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.
Nunc Stans
Cynic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What will it be like,
On the day we face our mortal lives?
We're all given,
The misfortune of loss,
But that's a gift we call impermanence,
We don't own the earth,
At all
We're eternal Nunc Stans soldiers,
The eternal warriors.
We're accountants,
In the firm of life,
Entrusted with a body, heart and mind.
Hey comrade,
Did I love well?
Have I learned to live moment to moment?
We don't own our work,
We don't own the earth,
We don't own our minds,
We don't own anything,
At all.
We're eternal Nunc Stans soldiers,
The eternal warriors.
We're eternal Nunc Stans soldiers,
The eternal warriors.
It was not death,
It was not life,
It was love.
The lyrics to Cynic's song Nunc Stans reflect on the impermanence of life and the inevitability of death. The song starts with the singer asking their comrade what they think it will be like when they face their mortal lives. This question sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer acknowledges that loss is an unfortunate part of life, but it is also a gift that we call impermanence.
The lyrics go on to explain that we do not own anything in life, not our work, not the earth, nor our minds. The only thing that we have is the present moment, and we need to learn to live in it fully. The singer asks their comrade if they have loved well and lived moment to moment, emphasizing the importance of making the most of the time we have.
The song concludes with the line "it was not death, it was not life, it was love" which shows that ultimately, what matters most is the love we give and receive in life.
Overall, the lyrics to Nunc Stans are a powerful reminder to live in the present moment, love deeply, and embrace the impermanence of life as a gift.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey comrade, What will it be like, On the day we face our mortal lives?
Addressing a friend, wondering how we'll feel when we confront our inevitable deaths.
We're all given, The misfortune of loss, But that's a gift we call impermanence,
Our lives are marked by sadness and grief, but the fact that everything is temporary is what makes life truly precious.
We don't own our work, We don't own the earth, At all
We may believe that we possess things in life, but ultimately we have no real ownership over what we create or the planet we inhabit.
We're eternal Nunc Stans soldiers, The eternal warriors.
Instead of focusing on death, we should embrace the idea that we are soldiers in the never-ending battle of life.
We're accountants, In the firm of life, Entrusted with a body, heart and mind.
Our role in life is to account for our experiences and emotions, and to care for the bodies and minds we've been given.
Hey comrade, Did I love well? Have I learned to live moment to moment?
Looking back on life and questioning whether we've loved fully and embraced every fleeting moment.
We don't own our work, We don't own the earth, We don't own our minds, We don't own anything, At all.
Reinforcing the concept that we truly own nothing in life, not even our own thoughts.
It was not death, It was not life, It was love.
The essence of life is not death or even existence itself, but rather the love we share with one another.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PAUL MASVIDAL, SEAN REINERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GarbageDork
one of the few songs that actually was life changing for me during a really challenging year and has stuck with me since the album came out.
Inphinitii
This song is amazing. Definitely their most powerful song, in my opinion. Raises emotions I've yet to feel from any other song.
Dank Zappa
This album is so fucking brilliant I have absolutely no words.
fatrat600284
I crapped myself when i read the lyrics to this song. I am going through some stuff in life and the lyrics to this song fit perfectly with how i feel right now. I mean the line "Have I learned to live moment to moment?" This is true... life is to short so enjoy the good you get in life. Because you really do not know what you have until it's gone. Amazing song. Amazing album. Amazing band!
Vangelis Simfoniks
no words to describe the feelings from this particular song of the album...
MrMarill
This is absolutely amazing, as the album is.
JakRizen2
A friend suggested this album to me and after listening to the whole thing I have to I am impressed. They are very good.
Raquel Martinez
They played this live at reggies and all i can say is i felt their presence
Alexander Newton
My understanding is that Nunc Stans represents a moment separate from time in which we alone exist, whereas Nunc Fluens is the flow of time and life as an integral part of it.
Guitar by Tanmaya
I don't believe how even after a year and a half of continuous listening this album always gets me, EVERYTIME. Everytime I find something I cherish in this album, never ceases to amaze me. This is how you know good music.