and more pleasant to listen to. Well, this is a big recommendation from me in the context of sleepy prog rock.

Originally on: https://subiektywnymetal.blogspot.com/2021/04/cynic-carbon-based-anatomy-2011.html

Evolution, Perfection... - 80%

Spolodaface, August 17th, 2012

It has taken me a while to give this album a full-listen, having been off-put a little by Cynic’s previous album Traced in Air which, while a solid release didn’t really appeal to me. The main reason for this is the greater prominence of Paul Masvidal on vocals compared to their debut LP, Focus which was released 15 years prior. The decade and a half hiatus between these releases is reflected in the great stylistic evolution between these two albums, as Traced in Air starts to curb the technical death-metal aspects of Focus in favour for more melodic, sprawling songs with a number of technical death-fused bridges and solos with the band’s signature jazz-metal fusion rhythm section.

The progression and development Cynic have undergone between their previous LP and Carbon Based Anatomy at first listen is nowhere near as great as that between their debut, the seminal and highly influential masterpiece, Focus (1993) and their more recent post-reunion album Traced in Air (2008),it is certainly more of an organic and natural evolution in comparison. Rather than reinventing themselves again, here Cynic have refined and perfected their sound and style, creating an album with an engrossing atmosphere. This atmosphere is expressed not only on the “main” songs of the album; title track “Carbon Based Anatomy” (my personal favourite), “Box Up My Bones” and “Elves Beam Out” – but through their accompanying almost instrumental tracks, which make up a third of the album’s 23 and a half minute running time (instrumental, as they feature smooth female vocals mostly talking gibberish yet used more like an instrument; complimenting the nature samples , world instruments and haunting guitar passages.

After listening to Carbon Based Anatomy, Cynic’s latest EP, it becomes apparent that; rather than Masvidal’s singing being a problem for the music, it is the obfuscation of those vocals behind effects (which I want to describe as ‘robotic sounding’) featured abundantly on their previous albums which was an issue. Much like Traced in Air compared to Focus, Carbon Based Anatomy boasts greatly improved production values and mixing compared to it’s predecessor; as each instrument is not only heard clearly but inhabits its own frequency range comfortably; the drums, guitars, bass and vocals (including backing vocals) all sound amazingly loud and clear, the backing vocals add an extra layer of depth to the music where they previously collided (when both processed with an array of vocal effects). It is evident upon listening to this album that the band’s musical vision has been realised and vividly illustrated here thanks to the exemplary production, and instrument tones. This is an album which should endear any Cynic fans who weren’t put off by the changes on Traced in Air (which was a lot less overtly Death metal than its predecessor), and win back some open-minded ones depending on their disposition to clean vocals.

... this review and more at Underground Blogzine:

http://undergroundvideosound.wordpress.com/

Yet Another Cynic - 80%

FullMetalAttorney, May 11th, 2012

I discovered Cynic around 2006 when they were still a little-known band with a growing cult following. They had released one full-length album of sci-fi-themed progressive death metal in 1993 and disappeared for over a decade. They reunited and released the massively well-received Traced in Air. I would definitely change one of the albums that I put on my list of the best albums of 2008, but TiA would definitely remain. They followed that in 2010 with a strange collection of re-worked songs from the album (Re-Traced), stripped of any resemblance to metal whatsoever. And, let's not sugar-coat it, it sucked. When I heard that new EP Carbon-Based Anatomy wasn't particularly metal either, I was leery. But the cool album art made me optimistic. I can't say I'm disappointed.

The record explores an entirely new sound for the band. There are hints of metal-ness to be found here and there, but mostly it's a combination of psychedelia and alt-rock. It's easily their most atmospheric recording to date, beginning at the beautiful, haunting intro (featuring female vocals in Latin) and continuing through to the outro. Tribal drums, sitar, and Oriental (is that offensive? I don't know) chants fill out the album's interlude. The EP would not be complete without these sonic explorations.

But more importantly, the three proper songs are good, helped along by excellent drumming. No, they're not really metal, despite the understated tremolo riffing and almost-metal riff later on in the title track. But the sci-fi theme is back in full force with the trademark vocoder on the title track and distorted drums and sound effects on "Elves Beam Out". The choruses are catchy, downbeat alt-rock fare.

It's different. But it's immersible and highly memorable.

The Verdict: No, it's not really the Cynic I grew to love. These guys are doing their own thing, exploring new territories, and you have to admire that. If they keep on releasing entirely unique EPs every year, I would be happy.

originally written for http://fullmetalattorney.blogspot.com/

Carbon-Based Anatomy - 80%

KonradKantor, April 25th, 2012

Somewhere on the 210 freeway, I realized that Paul Masvidal is never going back to his old life.

Nor should he. Because Cynic is an art project that was born into progression and has been kept alive by progression. Because when fifteen years go by between full-lengths, the only thing a band can do is reinvent itself time and time again. Because Paul Masvidal is a musical visionary that sees things most people never will. Because Traced In Air would have never worked if it would have only played the forgettable part of Focus - Part II. Because when the new LP drops in 2012, people will know that doubting Cynic is simply something that should never be done.

Carbon-Based Anatomy is a small step forward much like Re-Traced was for Masvidal and Reinert. In fact, the band's decision to take all of Traced In Air's coveted tracks and play them softly was a step forward for metal in general. Now, the band has proven that it can write fresh songs that weren't necessarily meant to be heavy, yet are still recognizably "Cynic" from light years away. Despite the band's decision to sprinkle extra ethereal elements into the mix, all of the former technicalities and trademarks remain perfectly intact. Therefore, it's safe to say that fans of Cynic will love and trust the path upon which the group has chosen to tread.

Here's one more fact: Listeners that loved Focus but have hated everything Cynic has done since were never really fans to begin with. Fans of an album that's virtually impossible not to like, perhaps, but not fans of the ideas that were the driving forces of the band's creation, since those same ideas are still propelling the music onward in the first place. So what's new? To put it simply, Carbon-Based Anatomy is exotic. It's not only the foreign languages that are being spoken on "Amidst The Coals" and "Bija!" that give off that effect, either. Sure, Cynic is experimenting with sounds from other parts of the world given the added tribal instruments, but there are also brief moments that sound like they're from other planets.

The defining track of Anatomy,"Elves Beam Out," glistens with ethereal elements, elaborate space-age production and a beautifully infectious chorus to top it all off. Yes, the two most important creations that have ever come from this planet, namely guitar solos and catchy-as-hell beats, are also present in all of the album's non-instrumental tracks. All in all, Carbon-Based Anatomy does what an EP should always do -- test the waters with the listeners and leave them thirsty for more.

Originally written for MetalReview.com

Good for what it is. - 70%

Andromeda_Unchained, March 19th, 2012

Cynic is a band I've never been too sure on. I thought their pre-Focus demos were really something quite special and out of the ordinary, whilst I feel the widely lauded album itself is lacking and stifled; hardly worthy of the heaps of praise it receives (Pestilence did this style way more justice upon Spheres). I think Traced in Air blew Focus out of the water, as the ideas spawned on their debut were fully realized and utilized to great effect. Re-Traced was a chilled out, introspective mess and it left a lot of their fans dubious of where the band were heading.

Well, if Carbon-Based Anatomy is any sort of indicator to the future of this band it looks as though they're pushing further forward with their fusion/world music/post-rock sound – imagine Re-Traced played with more passion and very slight elements of metal. I would say Carbon-Based Anatomy is better conceived than their previous EP and if this is the road Cynic decide to head down for their next release I will probably still listen, but I don't think I will review it here.

Carbon-Based Anatomy sees the band throw down the chains of their death metal roots down, and likening this change to that of a moth pushing out of its cocoon, the band float out in an almost ethereal, glowing form. This EP is very soothing, and there is a lot of world music influence that really adds to the atmosphere. Paul's clean vocals aren't great as far as metal is concerned, and I'm not really the biggest fan of them. In fact I would have much preferred him use the vocoder throughout which would have really added to the atmosphere. The musicianship is on excellent form as always, I mean come on this is a bunch of first class musicians here.

Tracks such as "Box Up My Bones" and the title track display best the sound on Carbon-Based Anatomy the latter of which delivers the most in the way of progressive metal, but I stress that the metal elements are very subdued on this release, almost completely gone. Fans of the bands progressive death metal style are going to spit this out, and I would advise to those to give this one a miss. However fans of progressive music in general might want to check this out, as this is an interesting and pleasant exercise in atmospheric progressive rock with a slight metallic bite.

Originally written for http://www.metalcrypt.com

Pretty Much A Letdown - 63%

GuntherTheUndying, December 31st, 2011

Often considered one of the most innovative and progressive factions to ever bless the overgrowing realm of metal, Cynic's splashy discography has been the center of overwhelming acclaim. The reassembly of Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert accumulated a pair of releases before this little EP, including the band's first album in over fifteen years ("Traced in Air") and an EP ("Retraced") that features what the group calls "reinterpretations " of some "Traced in Air" material. "Carbon-Based Anatomy" pretty much continues where "Retraced" left off, the material again angling towards an experimental degree while the metal elements are largely suppressed. Now I've noticed something about Cynic since their reunion. There are, of course, two different voices: one that wants the band to openly embrace their lighter direction, and one that would sacrifice a goat for another "Focus," or the group's heaviest record, by a long shot.

And honestly, there was never a problem on my end until now. I consider "Focus" to be a monster slab of revolutionary music; fifteen years later, it's still ahead of its time. "Traced in Air" has a noticeably softer direction with a few extra shades some might label questionable, but hey, it's all good here. "Retraced" is...uh, "Retraced." The problem? Well, it's all becoming too piecemeal and tedious, even by Cynic's standards. "Carbon-Based Anatomy" poorly represents everything that Cynic is and was, because it (a) fails to show any legitimate progression on a creative spectrum, and (b) sounds like a legendary band fading into musical fogginess, minus the perplexing features of Cynic's past discography.

Probably the most bothersome facet of "Carbon-Based Anatomy" is its flow and general presentation. You may notice there are six tracks in total, but only three are actual authentic Cynic anthems. The opening "Amidst The Coals" starts with female vocals of a spiritual essence while ambient-like, maybe folk-inspired chimes echo in the background; it’s effective as an opener, I suppose. However, the ambient/folk characteristics take control over the tribal "Bija!" and the closing "Hieroglyph" as well. Now normally this wouldn't be a problem, but for an EP that barely runs over twenty minutes, a good seven are coiled into these nonfunctional sections. They are annoyingly stuffed between most tracks, and keep in mind they’re not demonstrations of technical riffs and calculated percussion patterns somehow weaving in and out of Cynic's usual web of spiritual idealism, just useless interludes.

The actual songs make a noticeable impression on the band's legacy, keeping some of Cynic's finest traits at the forefront of strangely progressive numbers like the title track and whipping out nifty solos that are thankfully brought up to the head of the EP. Sean Reinert sounds a bit passive compared to his earlier works, yet he remains strong overall, and so does Paul handling the enjoyable vocals. The spacey, atmospheric elements are stronger than ever, and the aggressive tones are completely gone. Yea, there's a lot of weirdness to go around, but it all feels somewhat lacking and void of Cynic's absolute touch. Don't get me wrong, this is undeniably Cynic, but I still feel like the overall performances and ideas fail to achieve the same level of excellence and addictiveness compared to their older albums, of course.

Also, the vocoder? Gone. Harsh vocals? Absent. Mind-bending transitions? Not really. These are qualities that made Cynic...well, Cynic, but now it appears they've turned away from their initial identity, and I can't say that's a change for the better. So yea, "Carbon-Based Anatomy" lacks the creativity and prose that most of Cynic's past discography boasts. The aggression of "Focus" has no place in its quarters, and the simple hint of joy coursing throughout "Traced in Air" simply does not exist here either. And as I said, the traditional features of Cynic make appearances that are few and far between. As a huge fan of Masvidal and Reinert, I can’t call “Carbon-Based Anatomy” anything more than a massive disappointment.

This review was written for: www.Thrashpit.com

Cynic - Carbon-Based Anatomy - 90%

ConorFynes, December 9th, 2011

This year, it seems like the trend is for bands to release EPs, rather than the investment of a full-length. Thinking about the current climate of the music industry, it's now possible for artists to throw a new bite-sized offering at their fanbase in between longer albums. While I do not think that anything could replace the album form as we know it, some EPs this year have been changing the way I feel about this shortened form. Legendary band Cynic blew me away with their album 'Traced In Air', so it is natural that I would be eagerly anticipating whatever they would be coming out with next, be it something short and sweet, or longer and involved. As one knowing the scope of Cynic's work would guess, 'Carbon-Based Anatomy' shows a new side of this band, and despite my first apprehensions that this would be a non-essential collection of songs for fans to enjoy during the wait for an album, I have been so pleasantly mistaken. Were it not for its brevity, I would have to trouble saying that this is a contender for the greatest thing that Cynic has ever done; a concise, yet celestial masterpiece.

'Traced In Air' is still heavy on this band's mind, as can be heard from the somewhat otherworldly direction the band has been taking with their music since then. The biggest surprise to me- and biggest change- this time around is the total dearth not only of 'death metal' (of which these guys are best known for) but metal in general. I am not completely sure where they fall now, but I think 'progressive rock' is without a doubt, the best thing to call them now. A band that comes to mind when I hear this is the latest incarnation of Anathema; plenty of atmosphere, leanings towards post-rock, strong melodies and an evasion of the typical, now -cliche things that people associate with prog. After hearing 'Traced In Air', I figured it was a natural step to eventually wean out the somewhat out-of- place growls in their music, but to hear them not even relate to metal is a risky move for them, but one I think pays off very well.

Despite being six tracks, I think 'Carbon-Based Anatomy' could have worked just as well as one track; over the twenty-odd minutes of play length, there is not much of a break from the music. The most that a listener might get to signify a change of track is perhaps a quieter section that draws on a little longer than it might have naturally. The album opens up in a very spiritual way, with plenty of ambiance and a female singer crooning very spiritually. Given Paul Masvidal's background in philosophy and mysticism, it was not a surprise to hear the EP take this opener, but it works so well. It takes a couple of minutes for the album to introduce the Cynic that we are more familiar with, never getting particularly heavy mind you, but the technical guitar riffs are still thankfully here. One thing that may be a little overdone is Paul's use of vocorder, which has been a staple of his work since the heyday, but here, I think it's sometimes used a little gratuitously. He does have a good, warm voice, but filtering it through a machine so much does take away some of the effect.

The only thing that irritates me about 'Carbon-Based Anatomy' is its short length. Taken for what it is, the EP is a masterpiece, but I am always left wanting more by the time it is over. Especially when taken into account that a couple extra tracks would have made this a very comfortable and satisfying length, it is a very tantalizing album, although the music here at times even surpasses what the band accomplished with 'Traced In Air'. Most of all though, I have to congratulate the band for constantly moving forward. Even when their developments on 'Traced In Air' were sometimes polarized, Cynic has not been discouraged, and continues to change their sound into something fresh. For this, 'Carbon-Based Anatomy' is the best short-form album I have heard this year.

The invention and worldliness never wanes - 80%

autothrall, November 11th, 2011

The excellent cover art to Cynic's new Carbon-Based Anatomy EP might deceive one into thinking they had dialed their style back to the progressive, labyrinthine death metal of their 1993 debut Focus, but that's not at all the case here. Having been severely disappointed with last year's Re-Traced EP, which served as a poppy and wimpy deconstruction of several tracks from their excellent Traced in Air album, I am satisfied to say that this is all new material, and much of it quite good. If anything, Cynic have all but drifted away from the technical thrash and death roots to snug comfortably into this hybrid of prog and post-rock, with an even huger dedication to the influence of world music that they've shown on either of their full-lengths.

Granted, it would be unlike Cynic to backtrack. It's just not in the nature of these musicians to move in any direction but forward (stylistically), and this new EP is no exception. But they do hang on to some of their core characteristics, namely Sean Reinert's dynamic drumming and the fusion influence in Paul Masdival's guitars. There are very few moments here that even hinge on the band's former metal genre, with the exception of some of the ramped up chords in the title track or the manic, melodic tremolo sequences that crash through the jamming "Elves Beam Out". The real focus here, however, is the vocal arrangements, which are quite fantastic. Paul's got this amazing, clean voice somewhat similar to Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree, but a lot of layered harmonies are strewn about the material similar to post-rock outfits like Efterklang, and it's simply remarkable to experience. Female vocals are also incorporated into the ethno ambient intro and interlude pieces "Amidst the Coals" and "Bija!", the latter a percussive, worldly romp.

My favorites are easily "Carbon-Based Anatomy" and "Box Up My Bones". The former for the climactic business of the bass-lines and the ambient backdrop that functions beautifully alongside the smooth escalation of the vocals, and the latter for all those reasons and more. There are a few guitar lines that function like synthesizers in the background of "Box Up My Bones" which create an insanely elegant atmosphere, and I also enjoyed the guest whispers used to counterpoint the lead vocals in the bridge, and the sifting from cleaner toned guitars to jamming variation. "Elves Beam Out" also warrants a mention for the great, spacey splash to the percussion and the sheer energy, even if the name is a bit of a throw off. Next to these, I'm not sure the female fronted pieces really measure up, nor the heavily ambient, scintillating outro "Hieroglyph", but at the least they provide some captivating transitions.

Carbon-Based Anatomy is not likely to satisfy fans of the old Cynic who have been ruing their decision to drift well beyond the metal sphere, but then, this minority probably didn't enjoy the long anticipated sophomore effort either when it arrived in 2008. Personally, I found the songs here to be growers regardless of the band's incessant transformation, and though the lyrics seem simpler than past works, they maintain the existential character the band have long championed. The production is extremely clean and accessible, as are most of the vocal line melodies, but the Florida band still implements numerous layers of complexity into their composition, and what's most important, you actually feel like you're on this journey WITH the band, rather than being outpaced by their staggering proficiency. Very enjoyable, but don't expect "Veil of Maya" or "The Eagle Nature".

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com