1. Formed in Florida, United S… Read Full Bio ↴There are three artists called Cynic.
1. Formed in Florida, United States in 1987, Cynic is a progressive metal band that recorded a few thrash metal demos before moving to a highly complex form of jazz-fusion influenced experimental/avant-garde death metal, manifested in their seminal album, 1993's Focus, which for over a decade was the band's only official release.
Cynic disbanded in 1994 due to artistic differences while working on their second album, but regrouped in 2007 to perform a series of shows. The reunion was successful, with the group also performing a new song, entitled Evolutionary Sleeper, a composition in the unique style of Focus. This was a harbinger of things to come, as the group recorded two additional tracks, Integral Birth and Adam's Murmur and then signed a contract with Season of Mist for two albums. Their second album, Traced in Air, was released on November 17, 2008 in Europe and November 25, 2008 in North America.
They released Re-Traced, a collection of re-workings of songs off Traced in Air, in 2010. This album features a different style that has been described as "space science fiction prog-folk". The album also includes the new track Wheels Within Wheels, which Cynic felt fit better on this album than Traced in Air.
Cynic's ground-breaking and pioneering footprint on the world of progressive metal continues to influence avant-garde and technical metal bands to these days. Members of Cynic have also participated in the projects Portal, Æon Spoke, Aghora, Exivious, Gordian Knot and Death.
Longtime drummer Sean Reinert died on January 24, 2020. Hank Shteamer of Rolling Stone magazine wrote a tribute to Reinert shortly after his passing commemorating his contributions to Death and Cynic.
Bassist Sean Malone died on December 9, 2020.
Cynic's lineup currently consists of Paul Masvidal (guitars, vocals), and drummer Matt Lynch, who joined the band in 2015.
2. British NWoBHM Cynic was founded in 1980, and still exists. They released two demos, one 2 track 7", one album and one 'best of' compilation. Their page is here: Cynic (UK)
3. The German RAC band Cynic released one album in 2008 called Wach endlich auf. They also released 3 splits in 2006, 2007 and 2009.
Humanoid
Cynic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A simple one
Plays solitaire
And as always seams the truth
On one square foot of the earth
I will contemplate the landscape
Internal connection
Feel your body
Feel your breath
Hold your gaze on
One square foot
Of the earth
Feel your body
Feel your breath
Hold your gaze on
One square foot
Of the earth
One square foot of the earth
We are clever humanoids
On raveling thread
I dare to has no loop
Feel can it been spread
We taste the revolution
The wilderness mine
The Spectral View and The Waken
Was straight on lines
The lyrics to Cynic's song "Humanoid" are rife with philosophical and existential depth. The opening line "Between annihilation and despair, a simple one plays solitaire" speaks to the idea that in the face of inevitable destruction and hopelessness, we still find ways to distract ourselves from the harshness of reality. In this case, the "simple one" is playing solitaire, a solitary game that requires focus and attention to detail. This juxtaposition of simplicity and complexity highlights the dichotomy of the human experience.
The subsequent lines "And as always seams the truth / On one square foot of the earth / I will contemplate the landscape / Internal connection / Oneself, all the time" suggest that even in the face of chaos and confusion, there is always truth to be found. The idea of contemplating the landscape on just one square foot of the earth highlights the importance of perspective and how even the smallest things can have a profound impact on our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. The final lines "Feel your body / Feel your breath / Hold your gaze on / One square foot / Of the earth" reinforce this idea of introspection and connecting with the physical world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Between annihilation and despair
Caught between complete destruction and hopelessness
A simple one plays solitaire
Even a simple person can find solace in solitude and reflection
And as always seams the truth
The truth always emerges
On one square foot of the earth
In a small space, there is much to be observed and learned
I will contemplate the landscape
I will deeply consider my surroundings
Internal connection
A relationship with oneself
Oneself, all the time
Only oneself can truly understand oneself
Feel your body
Be aware of your physical existence
Feel your breath
Be attentive to your breath
Hold your gaze on one square foot of the earth
Focus on a small area for greater clarity and understanding
We are clever humanoids
We are intelligent beings
On raveling thread
On a path that is unraveling
I dare to has no loop
I refuse to be stuck in a repeating cycle
Feel can it been spread
Spread awareness of this perspective
We taste the revolution
We experience a transformational change
The wilderness mine
A personal experience of exploring the unknown
The Spectral View and The Waken
These experiences provided a direct view of reality
Was straight on lines
These experiences were clear and direct
Writer(s): Paul Masvidal, Shawn Patrick Malone
Contributed by Caden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
InfinityPotato
Between annihilation and despair
A simple one plays solitaire
And as always seams the truth
On one square foot of the earth
I will contemplate the landscape
Internal connection on self all the time
Feel your body
Feel your breath
Hold your gaze on
One square foot of the earth
We are clever humanoids on raveling thread
I dare to has no loop
Feel can it been spread
We taste the revolution
The wilderness mine
The spectral view and the waken was straight on lines
JokingReaper
Every single lyrics site that I've visited has gotten the lyrics of this song either wrong, incomplete, or confused with another song with the same name "Humanoid". So, as a service to all cynic fans, here are the lyrics (to the best of my abilities):
Between elation and despair
A simple one
Plays solitaire
And my solace seams the truth
On one square foot of the Earth
I will contemplate the landscape
Interconnection
Oneself, all the time
Feel your body
Feel your breath
Hold your gaze on
One square foot
Of the Earth
Feel your body
Feel your breath
Hold your gaze on
One square foot
Of the Earth
One square foot of the Earth
We are clever humanoids
Unraveling thread
Our data has no limit, now
The organic beam spread
We taste the revolution
The wilderness of man
Let us spread between the Earth,
And the wakening from a circle of lies.
Raul Arzuffi
I can't believe how unique was the sound of the bass of Sean Malone... R.I.P. Legend
Aiden
I love how the art of every cynic album looks like a 90s magic the gathering card.
collinqs
mysticblaz e weird as I come from an mtg deck tech lmao
magicianNevar
Each of their album covers are by Robert Venosa, check him out.
mimir's Well
All Robert Venosa’s work, he was a master himself
dropan spree
Venosa's style shares some similarities with Richard Kane Ferguson (who worked on mtg) IMO
Eugenio Gabrieli
I'd say it reminds me a bit of Therese Nielsen
joyshaitan
RIP Sean Reinert. Awesome drummer and musician.
Barry Chuckle
He didn't drum on this and it's really obvious :(
troll
@Barry Chuckle Drums on this song are still solid though. Yea it's not Sean, but you can't disrespect the drummer here based on the performance.
That said, RIP Sean 😔