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 of Those Who Know
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 first verse of the song describes a king who is perched on top of a mountain, observing the crowds with a certain level of mindfulness, even though they appear to be mindless. The king is free and unbound in contrast to the masses who are lost in their own thoughts and fears. The chorus says that the king is the "King of those who know," and in that capacity, he provides shelter from the fears and exposes the loneliness that everyone faces. The king is aware of the ocean of tears that the world is born of, but he is also there to save those who acknowledge their emotional vulnerability. Thus, the king of those who know is someone who has the wisdom to lead people from the depths of their fears and loneliness to a brighter place.
The second verse claims that the church bells are ringing just for the day to remind us that there is hope in this world. However, the singer is afraid that this hope will not be enough to save him, and he yearns for the king of those who know to save him. The singer's thirst is unquenchable, and even if it rained gold, he would still be in search of something more. The final verse says that we raise the vibratory level of the world so high that all the untruth will fall, and in that optimistic light, the singer sheds his clothes, and the diamond crushes the stone, giving the world a heart. The final line speaks of karma, how it has all been burned, and that the molecules emerge in a world beyond this one.
Line by Line Meaning
From the mountain top
Looking down on the world, gaining perspective
He looks upon the crowds
Observing the masses, not getting lost in the chaos
Mindful among the mindless
Being present while others are not
Unbound
Free from limitations, breaking free from expectations
King of those who know
Leading by example, setting the standard for true understanding
I'm sheltering the fears
Providing comfort and support in times of uncertainty
The loneliness exposed
Revealing the emotional void felt by many
An ocean born of tears
A collective sadness, unifying us in empathy
For the world
Empathy for all beings, not just for ourselves
The churchyard bells
The inevitable reminder of our mortality
Ring mine for just today
Acknowledging the preciousness of this moment, making the most of it
Save me from hope
Rejecting false expectations for a better future, living in the present
That I'll be saved
Recognizing that salvation comes from within, not from external sources
My thirsts unquenchable
Constantly seeking knowledge and growth
The rain could become gold
Seeing beauty and value in unexpected places
And share my box of bones
Generosity beyond the physical, sharing all that we are
In the ground
Acceptance of our finite existence
We raise the vibratory level so high
Elevating our consciousness, spreading positive energy
That all untruth will fall
Falsehood and ignorance cannot survive in a higher state of consciousness
Of it's own dead weight
Lies and negativity will self-destruct
I've taken off my clothes
Stripping away societal expectations and external identities
The diamond crushed the stone
The inner strength and clarity overpowering external pressures and limitations
And gave the world a heart
Radiating love and empathy, inspiring others to do the same
Our karma's all been burned
Breaking free from negative energy and poor decisions of the past
The molecules emerge
Rebuilding in a positive and harmonious way
In a world beyond this world
Shifting to a higher state of consciousness, beyond physical limitations
We dare, speak the word
Defying the norms of society, living authentically
Into the pure abodes
Entering a state of purity and enlightenment
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
vatsacycle
From the mountain top
He looks upon the crowds
Mindful among the mindless
Unbound
King of those who know
I'm sheltering the fears
The loneliness exposed
An ocean born of tears
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
vatsacycle
From the mountain top
He looks upon the crowds
Mindful among the mindless
Unbound
King of those who know
I'm sheltering the fears
The loneliness exposed
An ocean born of tears
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
weaintfriends weaintfriends
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Zyborggian
@papa squat TYBG
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Punga
From what I understand, this song is inspired by the Dhammapada scriptures, which makes me think that it is dedicated to Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of infinite compassion also known as "the one who looks down" or "the lord who looks at the suffering as infinite compassion", and his task is to direct all beings to the path of spiritual awakening to achieve nirvana and transcend.
An incredibly beautiful and sentimental song without a doubt.
tkslain
King of Those Who Know is THE favorite song for me, so it's been really frustrating not getting what the lyrics mean for too long. But I finally got some clue! Thank you so much :)
Simon Sanchez Zapata
Both sean´s where incredible musicians, rest in peace both of them, hope the heaven is a beautiful place to play music like this one who gets you into it, the trascendense itself.
stephane lo sardo
One of the best songs i've ever Heard in this last month
tkslain
I can't but feel the entire album is a unified whole when I hear the murmur "we raise the vibratory level…" reprising at 2:35.
Gee_JO!
Goodbye Sean Reinert. I can't believe I'll never hear your talent again. What an inspiration.