Description

Do you need an open mind to appreciate the new Cynic? Considering that they've never released an album that conformed to any genre boundaries, and that every one of their releases, EP's included, have always sounded markedly different from each other, I'd say you don't need any more of an open mind than usual when approaching this band. It sounds like Cynic, but it doesn't sound exactly like any previous album of theirs. There's more “Traced in Air” here than “Focus,” along with some traces of the “Carbon-Based Anatomy” EP, but it's also different. I don't think they've evolved into something else, as there aren't necessarily new areas of music they've never explored on this album, but they always find new ways to use all of the tools at their disposal. I can admit that it took me a few more listens for “Kindly Bent to Free Us” to grab me than the first two full-lengths, but by the third or fourth spin I was hooked. These songs present some sneaky melodies that don't immediately stand out, but sink in hours after you've listened to them. Also, the guitars are more subdued than they were on “Traced in Air,” with a slightly more thin tone and less overall distortion. At first, it gives the impression that Cynic continue to soften and go for a lighter sound, but deeper listening offers another view. Rather than being a band alternating between technical metal and spacey, New Age music like in the past, they're more artistically ambiguous and drift between the dark and light aspects of their sound more fluidly. Listening to this up against “Traced in Air,” I definitely think the fans who favor Cynic's classy technical metal approach might be in for a letdown, but if you've followed them through the transitions marked by the “Re-Traced” and “Carbon-Based Anatomy” EP's, you'll see this as a natural progression. The transitions between heavy and soft are smoother, and instead of abrupt, almost random breaks, Cynic has achieved a more fully integrated sound. At the same time, they've incorporated some new twists, like the somewhat catchy hooks in the first couple of songs, the rock vibe felt in “The Lions Roar,” the hypnotic drone of “Moon Heart Sun Head,” and the slowly evolving soundscape of “Infinite Shapes.” On the familiar side, the bass work is as prominent as on “Focus,” maybe even more so, providing a direct aural link to the first album. Also, songs like the title track and my personal favorite, “Gitanjali,” could easily have been on “Traced in Air” if not for the slightly stripped down style. If you're into this sort of anti-genre, progressive-minded, metal-centric approach to songwriting, chances are you'll find plenty to engage your mind on Cynics third album, Kindly Bent to Free Us. I see it as another free-thinking triumph for a truly unique band. Track listing: 1. True Hallucination Speak 2. The Lions Roar 3. Kindly Bent to Free Us 4. Infinite Shapes 5. Moon Heart Sun Head 6. Gitanjali 7. Holy Fallout 8. Endlessly Bountiful