Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Cynic - Demo 1991  CD (album) cover

DEMO 1991

Cynic

 

Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

3.04 | 13 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Cynic is one of the most influential bands in the tech metal genre, even though they only released one album in 1994 called Focus. Cynic is very different compared to most tech metal bands though as they have a more soft and melodic jazzy sound mixed with the tech metal madness. The robot voice from Paul Masvidal is also an original element on Focus. Allthough it was 1994 before Focus was released Cynic had been around for some time before that. They recorded 4 demos and played as session musicians on many metal albums from other artists ( Death, Pestilence, Master, Monstrosity, Atheist) before getting a record contract with Roadrunner records. The last demo was recorded for Roadrunner in 1991. This demo from 1991 is the fourth demo Cynic made and was made for Roadrunner records which was at the time one of the biggest extreme metal labels together with Nuclear Blast and Earache. It was because of this demo that Cynic got a record contract with Roadrunner.

The fourth and last demo from Cynic before recording their debut album Focus was the so called Roadrunner Demo which was only meant for promo purposes. Here you can hear early and very different versions of two of the songs from Focus. Uroboric Forms and The Eagle Nature appear here in very premature forms. The robot voice Paul Masvidal would use on Focus is not present here, which means the vocals are death growls. Itīs the first time the vocals are more death growls than thrash metal styled singing. On this demo the music has even become a bit brutal yet maintaining the very complex structures and playing. The last song here is Pleading for Preservation. All three songs are of high standard and you can clearly hear the direction Cynic wantīs to take the music. It would be 3 years before Focus would be released and of course lots happened in that time with the music.

The musicianship is excellent and try and listen to Sean Reinertīs drumming skills. The man is incredible. The solo work from the two guitarists are also very good. The solos have only changed a bit from the versions here to those on Focus.

The sound quality is pretty good for a demo in 1991.

This is a very worthy purchase for fans of Cynic and fans of the early nineties tech metal scene. Iīll rate the demo 3 stars.

UMUR | 3/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this CYNIC review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.