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.
King
Cynic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He looks upon the crowds
Mindful among the mindless
Unbound
King of those who know
I'm sheltering the fears
The loneliness exposed
For the world
The churchyard bells
Ring mine for just today
Save me from hope
That I'll be saved
King of those who know
My thirsts unquenchable
The rain could become gold
And share my box of bones
In the ground
We raise the vibratory level so high
That all untruth will fall
Of it's own dead weight
King of those who know
I've taken off my clothes
The diamond crushed the stone
And gave the world a heart
Our karma's all been burned
The molecules emerge
In a world beyond this world
We dare, speak the word
King of those who know
Into the pure abodes
The song King by Cynic is a philosophical and introspective reflection on the nature of reality, truth, and the human experience. The song opens with a majestic image of the king standing on a mountain top, looking down at the crowds below. He is mindful among the mindless, a metaphor for how some people are awake and aware while others are asleep or unconscious. The king knows the truth and sees the world for what it really is.
Throughout the song, the king speaks of being a shelter for those who are fearful and lonely. He acknowledges that the world is an ocean born of tears, but he wants to help others navigate through it. The churchyard bells symbolize the fleeting nature of life and the need for salvation. However, the king knows that salvation is not something that can be bestowed upon us by an external source - it comes from within.
The lyrics are filled with poetic and metaphorical language that encourages the listener to think deeply about the human experience and the nature of existence. The song's message is one of hope and empowerment, encouraging listeners to raise their vibratory level and break free from the chains of ignorance and falsehood.
Line by Line Meaning
From the mountain top
Looking down on everyone else from a position of power
He looks upon the crowds
Surveying the masses with a sense of detachment and disinterest
Mindful among the mindless
Aware and conscious while others act without thinking
Unbound
Not limited or held back by anything
King of those who know
A leader among the enlightened ones
I'm sheltering the fears
Offering comfort to those who are afraid
The loneliness exposed
Revealing the isolation that others may be feeling
An ocean born of tears
A deep, emotional response to the state of the world
For the world
Motivated by a desire to make the world a better place
The churchyard bells
A symbol of death and finality
Ring mine for just today
Acknowledging one's own mortality
Save me from hope
Rejecting the idea that salvation is possible
That I'll be saved
The hope that one's own fate may be different from others'
My thirsts unquenchable
Desires that cannot be met or satisfied
The rain could become gold
Seeing value in unexpected things
And share my box of bones
Feeling a sense of unity and connection to others
In the ground
Unified in death, without worldly distinctions
We raise the vibratory level so high
Elevating the collective consciousness to a higher level
That all untruth will fall
Causing lies and falsehoods to be revealed and destroyed
Of it's own dead weight
Crushed by the force of its own falseness
I've taken off my clothes
Stripping away the pretenses and illusions of the self
The diamond crushed the stone
The power of truth and clarity overcoming obstacles
And gave the world a heart
Transforming the world through empathy and compassion
Our karma's all been burned
Having overcome negative karma and destructive behaviors
The molecules emerge
A rebirth or renewal, with new possibilities and potentialities
In a world beyond this world
A realm of existence beyond the mundane
We dare, speak the word
Taking bold action and speaking truth to power
Into the pure abodes
Entering a state of spiritual purity and transcendence
Writer(s): Sean Reinert, Paul Masvidal Copyright: 1830 Music O.B.O. Reinert Music, 1830 Music O.B.O. Masvidal Music
Contributed by Brayden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ray12a
“we dare, speak the word” theme of dad or whatever one’s supposed to be.. remain in peace sean, thanks for everything. a shaman’s whisper, fischer’s gambit.. this track.. you did great
Travis Magus
🥺🥺🥺
I love this song so much 😭
"We raise the vibratory level/ so high that all untruth will fall of its own dead weight" 🙏❤️💎
A diamond crushed the stone...and gave the world a heart 💎❤️🙏
😭
Dan Zrt
Feels like I'm listening to Radiohead and Damon Albarn at the same time
papa squat
feels like I'm listening to cynic
Ángel Urbina
I know, right?